Personal Training After Physical Therapy

In Denver Colorado

Physical therapist coaching a client through dumbbell exercises during post-rehab personal training in Denver

Physical therapy is supposed to get you better. But a lot of people finish PT feeling like they're about 80% of the way there.

You can walk without limping. The pain is mostly gone. Your visits ran out, you got a sheet of home exercises, and you were sent on your way. But you still don't fully trust that knee, shoulder, or back, and you're not sure what you're actually allowed to do.

At Get Back PT + Performance, post-rehab personal training is built for exactly that gap. As a Doctor of Physical Therapy and strength coach, I help people in Denver pick up where rehab left off and keep going until they feel strong and confident again.

Why Physical Therapy Often Ends Too Early

Here's the problem with the traditional model. Insurance based physical therapy usually stops once you hit "medically necessary," which often lands somewhere around 80% back to normal. You can do daily tasks, so your benefits run out.

But daily tasks aren't the goal for most people. You want to run again, lift again, ski, hike, play with your kids, or just stop thinking about your injury every time you move. That last 20% is where most people get stuck, and it's where a lot of reinjuries happen.

Is Post-Rehab Personal Training Right for You?

This is a good fit if:

  • You recently finished physical therapy but don't feel back to 100%

  • Your PT visits or insurance coverage ran out before you were done

  • You're not sure which exercises are safe to do now

  • You're nervous about going back to the gym on your own

  • Your injured side still feels weaker than the other side

  • You want to keep your injury from coming back

It doesn't matter where you did your physical therapy. We can pick up from any clinic's plan.

What Happens When the Exercise Stops

A lot of people stop doing their home exercises once physical therapy ends. That's normal, and it's one reason problems come back.

Research on back pain shows this pretty clearly. A large review (Steffens et al., 2016) found that exercise combined with education reduced the risk of another episode of low back pain by about 45% over a year, but the protective effect faded once people stopped. Strength is something you keep by using it.

Post-rehab training turns your rehab into a long term plan you'll actually stick with.

Brett Green coaching a personal training client through a barbell squat at Get Back PT & Performance.

How We Train After Physical Therapy

We start where your rehab left off. We review your injury, surgery if you had one, what your physical therapy covered, and where you still feel limited.

Your plan may include:

  • Strength testing to see where you still have gaps

  • Progressive strength training that goes beyond your home exercise sheet

  • Gradual return to the movements and activities you've been avoiding

  • Full body training, not just the injured area

  • Exercise swaps on days something feels off, so you keep making progress

  • A plan to keep you training on your own over the long term

If something flares up along the way, you're working with a physical therapist, so we can adjust right away instead of sending you back to square one.

Same Team From Rehab to Strong

Most people finish PT at one place and then start over with a trainer somewhere else who has never seen their injury. At Get Back, physical therapy and personal training happen under one roof, so the person coaching you understands your injury and your training.

If you're an athlete trying to get back to your sport, take a look at our return to sport training as well.

Related reading: Physical Therapist vs. Personal Trainer: Why You Might Need Both · How Do I Know If I Need Personal Training or Physical Therapy?

Frequently Asked Questions About Personal Training After Physical Therapy

Our Team

Doctor Brett Green, Denver physical therapist, personal trainer, and strength coach at Get Back PT & Performance.

Dr. Brett Green

Founder | Physical Therapist & Personal Trainer

Brett Green, PT, DPT, is the founder of Get Back PT & Performance in Denver. He created Get Back to bridge the gap between rehab and getting back to the things people actually enjoy, whether that’s running, lifting, sports, or everyday life.

His approach combines physical therapy, strength training, and performance to help clients feel better, get stronger, and keep moving forward.

Sam Heller, Physical Therapist Assistant, personal trainer, and strength coach at Get Back PT & Performance in Denver.

Physical Therapist Assistant

Sam Heller

Sam Heller is a Physical Therapist Assistant and Personal Trainer with more than a decade of coaching experience. He combines strength training and rehab to help clients move better, build confidence, and stay active, especially when pain or uncertainty around exercise gets in the way.

Outside of work, Sam enjoys biking, lifting, and keeping up with his young son.


Get Back to Doing What You Love

Whether you want to return to the gym, running, hiking, skiing, sports, or simply get through your day more comfortably, we’ll help you figure out a plan that makes sense.