Our sports physical therapists treat a wide range of athletic and orthopedic injuries, from acute game-day injuries to complex post-surgical rehabilitation. Our board-certified specialists use objective assessment tools and hands-on treatment to get you back to your sport safely. We also offer specialized pelvic floor physical therapy for athletes and active individuals dealing with pelvic health concerns.
Knee ligament and cartilage tears from sports or surgery.
Shoulder repairs and return to overhead movement.
Hip impingement and labral injuries in active athletes.
Kneecap instability, tracking issues, and jumper's knee.
Tendon pain and post-surgical Achilles rehab.
Load-related bone injuries and safe return to training.
Recurring ankle problems and long-term stability rehab.
Graded return-to-play protocols and symptom tracking.
Rapid assessment and early treatment for sudden sports injuries.
Sideline injury evaluation, triage, and return-to-play decisions.
Repetitive strain, biomechanical faults, and safe return to training.
Structured recovery programs and guided return to sport after surgery.
Your Care Team
Our sports physical therapists are in your corner, blending evidence-based care with real-world athletic insight so you can move better, train smarter, and perform with confidence.
Alice Barnes PT, DPT, SCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy | Sports Clinical Specialist | Founder
Alyssa Arms PT, DPT, OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy | Dance Specialist
Sean Kelley PT, DPT, OCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy | Orthopedic Clinical Specialist
Marissa Gradoz PT, DPT, SCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy | Sports Clinical Specialist
Rachel Chirichella PT, DPT, CSCS
Doctor of Physical Therapy | Pelvic Floor Specialist
Tony Rodriguez PT, DPT, MAT, ATC
Doctor of Physical Therapy | Sports Physical Therapist
From what to expect at your first evaluation to how we use objective testing to guide your recovery, these are the questions athletes and active adults across Centennial, the Tech Center, and South Denver ask most about our sports physical therapy program.
A sports physical therapist specializes in treating injuries related to athletic activity and helping athletes return to their sport safely. At The Performance Shift in Centennial, our board-certified sports physical therapists use evidence-based assessment tools, including VALD force plate, force frame, and dynamometry technology, to objectively measure your strength, movement quality, and readiness to return to sport. These tools track exactly how much force your body produces and how you move under load, giving us real numbers to guide your recovery instead of relying on guesswork.
Treatment typically includes hands-on manual therapy, dry needling, progressive strengthening, sport-specific movement training, and injury prevention strategies tailored to your goals. We also assess and correct muscle imbalances that can increase your risk of injury, helping you stay active and perform at your best.
Sports physical therapy focuses specifically on athletic injuries and performance recovery. While general physical therapy addresses a broad range of conditions, sports PT is tailored to the demands of your sport, including the specific movements, loads, and intensities you need to return to.
At The Performance Shift, our sports physical therapists are board-certified specialists with advanced training in sports medicine. We don’t just get you pain-free. We get you back to performing at or above your pre-injury level, using objective testing to confirm you’re truly ready.
Our Centennial-based team works with athletes across South Denver in a wide range of sports, including football, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, softball, hockey, basketball, dance, swimming, wrestling, golf, tennis, skiing, snowboarding, cycling, CrossFit, and track and field. No matter your sport, your treatment plan is built around the specific demands and movements your body needs to perform.
Your first visit at The Performance Shift in Centennial starts with a one-on-one evaluation with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. We’ll review your injury history, discuss your goals, and perform a thorough movement assessment. Depending on your needs, this may include VALD performance testing to measure strength, power, and movement symmetry with objective data.
You’ll also receive detailed education on your injury, pain mechanisms, and a clear plan to help you get back to feeling your best. From there, your therapist will build a personalized treatment plan that may include manual therapy, dry needling, sport-specific exercises, and a progressive return-to-activity program. Most initial evaluations last 60 to 90 minutes.
The length of sports physical therapy depends on the injury, its severity, and your recovery goals. Most athletes work with their therapist for 6 to 12 weeks, though some conditions may resolve sooner and complex post-surgical cases may take longer.
At The Performance Shift, we use objective data from our assessment technology to track your progress and determine when you’re ready to return to full activity. Timelines are based on measurable outcomes, not arbitrary calendars. Many patients stay on for maintenance appointments throughout the year to complement training.
Return-to-sport testing is a series of objective assessments that measure whether an athlete is physically ready to safely resume their sport after injury or surgery. At The Performance Shift, we use VALD performance technology to measure strength symmetry, power output, and movement quality, giving you and your therapist clear, data-driven benchmarks rather than guesswork.
Testing typically includes force plate and force frame testing, single-leg hop testing, handheld dynamometry strength assessment, balance assessment, and sport-specific movement screening. Your results are compared against normative data and your pre-injury baselines.
Dry needling is a technique where a licensed physical therapist inserts thin, sterile needles into trigger points or tight muscle tissue to reduce pain, release tension, and improve mobility. It is different from acupuncture. Dry needling is based on modern musculoskeletal science and targets specific neuromuscular dysfunction.
At The Performance Shift, our Denver sports physical therapists use dry needling as part of a comprehensive sports rehab program. It can also be used in conjunction with electrical stimulation to further reduce muscle tension and pain levels. Dry needling is particularly effective for conditions like muscle strains, tendinopathy, IT band syndrome, and post-surgical stiffness, and can be incorporated into recovery sessions to help reduce muscle soreness.
No. Colorado is a direct-access state, which means you can see a Doctor of Physical Therapy without a physician’s referral. You can book an evaluation directly with The Performance Shift, no referral or prescription needed.
Some insurance plans may require a referral for reimbursement, so we recommend checking with your provider if you plan to submit for out-of-network benefits.
The Performance Shift is a cash-based, out-of-network physical therapy clinic. This model allows us to spend more one-on-one time with you, use advanced tools like VALD force plates, and blood flow restriction training, and focus on long-term performance outcomes rather than insurance-driven treatment limits.
If you have a PPO plan, your insurance may reimburse you for some or all of your visits. We provide superbills, which are detailed receipts with medical coding that you can submit to your insurer for reimbursement. Typically, out-of-network benefits cover 40 to 80% of your visit cost. We also accept HSA and FSA payments for all physical therapy services.
The Performance Shift is located at 6403 S Uvalda St Suite 300, Centennial, CO 80111. Our sports physical therapy clinic serves athletes and active adults across the south Denver metro area, including Centennial, Denver Tech Center, Denver, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Greenwood Village, Castle Pines, Castle Rock, Aurora, Littleton, Parker, and Englewood.
