Barrett Dorko is an Amercian physical therapist, clinician, writer, and teacher. He contributed to the profession relentlessly for  more than 40 years.

Barrett is the originator of a method of manual therapy care, called Simple Contact, based on the premise that movement designed specifically to correct the mechanical deformation responsible for pain will emerge from the patient in an instinctive and effortless manner. This movement is instinctive, effortless, and present as long as life endures. He has taught pain and movement science and manual therapy care to thousands of therapists throughout the US and Canada.

Barrett is arguably the most prolific writer in his profession, and his writing has influenced the teaching of manual care in many physical therapy programs in the US and abroad. The “Essays from Dorko’s Desk” collection on this site has grown enormous. He wrote daily at the SomaSimple forums for 15 years.