The Sports Physical Therapy Academy Podcast

In this video, Dr. Chris Garcia sits down with a former Sports Performance intern and client who is now pursuing a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Together, they explore the differences between cash pay and insurance-based physical therapy models. Through a candid and insightful conversation, Dr. Chris shares his real-world experience running a successful cash-based practice, the challenges and opp...

How do you help athletes transition from recovery to long-term wellness? In this video, Dr. Chris Garcia breaks down the key steps for guiding athletes into effective wellness programs that support their performance, prevent re-injury, and promote a healthy, active lifestyle. Learn how to bridge the gap between rehab and peak performance with strategies tailored to athletes' unique needs. Whether...

Join Dr. Chris Garcia as he breaks down the top goals every sports physical therapist should set for 2025 to elevate their practice and achieve professional growth. From mastering cutting-edge techniques to building stronger client relationships, this video is packed with actionable insights to help you deliver exceptional care and thrive in your career. Whether you're just starting out or a seaso...

Are you too focused on impairments in your physical therapy practice? In this bold and thought-provoking episode, Dr. Chris Garcia explains why Impairments Are Bull$h!t and how shifting your perspective can lead to better outcomes for your patients. Learn why focusing solely on impairments might be holding you back and discover how to prioritize function, movement patterns, and patient goals inste...

How do you handle it when a client says, "It's too expensive"? In this episode, I dive into how to overcome cost objections and communicate the true value of your services. If you've struggled with price objections in your cash-based practice, this episode will give you the tools to handle these situations with confidence and turn hesitant clients into loyal ones. Don't let cost objections stop yo...

Delivering bad news to athletes is one of the toughest parts of being a sports physical therapist. In this episode, Dr. Chris discusses how to handle these challenging conversations with professionalism, empathy, and clarity. Whether you're addressing career-impacting injuries or smaller hurdles, this episode provides the tools to ensure your message is received with understanding and respect. ___...

Are you avoiding tough conversations with your patients? In this episode, Dr. Chris discusses the difficult conversations with patients and why addressing them head-on is crucial for your growth and success as a physical therapist. Learn how to tackle sensitive topics like patient compliance, treatment expectations, or even difficult business decisions with confidence and clarity. If you're ready...

Are you considering becoming a sports physical therapist or just starting out in the field? In this podcast, I share the lessons and insights I gained throughout his journey in sports physical therapy. From managing high expectations of athletes to navigating the business side of a cash-based practice, learn what mindset shifts you need to make, and the realities of running a successful sports PT....

Do you understand the mental and emotional factors can significantly impact their rehabilitation outcomes? In this episode, Dr. Chris explains how mindset, motivation, and mental resilience play crucial roles in a patient's recovery journey, and learn actionable strategies to help your patients stay engaged, optimistic, and committed to their progress. If you're a cash-based physical therapist who...

Are you having the correct approach to treating your athletes? Many physical therapists unknowingly fall into common pitfalls when working with athletes, often focusing on short-term fixes rather than long-term performance and recovery. In this episode, I break down why these approaches fail to meet the unique demands of athletic patients and shares strategies to avoid these mistakes in your own p...

Do you know the secret to building long-term patient loyalty as a cash-based physical therapist? This podcast dives into the strategies that keep clients coming back, even when their treatment is complete. If you're struggling with patient retention or just want to create a clinic that thrives on loyal, returning clients, this episode is a must-listen! _____________________________________ Are you...

In this episode, I reveal the 3 Non-Negotiables Every Cash-Based PT Must Have to build a thriving and sustainable practice. Whether you're just starting out or looking to elevate your clinic's success, these three foundational elements are critical to standing out in the competitive cash-based market. If you're ready to take your cash-based physical therapy skills to the next level, don't miss thi...

Tired of patient no-shows or drop-offs? Before you look for more new patients, use these simple tips to retain cash-pay patients. In this episode, Dr. Chris shares four ways to retain cash-pay patients before they drop off. If you want to keep your schedule full of cash-pay patients, this episode is perfect for you. Enjoy episode 167 on the Sports PT Academy podcast on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple...

Struggling to build your cash PT business? Concerned about your future in cash PT? Before you invest more money and time into your cash PT business, you need to determine if you have all of the skills necessary.  In this episode, Dr. Chris provides six qualities to develop as a cash PT business owner. If you want to run a successful practice and avoid failure in the future, this episode is perfect...

Have you ever felt like you didn't know what to do with a complex patient or surgery? You didn't know where to start but didn't want to look incompetent so you likely "faked it until you made it." There is a simple framework to apply with instances like this and the great news is it's honest and genuine.  In this episode, Dr. Chris outlines the exact sentence and outline to apply to tough cases to...

Who can get better outcomes with a cash-pay patient - an insurance-based PT or a cash-based PT? Who would win? As cash-based PT becomes more attractive due to declining insurance reimbursements and burnout, PTs are at risk of wasting years and hundreds of thousands of dollars on building a business. In this episode, Dr. Chris shares how the insurance-based approach is vastly different from cash PT...

Wondering how to decrease the amount of drop offs from your schedule of cash-pay patients? Before you blame patients for non-compliance or seek out more skills to get better outcomes, start with these tips. In this episode, Dr. Chris shares the top three reasons WHY cash-pay patients drop off and HOW to prevent them in the future. If you want to keep your schedule full of cash-pay patients, this e...

Are you looking to improve your clinical approach with cash-pay patients? Before you add more tools in your clinical toolbox, start by refining these five mistakes you're making currently.  In this episode, Dr. Chris shares five simple things you should improve to quickly improve clinical outcomes, enhance the patient experience, and grow your cash PT business. If you want to streamline your cash...

Are you debating whether to complete a sports PT residency or start a cash-based PT practice? Are you stuck thinking if a residency will enhance your treatment or success in cash-pay services?    After completing a sports PT residency, working in professional sports for 10 years, and scaling my cash-based PT practice to 3 locations with over 15 staff, I share the advantages and disadvantages of bo...

Have you thought about growing a cash-based PT business? Before you waste time or money, Dr. Chris gives insight into the 3 most common misconceptions about starting a cash PT practice. In this video, Dr. Chris Garcia shares 3 critical things to consider before diving further into your clinical practice. If you want to move forward with your cash-based business on the right path, this episode is p...

Do you have a hard time discussing money with patients? Have you ever recommended a less-than-ideal plan of care or recommendation due to fear of patients judging you? If so, you're not alone.  In this video, Dr. Chris Garcia shares his secrets to success with overcoming the fear of financial conversations with cash-pay patients. If you're a cash-based PT and want to improve outcomes while making...

Are you a cash-based PT Interested in improving outcomes and growing your practice?  If you approach cash-pay patients using the same outline school or insurance-based care taught you, you're limiting your success. After growing his cash PT clinic to three locations with over 15 staff in the most expensive city in the US (San Diego, CA), Dr. Chris shares his personal framework with five critical s...

Do you ever feel like you're listening to podcasts and taking courses not seeing the results you want as a sports PT? In this episode, I outline four things that are limiting your professional that you haven't considered. If you're a sports PT and want to get unstuck or avoid it, this episode is perfect for you. Enjoy! ______________________________ _______ Are you a physical therapist or physioth...

Should I have surgery? This is a tough question physical therapists have to answer throughout their career. It's not easy and there's never one simple answer. In this episode, I outline three critical questions to answer before you answer the "surgery" question. If you're a sports PT and want to make sure you're offering the right advice at the right time, this episode is perfect for you. Enjoy! _...

Stem cell therapy is at the cutting edge of healthcare. A proper understanding of the procedure and rehabilitation of this unique treatment is critical to maximize patient outcomes.  In this episode, I interview Lola Dranker, patient advocate, and Scotty Nelson, co-founder of Cellular Performance Institute - a global leader in stem cell and cellular optimization treatments. We discuss what to expe...