NextStep Fitness

What NextStep Fitness does

NextStep Fitness, Inc. is a California-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that operates an international network of paralysis recovery centers delivering standardized, research-driven activity-based therapy (ABT). Founded in 2007, the organization runs 11-plus centers across the United States (Los Angeles headquarters, Atlanta, Orlando, Kansas City, Raleigh, Las Vegas), New Zealand (four locations), and Ukraine (two centers), with Fort Wayne and Pittsburgh planned for 2027. The organization's core offering is a suite of therapeutic interventions including Locomotor Training, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) cycling, Gait Training, Vibration Training, and ARC-EX transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation—all delivered through NeuroRecovery Network (NRN) certified trainers following standardized protocols designed to promote functional recovery, neuroplasticity, and improved health outcomes for individuals with spinal cord injuries, stroke, traumatic brain injury, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson's disease, and other neurological conditions.

The technology stack centers on specialized rehabilitation equipment sourced from Restorative Therapies (RTI XCite and RTI-300 systems), ONWARD Medical (ARC-EX FDA-cleared non-invasive spinal cord stimulator), Ekso Bionics (Indego exoskeleton), Galileo and Power Plate vibration platforms, and Rifton gait training systems. NextStep is a member and leader of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation's NeuroRecovery Network and one of only 60 U.S. clinics offering ARC-EX therapy, positioning it as a credentialed provider of evidence-based neurorehabilitation.

Revenue is generated through four primary streams: recurring monthly memberships (tiered from $345 per month for FES-only up to $2,272.50 per month for 3x-per-week 120-minute NMES), a la carte per-session fees ($95 to $200 per session depending on location and modality), one-time initial assessments ($75 to $225), and a substantial fundraising apparatus comprising charitable donations, corporate matching, and signature events including charity golf tournaments, galas, pickleball tournaments, and the Ride for Paralysis (World's Toughest Row) campaign. Go-to-market relies on healthcare provider referrals (notably Shepherd Center), Reeve Foundation channels, social media, earned media coverage, and community-driven word-of-mouth rather than direct consumer advertising.

Name

NextStep Fitness

Legal name

NextStep Fitness, Inc.

Website

https://nextstepfitness.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2007

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NextStep Fitness is a 501(c)(3) non-profit operating an international network of 11-plus paralysis recovery centers delivering standardized activity-based therapy—including NMES, FES cycling, and ARC-EX spinal stimulation—for individuals with spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Paralysis Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162)

SIC

Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093), Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

Rehabilitation Return-to-Exercise Training (Non-Clinical) (HSADAAAK)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adaptive & Special Needs Personal Training (HSADAAAL), Neurologic Rehabilitation (Stroke, TBI, Parkinson’s, MS) (HSADAIAC), Functional Fitness & Mobility Training (HSADAAAD)

Keywords

• Paralysis rehabilitation services
• Activity-based therapy programs
• Neurological recovery centers
• Spinal cord injury therapy
• Community fitness rehabilitation

Headquarters

HQ city

Lawndale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices13 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Monthly pre-billed memberships for guided exercise, NMES, and FES bike access. All membership services are pre-billed at the beginning of each month with minimum commitment periods of 2-6 consecutive months.
2. Per-Session Fees: A la carte pricing for individual sessions including guided exercise, NMES, and initial assessments. Sessions are paid prior to scheduling.
3. Donations and Fundraising: Charitable donations from individuals, corporate matching programs, and event-based fundraising including golf tournaments, galas, and the annual Ride for Paralysis campaign.
4. NextStep 365 VIP Program: $365 annual membership providing VIP passes to all events, two player tickets to tournaments, two free non-player passes, and access to VIP lounge

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

NextStep Fitness operates a network of community-based paralysis recovery centers delivering standardized, research-driven Activity-Based Therapy (ABT) programs for individuals living with spinal cord injuries, stroke, TBI, MS, and other neurological conditions. Services delivered by NeuroRecovery Network-certified trainers include Locomotor Training, NMES, FES cycling, Gait Training, Vibration Training, and FDA-cleared ARC-EX transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation, offered through monthly membership subscriptions and per-session fees.

Product overview

NextStep Fitness is a non-profit organization that operates a network of internationally recognized paralysis recovery centers offering standardized, research-driven activity-based therapy programs. The organization functions as a single unified service model across its locations (Los Angeles, Atlanta, Orlando, Kansas City, Raleigh, Las Vegas, Ukraine, New Zealand, and upcoming Fort Wayne and Pittsburgh), providing Activity-Based Therapy as the core offering, supplemented with specialized interventions including Locomotor Training, Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES), Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) cycling, ARC-EX Therapy (transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation), Gait Training, and Vibration Training. The services are delivered through certified NeuroRecovery Network trainers, with membership programs at various price points to make recovery accessible and affordable to those living with paralysis.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NeuroRecovery Network: A cooperative network of cutting-edge rehabilitation sites designed to develop and deliver therapies that promote functional recovery. NextStep is a member and leader of this network.
• NextStep 365
• ARC-EX Therapy
• DRIVEN NeuroRecovery Center

Products and services

• Activity-Based Therapy (ABT) Research-driven, standardized activity-based therapy programs for individuals with neurological disorders (SCI, stroke, TBI, MS, CP, Parkinson's) for recovery of function, health, and quality of life. Delivered through one-on-one and small group training sessions with NeuroRecovery Network-certified trainers.
• Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) High-frequency, wide pulse-width, task-specific electrical stimulation provided via Restorative Therapies Sage unit with Xcite software to generate motor output and increase central state of excitability in the spinal cord. Improves motor function and reduces secondary complications.
• Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) Cycling FES RTI-300 bikes are ergonomic bicycles used from a wheelchair, using electrical stimulation through electrodes to cycle with and without motor support. Used for arm cycling or leg cycling for aerobic conditioning, increased circulation, spasticity management, and muscle flexibility.
• ARC-EX Therapy FDA-cleared, non-invasive transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation system from ONWARD Medical that delivers electrical impulses to the cervical spinal cord via surface electrodes to improve hand/arm strength, sensation, and function in people with chronic cervical spinal cord injuries. NextStep Raleigh is one of only 60 US clinics offering this therapy.
• Locomotor Training Activity-based therapy that emerged from research showing the spinal cord can interpret sensory information below injury level and relay signals to generate motor response. Repetitively stimulates muscles and nerves in the lower body to retrain the spinal cord to remember walking patterns.
• Gait Training Gait training and standing programs using equipment including Rifton XL Pacer Gait Trainer, Body-Supported Gait Trainer/Treadmill System, Parallel Bars, Therapy Stairs, Standing Frames, and Tilt Table. Designed for walking rehabilitation and standing programs.
• Vibration Training Training using Galileo Vibration Plate and Power Plate Full-Body Vibration Plate for muscle stimulation, therapy, and strength training benefits.
• Ekso Indego Exoskeleton Program Wearable exoskeleton technology from Ekso Bionics providing powered gait assistance for clients at NextStep Orlando to work toward mobility recovery goals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Clients have achieved walking with assistance, manual wheelchair use, and reduced dependence on assistive devices
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• NeuroRecovery Network (NRN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNextStep is a member and leader of the NeuroRecovery Network, a cooperative network of cutting-edge rehabilitation sites designed to develop and deliver therapies promoting functional recovery. The NRN provides training, protocols, and accreditation for Locomotor Training and NMES interventions.
• ONWARD MedicalcoreTechnology or IntegrationONWARD Medical provides the FDA-cleared ARC-EX transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation system to NextStep Raleigh. One of only 60 clinics in the US offering this non-invasive stimulation technology for chronic cervical SCI.
• Christopher & Dana Reeve FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAffiliation through NeuroRecovery Network membership. Alexandra Reeve Givens, daughter of Christopher Reeve, serves on the Foundation board and has spoken at NextStep events. Foundation provides resources, information specialists, and validation of NextStep's approach.
• Restorative Therapies Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationProvider of RTI Xcite NMES machines and RTI 300 FES bikes used for neuromuscular electrical stimulation therapy and functional electrical stimulation cycling at NextStep centers.
• Shepherd CentercoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerTop spinal acute care and rehab facility in Atlanta, Georgia. Many NextStep clients transition from Shepherd Center's Beyond Therapy program to continued recovery at NextStep locations.
• Avery BiomedicalminorOthersSponsor of NextStep Raleigh events and programs.
• BioventusminorOthersSponsor of NextStep Raleigh events and programs.
• NumotionminorOthersMobility equipment provider and sponsor of NextStep Raleigh.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• ONWARD Medical: Developer of ARC-EX transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation technology that NextStep Raleigh delivers. A technology/infrastructure partner and supplier rather than competitor, but materially shapes the SCI therapy landscape NextStep competes within.

Broad incumbents

• Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation: Foundational SCI advocacy and research organization that operates the NeuroRecovery Network of which NextStep is a leader. Shared mission and overlapping SCI community, but at national grant-making scale rather than direct-service.
• TIRR Memorial Hermann: Leading US rehabilitation hospital with Model System SCI program. Comparable in patient population and therapy modalities but operates as a clinical institution rather than membership-based non-profit.
• Shepherd Center: Top US spinal cord injury rehabilitation hospital that refers patients to NextStep Atlanta. Operates its own Beyond Therapy program overlapping with NextStep's ABT/locomotor offerings, but at much larger institutional scale.
• Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation: Major US inpatient/outpatient rehabilitation provider with strong SCI and stroke programs. While broader and clinical rather than non-profit/fitness-oriented, it serves the same neurological recovery patient population.

Direct peers

• Journey Forward: Non-profit dedicated to spinal cord injury recovery through intensive exercise-based therapy. Comparable mission and operating model serving a similar paralysis-focused customer base with activity-based programs.
• Project Walk: Non-profit paralysis recovery center network offering activity-based therapy using similar Locomotor Training and progressive recovery methods. Directly comparable mission, modality mix, and target SCI/stroke customer base.
• Get Up Stand Up to Cure Paralysis: Non-profit organization funding and operating paralysis recovery programs with a similar SCI-focused, activity-based therapy mission and donor-supported model.
• Push International (Push to Walk): Non-profit paralysis recovery gym serving individuals with SCI, spina bifida, and other conditions through activity-based training; closely aligned customer segments and operating model.
• Center for Neuro Recovery: Activity-based therapy center offering intensive rehabilitation programs for SCI, stroke, and other neurological conditions using equipment-driven protocols analogous to NextStep's NMES/FES/locomotor approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCdJ3J5f8cMN1gCS 2fZ4v9pQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/NextStepRaleigh
• Instagraminstagram.com/nextstep_raleigh
• Xx.com/NextStepLA

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NextStep Fitness