Physical Therapy First
Physical Therapy First is a private, Baltimore-based outpatient orthopedic and sports physical therapy practice founded in 2001, operating three clinics (Roland Park, Clarksville, Hunt Valley) and serving individual patients, athletes, and Loyola University Greyhounds with one-on-one therapist-led rehabilitation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2001
- HeadquartersBaltimore, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Physical Therapy First does
Physical Therapy First is a private outpatient physical therapy practice founded in 2001 and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. It operates three clinic locations — Roland Park (Baltimore), Clarksville (Howard County), and Hunt Valley (Cockeysville, co-located within OneLife Fitness) — and serves patients across the Greater Baltimore region with orthopedic rehabilitation, sports physical therapy, pre- and post-surgical recovery, total joint replacement therapy, spine care, vestibular rehabilitation, and athletic performance services. Treatment is delivered one-on-one by licensed physical therapists using evidence-based manual therapy techniques including joint mobilization, dry needling, IASTM, muscle energy technique, strain/counterstrain, and spinal decompression.
The business model is fee-for-service physical therapy billed primarily through insurance networks, supplemented by self-pay patients, with a growing adjunct education and continuing-education revenue stream. Patient acquisition runs through physician and orthopedic surgeon referrals, insurance networks, the Loyola University Athletics partnership, direct online and phone appointment requests, and a multi-channel content marketing presence (blog, YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn). Operational technology is light: PromptEMR for patient payments, Eventbrite for continuing-education course registration, and a WordPress-based content site — there is no proprietary software platform, no app, and no AI/ML components disclosed.
Beyond clinical care, the practice operates Maryland's first ABPTRFE-accredited orthopedic physical therapy residency and Maryland's first accredited orthopedic manual physical therapy fellowship, hosts continuing education courses (NAIOMT manual therapy, dry needling, COMT), runs internship and volunteer programs, and has begun layering telehealth/e-Exercise programming for osteoarthritis on top of in-person visits. A registered medical device patent (Dynasplint Trismus System) by clinician David Shulman is the most notable IP asset, and the practice maintains memberships in APTA, AAOMPT, and ABPTRFE.
Physical Therapy First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Physical Therapy First
- Legal name
- Physical Therapy First
- Website
- https://physicaltherapyfirst.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2001
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Physical Therapy First is a private, Baltimore-based outpatient orthopedic and sports physical therapy practice founded in 2001, operating three clinics (Roland Park, Clarksville, Hunt Valley) and serving individual patients, athletes, and Loyola University Greyhounds with one-on-one therapist-led rehabilitation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Physical Therapy First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapy
- NAICS
- Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134)
- SIC
- Services-Health Services (8000)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Orthopedic Physical Therapy & Post-Op Rehab (HSADAIAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Outpatient Physical Therapy (PT) Clinics (HLADAJAD), Orthopedic & Sports Rehabilitation Centers (HLAFAFAI), Sports Medicine (HLAKALAB)
Keywords
Where Physical Therapy First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baltimore
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Physical Therapy First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Physical Therapy Services: Outpatient physical therapy services billed through insurance or direct patient payment. Services include orthopedic rehabilitation, sports physical therapy, post-surgical recovery, manual therapy, dry needling, and performance care.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Insurance-based and self-pay physical therapy services |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
Physical Therapy First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Physical Therapy First is an outpatient orthopedic and sports physical therapy clinic operating three locations across the Baltimore, Maryland area. The practice delivers one-on-one, hands-on care from licensed therapists covering orthopedic rehabilitation, sports injury recovery, manual therapy, dry needling, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), and post-surgical rehabilitation. The clinic also hosts Maryland's first accredited orthopedic residency and fellowship programs and maintains a partnership with Loyola University Athletics.
Product overview
Physical Therapy First is a physical therapy practice offering a comprehensive range of orthopedic and sports rehabilitation services. The core offering includes one-on-one physical therapy for orthopedic injuries, sports rehab, spine pain, post-surgical recovery, and performance care. Treatment services encompass various specialized techniques including Manual Therapy, Dry Needling, IASTM, Muscle Energy Technique, Strain/Counterstrain, Spinal Decompression, and Massage Therapy. The practice also provides educational content through its Video Blog and Blog Articles featuring clinical research reviews. Additionally, the organization operates accredited residency and fellowship programs for physical therapist education and offers continuing education courses for professionals. The company has expanded into telehealth services combining online exercise programs with in-person treatment for conditions like osteoarthritis.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapy One-on-one rehabilitation care for orthopedic conditions, joint pain, post-surgical recovery, and musculoskeletal injuries delivered by licensed physical therapists across the clinic's three Baltimore-area locations.
- Sports Physical Therapy Specialized rehabilitation for athletes and active individuals addressing sports-related injuries, return-to-sport conditioning, and performance recovery, with an embedded partnership serving Loyola University Athletics.
- Manual Therapy Hands-on joint and soft tissue mobilization techniques delivered by fellowship-trained therapists to reduce pain and restore mobility.
- Dry Needling Intramuscular needling technique used to release trigger points, relieve myofascial pain, and improve range of motion in patients with chronic or acute musculoskeletal conditions.
- IASTM (Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization) Specialized soft tissue technique using instruments to detect and treat scar tissue, fascial restrictions, and chronic soft tissue dysfunction.
- Aquatic Therapy Water-based rehabilitation to reduce joint loading and support early-stage recovery for patients with orthopedic and post-surgical conditions.
- Kinesio Taping Therapeutic taping application used to support injured muscles and joints, reduce pain, and improve circulation during recovery.
- Orthopedic Residency and Fellowship Programs Post-professional clinical education programs described as Maryland's first accredited orthopedic residency and fellowship, training physical therapists in advanced orthopedic practice.
Quantifiable outcome
- Physical Therapy First demonstrates evidence-based practice through extensive clinical research publication, including studies on ACL outcomes, tendinopathy treatment, concussion rehabilitation, and osteoarthritis management.
Companies that use Physical Therapy First
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Physical Therapy First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature1 record
Physical Therapy First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Loyola University AthleticscorePhysical Therapy First is an official partner of Loyola University Athletics, providing comprehensive physical therapy and sports rehabilitation services for Loyola Greyhounds athletes including injury treatment, post-surgical rehabilitation, and performance optimization.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Physical Therapy First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- JAG-ONE Physical Therapy: Mid-Atlantic outpatient physical therapy group with strong sports medicine and orthopedic focus. Comparable patient segments and clinical offering, with a wider East Coast footprint than PTF.
- Pivot Physical Therapy: Multi-site outpatient PT provider serving the Mid-Atlantic region (including Maryland) with orthopedic and sports rehabilitation services. Closest regional geographic competitor to PTF.
- LifeBridge Health Physical Therapy: Hospital-affiliated outpatient rehabilitation network serving the Greater Baltimore region with orthopedic and sports PT services. Comparable care model in the same geographic market.
- MedStar Health Physical Therapy: Hospital-system-owned outpatient PT clinics across Maryland and the Mid-Atlantic offering orthopedic and sports rehab. Overlaps directly with PTF's service lines in the same catchment area.
Broad incumbents
- Select Medical / NovaCare Rehabilitation: National outpatient rehabilitation chain that offers orthopedic and sports physical therapy services through NovaCare and other outpatient brands. Comparable service mix and patient segments, with broader geographic reach and payer leverage.
- ATI Physical Therapy: One of the largest outpatient physical therapy providers in the U.S. with hundreds of clinics across multiple states. Highly comparable as a multi-site orthopedic/sports PT operator, but at much greater scale and with a national footprint.
- U.S. Physical Therapy: Public operator of approximately 600+ outpatient PT clinics across the U.S. Directly comparable business model — multi-site outpatient orthopedic PT clinics with a mix of company-owned and partnership/partnership-clinic structures.
Emerging players
- Hinge Health: Digital MSK and virtual physical therapy platform serving employers and health plans. Comparable patient population (orthopedic and post-surgical MSK conditions) but a digital-first delivery model that competes for self-insured employer MSK spend.
- Sword Health: Virtual MSK care provider offering digital physical therapy, including AI-guided exercise programs for post-surgical and chronic orthopedic conditions. Comparable clinical conditions but distinct digital-only delivery model.
- ATI Performance Therapy / Results Physiotherapy: Outpatient orthopedic PT chains (Results was acquired by ATI in 2023) emphasizing manual therapy and fellowship-trained clinicians. Comparable clinical philosophy and sports/orthopedic patient focus to PTF.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Physical Therapy First social profiles
Digital presencePhysical Therapy First compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance5 records
Physical Therapy First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Physical Therapy First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Physical Therapy First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Physical Therapy First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Physical Therapy First
What does Physical Therapy First do?
Physical Therapy First is an outpatient orthopedic and sports physical therapy clinic operating three locations across the Baltimore, Maryland area. The practice delivers one-on-one, hands-on care from licensed therapists covering orthopedic rehabilitation, sports injury recovery, manual therapy, dry needling, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM), and post-surgical rehabilitation. The clinic also hosts Maryland's first accredited orthopedic residency and fellowship programs and maintains a partnership with Loyola University Athletics.
Is Physical Therapy First a public or private company?
Physical Therapy First is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Physical Therapy First founded?
Physical Therapy First was founded in 2001. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Physical Therapy First based?
Physical Therapy First is headquartered in Baltimore, United States, in the North America region.
How does Physical Therapy First make money?
One revenue line is on record: physical Therapy Services.
Who are Physical Therapy First's main competitors?
Regional players on record are JAG-ONE Physical Therapy, Pivot Physical Therapy, LifeBridge Health Physical Therapy and MedStar Health Physical Therapy. Broad incumbents are Select Medical / NovaCare Rehabilitation, ATI Physical Therapy and U.S. Physical Therapy. Emerging players are Hinge Health, Sword Health and ATI Performance Therapy / Results Physiotherapy.
Does Physical Therapy First have an API?
No public API is recorded for Physical Therapy First.
What industry is Physical Therapy First in?
Physical Therapy First's product category is Outpatient Orthopedic Physical Therapy. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HSADAIAA, Orthopedic Physical Therapy & Post-Op Rehab, with a secondary code of HLADAJAD, Outpatient Physical Therapy (PT) Clinics. Its NAICS code is 62134 and its SIC code is 8000.