The Movement Dr.

Physical Therapy Pensacola, FL

Schedule Now – Pensacola Physical Therapy

At The Movement Dr., we are here to help you achieve lasting physical therapy results. If you’ve been dealing with chronic pain or are going through an injury, we are here to help you reduce your pain and retain your independence. In your private initial consultation, we’ll discuss your pain and injury, learn the history of it, help you understand what is going on in your body, and develop a treatment plan together.

You can book your In-Person Pensacola Physical Therapy Consultation below!

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The Movement Dr. physical therapy clinic is located in Pensacola, FL. We serve our patients in-person at this clinic location and remotely.

The Movement Dr. Pensacola Physical Therapy Clinic Contact Information:

Dr. CJ DePalma, PT, CSCS, CF-L1

Phone: (407) 883-9945

Email: cj@themovementdr.net

Address: 3355 Copter Rd #1, Pensacola, FL 32514

The Best Pensacola Physical Therapy Clinic

“Rethink Your Rehab”

At The Movement Dr. we are here to provide lasting results for our physical therapy patients and athletes.

Unfortunately, there are many myths about pain and recovery. The even worse pain is these myths are spread by healthcare providers. This information affects how individuals recover and it has been our mission to bust these myths and provide the Pensacola, FL community and beyond with the most up-to-date information and science around pain and rehabilitation. 

We share free information publicly through our blog, social media accounts, and facebook group “Training Through Pain”. Through our physical therapy practice we implement and movement and evidence-based approach. 

We take all variables and factors into account when evaluating someone’s injury and/or pain. Your mindset, knowledge, what your physician has said, and what you have read on Google all influence your pain and recovery.

We don’t believe in gimmickey practices that have no evidence backing them, so we don’t poke you with random objects to make you temporarily feel better. We look at all of the causes, get you moving in a way to rehab, and provide you with the knowledge you need to have lasting real results from your physical therapy.

 

We have been honored to earn the Pensacola community’s vote as The Best Physical Therapy in Pensacola, FL for two years in a row, in Pensacola News Journal’s Best of The Bay awards! We won in 2019 and 2020, and hope to continue providing the community with the best service and affect the most lives with our mission!

Pensacola Physical Therapists

Dr. Kaley Kania, PT, CF-L2

Dr. CJ DePalma, PT, CSCS, CF-L1

“Thank you CJ for helping me get rid of my back pain I have had for the last couple of years! He is very knowledgeable when it comes to rehab. I highly recommend him to anyone who is currently dealing with an injury or for anyone who is looking to improve their athletic performance!”

-Nick Unger

“I tore the labrum in my right shoulder. After laying off overhead activity, getting a steroid shot, and completing Physical Therapy, I was still very limited in the gym just the same and had daily pain. I felt surgery was my only option in the long run to get back to doing everything I love. That was the path I was being lead down and believing, although I still wasn’t 100% sold.

Then I heard about and reached out to CJ, thinking it was worth a shot, and I am so grateful I did! I already felt hopeful after our very first meeting due to his optimism and confidence that I COULD get back to doing everything I wanted WITHOUT surgery. One month in working with CJ and complete 180 – I canceled my surgery. I am already improving and have less pain on a daily basis! It had been 3 months of no overhead activity or pull-ups, and one month in I’m doing banded pull-ups and overhead pressing with little to no pain! CJ’s non-traditional model and mindset has helped me have a different perspective altogether.

Now I feel silly for even considering surgery. I wish I would’ve connected with CJ sooner, but I am super stoked about the progress already and excited about what’s to come!”

-Abby Moore

“CJ understands performance and rehab far beyond what your average rehab provider does. If you’re serious about being at your best, he’s the guy to see.”

-Zachary Long

“CJ is always helpful and very knowledgeable. He pushes you to achieve things you didn’t think you could.”

-Carla Gilmore

“CJ is committed to each of his clients. He tailors every session to fit us. He is knowledgeable and always professional. We have been working together on my wellness journey for over 5 years. My goal is to be fit at whatever age I happen to be. Currently, I’m 52 and we are working on a better, more healthy me. I confidently recommend Dr. CJ DePalma.”

-Anita Webb

CJ is the Steve Irwin of PT. He loves and believes in what he does, it shows. He will give you one on one undivided attention until you reach your goals. Be ready to work, he is. But you’ll thank him later. I’d give him an extra star if they had one here. This guy cares??

-Rich Viggiano

“The most effective physical therapy I’ve ever had. In my experience, a family doctor will first tell you to stop being active and “rest” for several weeks before a follow-up appointment where the Dr may then schedule an x-ray or an orthopedic referral. Once you’ve bounced around to several doctor offices, you may be given a referral to a PT who’s simultaneously seeing other patients and who gives you set exercises based off of a pre-made worksheet that’s a cookie-cutter fix to whatever diagnosed problem you may have. The Movement Dr doesn’t seem to have a cookie-cutter worksheet approach, but spends adequate one-on-one time with you to determine the problem, and to best figure out the most efficient means of correcting the problem. I can say that, without a doubt, The Movement Dr provided the most productive and thorough physical therapy sessions this 38-year-old avid athlete as have ever received. I highly recommend The Movement Dr for anyone. He’s knowledgeable, engaged, thorough and I’d even say that he has a meticulous eye for movement. I’d give him 10 stars if Google didn’t limit me to only 5.”

-Joshua Owens

“I came to CJ with acute lower back pain. He did not waste any time in running me through a movement test to diagnose the issue. After explaining to me what was going on, he gave me a simple and thoughtfully designed plan to return to full health. He periodically checked in on me even after we stopped having appointments. As a former collegiate athlete, I can confidently say that his understanding of pain and injuries far surpasses any doctor/physical therapist that I have worked with in the past.”

-Justin Pagila

“CJ helped put my teen athlete on the path to game play absent of the usual knee pain and overuse injuries common in youth soccer.”

-Gregory Baker

“He is one of the most knowledgeable doctors you will find. Dr. DePalma will customize your therapy to get you back to 100%. Trust the process!”

-Harrison Whitehead

“Easy to work with, patient, and helpful! Highly recommend!”

-Patrick Waters

“I developed lower back pain after squatting too heavy too soon. Just a couple months after seeing The Movement Dr. and following the plan he laid out for me, my low back pain is gone and I’m squatting pain-free.”

-Christopher Weaver

“I had broken the 5th metacarpal of my left hand, which controls the rotation of my pinky finger. After surgery, CJ worked with me for several weeks. From barely moving it to being able to make a fist, CJ did an extraordinary job; you can’t even tell it was ever affected. Thanks, CJ!”

-Katie Reeves

“Over a year ago, I started having constant and immense shoulder/neck pain. I had an MRI done but it didn’t show anything conclusive and was told it was an impingement and to have physical therapy. Luckily, The Movement Dr. CJ DePalma was a resident Coach and Physical Therapist at my CrossFit gym. I had been working out for over six years and had never been in pain or injured before, so I was a little freaked out and scared. I think mostly, I was scared that I’d never be able to do what I loved (CrossFit) anymore without pain. But CJ stayed with me, encouraged me to stay positive, and helped me get through and over the pain. We modified movements when needed but I kept on moving. I am very grateful to him for his knowledge, advice, and help. I couldn’t have gotten through it without him. Thanks, Doc!”

-Bridget Granse

“I have gone to The Movement Dr. for three separate issues. One for a sprained wrist, one for a sprained ankle, and the most important one to me was lower back pain due to my job.

I suffered from lower back pain for 3 years before going to the Movement DR and I thought that was just going to be my life from now on. Waking up in pain, and having my legs go numb.

CJ worked with me to modify workouts and exercises to help me strengthen the affected areas. Thanks to the information and hands-on application I haven’t had any back pain since 2017.”

-Sagnak

“Super knowledgeable and tailored for athletes and just an overall cool dude. Highly recommend ?”

-Dane Goodwin

“CJ was great to work with! I was having issues with patellar tendinitis in both my knees and he put a detailed plan in place to help me get better. I was able to continue training while rehabbing, which was very important to me. Not only did he help me with my knee issues; but he also coached me up on lifts, gymnastic movements, and workout strategies. If you’re an athlete having some issues, I highly recommend giving CJ a call!”

-Ryan Ware

“The BEST in the area! His approach on recovery is so real and attainable. It enables every client to reach their goals. Thank you, Dr CJ!!! Also, he is amazing with my kids!”

-Dawn Hamil

About Our physical Therapy

Physical therapists are experts of movement and commonly referred to as physiotherapists. Our goal is to improve the quality of life of our patients by prescribing exercises and educating our patients about the body, and their pain or injury.

We treat and work with individuals of all ages, to improve their conditions and reach their goals. Not only do we work with patients beyond chronic pain management or injury recovery, but we help our clients become healthier overall, prevent injuries, and achieve fitness goals.

Physical therapy treatments can be implemented in-person and through telehealth or virtual avenues. Teleheath and remote physical therapy solutions can actually allow more opportunities to connect with your physical therapist.

There are many benefits to our physical therapy:

More Access To Physical Therapist

Through traditional in-person physical therapy you only communicate to your Physical Therapist about how you are feeling once you are at your session. However, we utilize technology so we can communicate much more frequently through messaging to give you feedback on your treatment videos through the app we utilize. Not to mention we will still have face-to-face meetings and video calls, as needed.

Budget-Friendly Physical Therapy

Since you will not have to come in to see us every time you need to do your exercises, you will not be paying for as many visits compared to other in-person therapy clinics in Pensacola. We’ll communicate frequently as needed, but you won’t be paying every time you work on your therapy or rehab plan!

Rehabilitate & Recover From Anywhere

Since you don’t need to come into our clinic every time, you can complete your treatment and rehabilitation from anywhere that is most convenient for you! We’ll work with you to determine what equipment you have available to you to develop the most effective program. Of course, if you don’t have any equipment and want to complete all of your treatments in person we can accomodate for that. 

One-On-One Private Care

The Movement Dr. was founded to provide a more intimate solution, where our undivided attention can be on our patients when we are working with them. Working with us you’ll have a dedicated Physical Therapist working with you.

Unfortunately, in many traditional clinic settings, the physical therapists are often working with multiple patients at once, or worse not at all.

Avoid Drugs And Surgery

Surgery and drugs are too often defaulted to in the healthcare industry. Our country is facing an opioid crisis because of the overuse and over prescribtion of these drugs. While, these drugs have their part in some medical treatment, even the CDC is urging healthcare providers to favor physical therapy as a safer solution for chronic pain or long-term pain.

Surgey is expensive, invasive, and evidence is showing it is not resulting in any more positive outcomes than alternatives. In fact, surgery can make your condition worse or breed grounds for new conditions to come up. Physical therapy is the safest and can be even more effective for certain conditions.

Pain-Free Movement

Pain is very complex and often times there are more factors to it than just something being “physically wrong”. We’ll develop a physical therapy plan to allow you to comfortably move while building appropriate tolerance.

Retain Your Independence

Our goal is to get you moving pain-free and keep you moving! Rest is not the answer. We will provide you with the tools and education in order to feel independent. We will not make you feel dependent on us, physical therapists, in order to feel better. We want you to be confident and comfortable in your body.

Evidence-Based Practice

Our team stays up on the latest research, especially around pain science. We do not implement practices without having evidence to stand behind it.

What To Expect For Your Physical Therapy In Pensacola

Let Us Know What's Going On & Book Your Initial Consultation

First, you’ll need to get in touch with us to book your initial consultation for physical therapy and rehabilitation. Let us know what is going on and we’ll be prepared to discuss with you on your selected appointment day. Together we will coordinate a time to meet for your initial session.

The Initial Consultation

A Physical Therapist will be dedicated to you and will meet with you at our physical therapy clinic location in Pensacola.  In this session the Physical Therapist will learn more about what you are experiencing with your pain or the injury you are looking to rehabilitate, get an understanding of the history of it all, discuss goals and expectations, and develop a treatment plan with you.

After this consultation, we’ll get you set up on the app which we will utilize for the majority of communication around the physical therapy or rehabilitation plan. The app is free for you to use, and can be accessed on your computer or phone. Additionally needed in-person sessions will be decided on and scheduled in advance, as appropriate for you, the patient.

The Physical Therapy Treatment Experience

Every week you will receive your rehabilitation plan through the app we set you up with. It will have helpful videos for demonstrations, and your dedicated Physical Therapist will leave you important notes to complete the prescribed physical therapy or rehabilitation program.

Through the app you will be able to record yourself completing the exercises, record performance, and any other notes or comments about what you experienced or how you are feeling. Your dedicated Physical Therapist will review all of this information to provide you feedback and make adjustments to the program.

As we have mentioned, there are many elements to pain other than biological reasons. Which is why we are available for last minute communication if you need to adjust the program in an instance where you are having a really rough day, or had to stay late at work and need to move your treatment days around, or you are feeling great and want to do more!

Throughout your treatment, we will continue to do face-to-face meetings a the Pensacola physical therapy clinic, as needed, or over video chat to discuss how you are doing and how we will continue moving forward.

Our goal is to get you to a place where you do not NEED us. We want to provide you with the knowledge and skills to manage your pain and get back to your life.

Many of our patients ultimately decide to shift to remote coaching, once they feel better, where instead of rehabbing an injury or overcoming pain we start to focus on fitness! The majority of clients would like to manage both from the start if possible.

*If you are not interested in any remote treatment, please let us know and we can accommodate. Over the years we have mostly adjusted towards this model as it produces the best results and our patients tend to like it better for the experience and it’s easier on their wallets.

Healthy Lifestyle

A healthy lifestyle is important for keeping chronic pain away.

Our goal is to get you to a place where you do not NEED us. We want to provide you with the knowledge and skills to manage your pain and get back to your life.

However, many of our patients ultimately decide to shift to remote coaching, once they feel better, where instead of rehabbing an injury or overcoming pain we start to focus on fitness!

The majority of clients that come to us would like to manage both their pain and fitness at the same time, which is where we are uniquely qualified. We specialize in helping athletes continue training while overcoming pain or injury.

Please note, we only shift to a fitness-only focus if you are experiencing no pain or have no injuries.

Our Physical Therapy Services

 We provide a variety of physical therapy services:

 

    • Telehealth Physical Therapy & Remote Rehabilitation
    • Chronic Pain Management
    • Injury Recovery and Rehabilitation
    • Surgery and Injury Preventative Therapy
    • Corrective Movement Therapy
    • Sports Rehabilitation
    • Post-Operative Rehabilitation
    • In-Home Physical Therapy Services
    • In-Person Physical Therapy Services in Pensacola, FL
    • In-Person Physical Therapy Services in Mount Holly, NJ
    • General Health and Wellness
    • Personal Training
    • Remote Coaching

There are many common conditions we see, but we will develop a custom plan based on you as an individual, your pain and/or injury, and your goals.

Common conditions treated with Physical Therapy:

Foot And Ankle Injuries

  • Foot Fracture
  • Foot Tendonitis
  • Foot Neuropathy
  • Foot Drop
  • Foot Pain
  • Plantar Fasciitis
  • Ankle and High-Ankle Sprain
  • Ankle Fracture
  • Ankle Pain
  • Achilles Tendonitis

Sports Injuries

  • Bursitis
  • Overuse and Repetitive Motion Injuries
  • Running Injuries
  • Tendonitis
  • Muscle Strain/Pulled Muscle
  • Stress Fractures
  • Shin Splints

    Hip Conditions

    • Osteoarthritis
    • Hip Pain
    • Hip Flexor
    • Hip Bursitis
    • Hip Laberal Tear

    Knee Conditions

    • Knee Ligament Injuries (ACL/MCL/LCL/PCL)
    • Knee Meniscus Injuries
    • Patellar Tendonitis
    • Patellofemoral Pain syndrome
    • Knee Bursitis
    • Pes Anserine
    • Knee Pain

    Shoulder Conditions

    • Frozen Shoulder
    • Rotator Cuff
    • Shoulder Instability
    • Shoulder Pain
    • Shoulder Impingement
    • Shoulder AC Joint Issues
    • Biceps Tendonitis
    • Torn Labrums

      Spine Conditions

      • Low Back Pain
      • Herniated Disc/Bulging Disc Issues
      • Nerve Pain
      • Lumbar Spine
      • SI Joint Pain
      • Chronic Back Pain
      • Cervical Spine Conditions
      • Neck Pain

      Elbow Conditions

      • Tennis Elbow
      • Golfer’s Elbow
      • Elbow Ligament Injuries (RCL/UCL)
      • Elbow Pain

      Wrist And Hand Conditions

      • Wrist Sprain
      • Wrist Pain
      • Carpal Tunnel
      • Grip Issues

      We are a cash-based physical therapy clinic, which means you are not bound by your insurance on how you recover, rehabilitate, or reach your goals. In this format, you can make informed decisions about your health care and there is no physician’s referral required. Despite it’s term “cash”, you can pay via, cash, check or card. If you have questions regarding this and insurance reimbursement, contact us and we can discuss.

      If you are experiencing any chronic pain or going through an injury, The Movement Dr. can help you understand your pain, the recovery process, and get you back to your pain-free independence.

      Our Other Services

      TeleheaLth Physical Therapy

      Because of our dedication to evidence-based practices and attention to our clients and patients, we are able to provide our rehabilitation services remotely. We build independence in our patients. We don’t needlessly physically poke them with things to help them recover. 

      Remote Fitness Coaching

      We also provide individual customized programming to help athletes train through pain, recover from injuries, and achieve overall health and fitness goals. We have been remotely coaching athletes of all skill levels all over the world since The Movement Dr.’s inception.  

      Pensacola Personal Training

      We specialize in developing personal training programs for chronic pain management and injury prevention, as well as getting athletes back-to-sport. We are passionate about health and fitness and would love to help you reach your goals through personal training.  

      Health & Fitness In Pensacola, FL

      Pensacola Is A Great Place To Be Active & Outdoors

      Pensacola Beach Brawl Fall 2020 Blue Wahoos Stadium Bown Media

      This image was taken by Bown Media at the Fall 2020 Pensacola Beach Brawl which was held at the Blue Wahoos Stadium! Bown Media is perfect for all photography and videography needs in Pensacola, however as a fitness enthhusiast himself, the owner, Carlos Bown, has a fantastic eye for shooting sporting events. Be sure to message him about shooting at your upcoming sporting event!

      Pensacola is a fantastic area to stay healthy and fit! There are many indoor activities and outdoor activities to have fun and improve your fitness. Some activities cost money, but there is so much you can also do for free!

      Here is a list of things to do or places to go to have an active lifestyle in Pensacola or try out if you’re just in town and looking for something active to do!

      • Mako Athletics – Mako is an amazing gym in Pensacola that has truly built a name for itself over the years. Its members travel from all edges of town to attend the classes and be a part of some of the best programming in the country.  Flight school students, military, and first responders frequent this gym to get specifically prepared for the physical fitness mental fortitude demanded by their duties. They offer CrossFit classes and Olympic Weightlifting through their Barbell Club.
      • Get active on the beach! Looking for a more challenging run with great views? Then there is no better place than going for a run on Pensacola Beach. There are many great places to run in Pensacola. Even if you’re not looking to run, it’s a beautiful place to go for a walk in the early morning or you could catch a beautiful violet and golden sunset in the evening.
      • Speaking of running, every year Pensacola Sports holds the Pensacola Double Bridge Run. This is a 15k race from Downtown Pensacola, through Gulf Breeze, all the way to Pensacola Beach! Another popular run, which people attend from all over the country is McGuire’s 5k. This is a fun event in celebration of St. Patty’s day hosted by the very well known McGuire’s Irish Pub.
      • If you’re looking for a running club or a weekly running group there are several you could check out. Running Wild posts weekly runs and running routes. Pensacola Runners Association is another great source for running events.
      • There are also tons of places to go for a hike! While it’s not a very mountainous region there are still tons of awesome trails to go on! Some of the most popular trails are the many trails of UWF, which have trails for walking, biking, and horseback riding.
      • Try your hand at surfing or paddleboarding!
      • There are hundreds of parks in Pensacola you can play sports at, like basketball, baseball, and soccer, run on a track, have a picnic, launch your boat, put in your kayak, play fetch with your dog, let your kids play on the playground, or simply just enjoy a beautiful day at. Some of our favorite parks are the Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park and the Bayview Park.

      There is so much to do in Pensacola, so be sure to check out some local resources and reviews for recommendations on places to visit or try!

       

      Get In Touch With Us

      Let’s discuss how we can help you with physical therapy, rehabilitation, personal training, or remote coaching!