Sports Physical Therapy in Denver
We Won't Tell You to Slow Down
You know that feeling when you can't push as hard as you want to? It's frustrating. And finding the right team to help you through it can make all the difference.
Generic rehab programs don't work for Colorado athletes. You're different. Your sport is different. And at Tundra Performance and Physical Therapy, we account for those unique demands.
Most physical therapy clinics treat injuries the same way regardless of who walks through the door. A 65-year-old recovering from a knee replacement gets a similar protocol to a 28-year-old skier with an ACL tear. The goals are the same: reduce pain, restore basic function, discharge. That approach doesn't work for athletes.
Sports physical therapy at Tundra is built around a different question. Not "Can you walk without pain?" but "Can you ski a black diamond at full speed, deadlift heavy without compensation, climb your project route, or run a sub-7 mile without your injury holding you back?"
We test for that. We train for that. And we don't clear you until you can actually do it. We work with you to find the root cause of your pain, not just mask the symptoms, so you can get back to doing what you love without missing a beat.
Denver Sports Physical Therapy Tailored to You
You shouldn't have to choose between pushing your limits and staying healthy. Our physical therapists understand the demands of your sport because we've worked with athletes just like you—people who live for the sound of plates hitting the platform, the rhythm of a long trail run, or the feel of a fresh chairlift at first light.
Every injury tells a different story, but here's what doesn't change: our commitment to keeping you training. We'll develop a customized program that accounts for your injury while keeping you as active as possible. No cookie-cutter protocols. No telling you to "just rest."
This is what athletic performance physical therapy looks like in practice. Objective testing instead of subjective check-ins. Progressive loading that mirrors the demands of your sport. Rehab sessions that look more like training than passive treatment. We use the same tools your strength coach would use, including force plates, dynamometers, and movement analysis, because they're the tools that actually tell us when you're ready to return.
Located in South Denver, we serve athletes throughout the metro area including Cherry Creek, Wash Park, Centennial, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, and the broader Front Range.
Our Services Include
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Movement assessment
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Running gait analysis
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Manual therapy and soft tissue work
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Dry needling
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Blood flow restriction therapy
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Weightlifting analysis
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return-to-play Testing & Programs
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Maximal strength testing
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Hangboard assessment for climbers
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Neuromuscular re-education
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Vertical jump testing
Who We Work With
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Outdoor Athletes
Climbing, mountain biking, skiing, snowboarding, hiking, trail running—whatever gets you outside, we want to keep you there. Colorado's outdoor athletes deal with injuries that traditional PT clinics rarely understand: rotator cuff strain from overhead climbing moves, knee pain from steep descents, low back issues from a season of pow days. Our team specializes in individualized rehab programs that address the specific demands of mountain and trail sports, so you can get back to the summit, the wall, or the bike park without compromise.
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Barbell Athletes
Powerlifting, Olympic lifting, CrossFit, and general strength training all put unique demands on the body, and the injuries that come from them require unique solutions. Whether it's shoulder pain from pressing, low back issues from deadlifts, knee discomfort under heavy squats, or wrist and elbow problems from high-volume training, we get it because we lift too. Our barbell athlete programs don't tell you to stop training. We modify, load progressively, and rebuild you stronger than before so you can get back under the bar.
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Runners And Endurance Athletes
Training for your first 5K or your next Ironman, hitting the trails or grinding road miles—endurance athletes deal with overuse injuries that need more than rest. IT band syndrome, Achilles tendinitis, runner's knee, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, and stress reactions are all common, and all addressable when treated correctly. Our running gait analysis and endurance-specific programming help you understand why the injury happened, fix the root cause, and build the strength and mechanics to keep it from coming back. Run stronger, move better, stay on course.
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Post Surgical & Return to Sport
Every surgery comes with its own considerations, timelines, and challenges. Whether you're recovering from ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, rotator cuff surgery, labral repair, hip or knee replacement, or spine surgery, the rehab process determines how fully you return to your sport. Our team is well-versed in surgical rehabilitation protocols and works in close coordination with your surgeon throughout recovery. From early-stage healing through high-level sport-specific testing and clearance, we guide you through every phase. The goal isn't just to walk without pain. It's to return to your sport stronger than before surgery.
The Tundra Sports Physical Therapy Process
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Initial Evaluation
Your first visit is a 60-minute, one-on-one comprehensive assessment with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. We discuss your injury history, training background, sport-specific demands, and goals. Then we run a full movement screen, hands-on examination, and any specialized testing your situation requires. By the end of the session, you'll understand exactly what's going on, why it's happening, and what we're going to do about it.
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Custom Treatment Plan
No two athletes get the same plan. A trail runner with knee pain gets a different program than a powerlifter with the same diagnosis, because the demands of their sports are completely different. Your plan accounts for what you're trying to return to, not just what's hurting now.
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Active Rehab Sessions
Each follow-up session is 60 minutes, one-on-one, with the same therapist who evaluated you. We progress your program as you recover, adjust based on how your body is responding, and continually update your goals. No passing you off to a tech. No sharing your therapist with three other patients.
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Objective Return-to-Sport Testing
This is where Tundra differs most from traditional PT. Before we clear you to fully return to your sport, you'll complete sport-specific performance testing. For skiers, that means single-leg hop testing, jump symmetry, and strength benchmarks. For lifters, it's progressive loading to your training intensities under observation. For runners, it's gait analysis and running mechanics testing. If you pass, you're cleared. If you don't, we know exactly what still needs work.
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Performance Phase
Many of our athletes choose to continue working with Tundra after rehab is complete, transitioning into performance-focused training that addresses the underlying weaknesses or imbalances that contributed to the injury in the first place. The goal isn't just to recover. It's to come back stronger than before.
“I questioned whether I’d be able to exercise or play sports again. After working with Josh, I was not only able to rehabilitate my injury but to then also build muscle and greatly increase my strength.”
Josh changed my life! I started working with Josh when I suffered an injury that left me with limited to no mobility. I questioned whether I’d be able to exercise or play sports again. After working with Josh, I was not only able to rehabilitate my injury but to then also build muscle and greatly increase my strength. Before Josh, I was hesitant to perform certain exercises in the gym because of my condition and out of fear that I would “make it worse”. Now I have full confidence in my body’s ability to handle almost any exercise with my newfound core strength & conditioning routine and overall knowledge.
– Dan H., Soccer Player
OUTDOOR ATHLETE TESTIMONIALS
“Josh coached me through the processes of regaining mobility, strength, and confidence in my knee after surgery.”
I have played sports all my life, including through and post college. My lifestyle was interrupted when I tore my patellar tendon in a lacrosse tournament. Josh coached me through the processes of regaining mobility, strength, and confidence in my knee after surgery. I am truly grateful every day he was my PT. He helped me get back to playing lacrosse, lifting, hiking, biking, and dancing salsa. Josh is a fantastic PT and a better person. I cannot recommend him enough.
– Hunter J., Hybrid Athlete
“With 3 ACL tears. He’s gotten me back where I need to be, just in time to be chasing pow all ski season!”
With 3 ACL tears, I’ve worked with a few PTs. I can say with confidence that Josh is by far the best out there. He tailors his program to align with the priorities of his clients, offers realistic expectations, and gives honest, effective, feedback. He’s gotten me back where I need to be, just in time to be chasing pow all ski season!– Hunter J., Hybrid Athlete
– Matt F., Skier
Sports Physical TheraPy Frequently Asked Questions
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Sports physical therapy is a specialized branch of physical therapy focused on athletes and active people recovering from injury, surgery, or pain that's limiting performance. Unlike traditional physical therapy, which often centers on returning patients to basic daily activities, sports PT is built around getting you back to the demands of your sport, whether that's skiing, lifting, climbing, running, or any other athletic pursuit. At Tundra Performance & Physical Therapy in Denver, every program is designed around the specific physical, biomechanical, and performance requirements of your activities.
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The biggest difference is the end goal. Traditional PT typically aims to get you out of pain and back to walking, working, and basic daily tasks. Sports PT aims to get you back to your sport at full capacity, not just functional, but performance-ready. That means objective return-to-sport testing, sport-specific movement assessments, progressive loading that mirrors your training, and a higher standard for what "recovered" means. We also use tools and assessments that traditional PT clinics rarely offer, including force plate testing, hangboard assessments for climbers, running gait analysis, and maximal strength testing.
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No. Colorado is a direct-access state, which means you can see a physical therapist without a referral from a physician. You can book a consultation with Tundra Performance & Physical Therapy directly and we'll assess your injury, develop a treatment plan, and get you started without any need for a doctor's note.
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It depends on the injury and your goals. A minor strain might resolve in 3-6 visits over a few weeks. A post-surgical rehabilitation, like ACL reconstruction, can take 6-12 months to return to full sport. Chronic issues often need 8-12 weeks of consistent work. What sets sports PT apart is the focus on getting you back faster and more completely. We don't keep you in rehab longer than you need to be. Once you're ready for return-to-sport testing, we test, and if you pass, you're cleared.
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Tundra Performance & Physical Therapy operates as a cash-pay clinic, which means we don't bill insurance directly. This model allows us to spend a full hour one-on-one with you at every session, design completely customized treatment plans, and avoid the visit caps and treatment restrictions that insurance often imposes. Most patients are eligible to submit superbills to their insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement, and we can provide the documentation needed. For many athletes, the value of personalized care and faster results outweighs the insurance question.
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Tundra specializes in the sports that define active Colorado living. That includes skiing, snowboarding, climbing, mountain biking, hiking, trail running, and road running on the outdoor athlete side, and powerlifting, Olympic lifting, CrossFit, and general strength training on the barbell side. We also work extensively with post-surgical patients (ACL, meniscus, rotator cuff, joint replacements) and have specific expertise in helping athletes return to high-level performance after surgery.
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Your first visit at Tundra is a comprehensive evaluation. We start with a conversation about your injury history, your sport, your training, and your specific goals. Then we conduct a movement assessment, hands-on examination, and any sport-specific testing that's relevant (gait analysis for runners, lifting analysis for barbell athletes, etc.). By the end of the session, you'll have a clear diagnosis, a treatment plan, and your first set of exercises. Most patients leave feeling better than they came in.
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Tundra is located in South Denver at 2175 S Jasmine St #103, Denver, CO 80222. We serve athletes throughout the Denver metro area, including Cherry Creek, Wash Park, Centennial, Englewood, Greenwood Village, Highlands Ranch, Littleton, and the broader Front Range.
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Our team treats a wide range of musculoskeletal and sports-related conditions, including ACL and other knee injuries, shoulder injuries (rotator cuff tears, labral tears, impingement, dislocations), back pain (disc herniations, sciatica, SI joint dysfunction), hip pain and impingement, post-surgical rehabilitation, running injuries (IT band syndrome, Achilles tendinitis, shin splints), weightlifting injuries, and general overuse and chronic pain conditions in athletic populations.
Training Resources For Sports Physical Therapy
Ready to get back to your sport? Let's find out what's really going on and get you moving again.