Building Health Beyond the Treatment Table

When I was in physical therapy school, I had a dream that my career would allow me to positively influence the health and wellness of millions of lives.

Once I entered the working world and took my first corporate PT job, that dream started to feel distant. I quickly realized that much of the corporate healthcare system prioritizes keeping the machine running over truly helping patients.

I vividly remember getting involved in internal groups that were supposedly focused on improving patient health. In reality, most of them just created more administrative bloat. When I tried to start community health initiatives, things that could genuinely help people outside the clinic walls, I was met with resistance. Those efforts would block my schedule, reduce billable visits, and lower revenue per hour. An unacceptable tradeoff in the corporate model.

Starting my own private practice changed everything.

I was refreshed by the realization that community events and health initiatives weren’t just good for the community, they were mutually beneficial for the business too.
Physical therapy shouldn’t stop at the treatment table, it should strengthen the whole community.
A few weeks ago, I hosted a How to Run workshop at Orangetheory in Evanston, teaching members how to run in a way that reduces injury risk and joint wear. Just last week, I led a How to Foam Roll workshop, sharing the same techniques I use with my patients to reduce muscle tension and improve recovery.

This year, I’m also running my second Own the Off Season strength training program for male runners, a weekly group program designed to build leg strength during a time of year when most runners are told to run less and lift more, but aren’t shown how to actually do that safely and effectively.

Being able to integrate these workshops, coaching programs, and community initiatives into Valiant Physical Therapy has been incredibly fulfilling. It truly feels like the practice is making a meaningful impact on the health of the people who trust us as patients and clients.

These efforts go far beyond what most people think of as a standard PT clinic. And it’s something many patients notice quickly, it’s a key differentiator of how we practice.

At Valiant Physical Therapy, we aim to do more than just rehab pain and get people back to the sport they love. We want to support long term health, performance, and confidence, both inside and outside the clinic.

We strive to be a positive light for health in the community.
One patient at a time.
One event at a time.
One relationship at a time.
One moment at a time.

Remember, at Valiant Physical Therapy, your best is yet to come!

Dr. Michael

Valiant Physical Therapy
Evanston, Illinois
Physical therapy for Runners | Sports Rehab