Meet Our Team
Our team is passionate about helping dogs recover, rebuild strength, and return to doing what they love. Combining years of experience in rehabilitation and conditioning, we provide hands-on care and proven results for every dog that walks through our doors.
Ria Acciani, MPT, CCRP,
IADN Cert. Specialist
Advanced Canine Rehabilitation Center
Ria Acciani earned her Master of Physical Therapy degree from the University of St. Augustine, Florida, where she trained directly under Dr. Stanley V. Paris, PT, PhD, FAPTA. After graduating in 1997, she focused on outpatient orthopedics and Early Intervention/Pediatrics before combining her passion for animals, sports, and physical therapy to specialize in canine rehabilitation in 2000.
Ria received her Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) credential from the University of Tennessee in 2001 and is certified in Dry Needling through Intricate Art Spine & Body.
Together with her husband, David Acciani, PT, MOMT, CCRP, IADN Cert. Specialist, Ria owns and operates Advanced Canine Rehabilitation Center (ACR)—a practice dedicated to orthopedic rehabilitation for performance and sporting dogs, as well as family pets. Over the past 25 years, Ria and David have worked with top canine athletes at regional, national, and international competitions, including the IFCS US Agility Team, AKC World Team, and WAO World Team (2010–2017).
Ria and David have developed rehabilitation protocols for shoulder, hip, and elbow conditions, and their work has been published in JAVMA, Veterinary Surgery, Clean Run, and most recently in Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice – Rehabilitation Therapy (July 2023). They are frequent speakers and instructors at professional conferences and continuing education events, including STAAR, the APTA Animal Rehabilitation SIG, and international venues such as SCIVAC in Italy and Atlas Rehabilitation for Canines in California.
When not working with clients, Ria and David enjoy family time with their three children and staying active with their two Border Collies—walking, hiking, running, and swimming together whenever they can.
Click Here to Email Ria >>David Acciani, PT, MOMT, CCRP, IADN Cert. Specialist
Advanced Canine Rehabilitation Center
David Acciani earned his Bachelor’s degree in Finance from the University of Maryland in 1988 and his Physical Therapy degree from New York University in 1994. After graduation, he focused on sports and orthopedic rehabilitation, managing three outpatient clinics in Central New Jersey. His passion for manual therapy led him to complete a Master of Orthopedic Manual Therapy (MOMT) through the Ola Grimsby Institute.
Combining his love for physical therapy and animals, David has been providing rehabilitation services for dogs for over 25 years. Along with his wife, Ria Acciani, MPT, CCRP, IADN Cert Specialist, he owns and operates Advanced Canine Rehabilitation Center (ACR) in Warren, NJ—a practice dedicated to the assessment, treatment, conditioning, and orthopedic rehabilitation of performance dogs and family pets. David earned his Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) credential from the University of Tennessee in 2001 and later became an Intricate Art Dry Needling (IADN) Certified Specialist.
David and Ria have developed successful rehabilitation protocols for a variety of shoulder, hip, and elbow conditions. Their work has been published in JAVMA, Clean Run, and most recently in Veterinary Clinics of North America: Small Animal Practice – Rehabilitation Therapy (July 2023). They have presented at the International Rehabilitation Symposium on topics including modalities and joint rehabilitation, and serve on the faculty of the Symposium on Therapeutic Advances in Animal Rehabilitation (STAAR). Additionally, they are active members of the American Physical Therapy Association’s Animal Rehabilitation Special Interest Group (APTA-ARSIG), contributing to continued professional education in the field.
For 11 years, David and Ria have proudly served as the official Physical Therapists for the USA Agility World Teams across AKC, USDAA, and WAO organizations.
Outside of work, David enjoys spending time with Ria, their three children, and their two dogs. He loves boating, skiing, surfing, and staying active through exercise and time outdoors.
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Dr. Karin Johanson, DVM
Advanced Canine Rehabilitation Center
We are delighted to welcome Dr. Karin Johanson to our team. A graduate of Washington State University Veterinary School, Dr. Johanson brings over 25 years of experience in both traditional and holistic veterinary medicine. She founded Three Rivers Holistic Veterinary Services in 1999, where she focused on integrating conventional treatments with complementary therapies such as acupuncture, nutrition, and herbal support to promote total wellness.
Dr. Johanson is passionate about supporting each animal’s overall health—physical, emotional, and mental—and believes that combining evidence-based medicine with holistic care offers the best path to optimal healing and performance.
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