Fort Collins Physical Therapy

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(970) 500-3427

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Sports & Running Physical Therapy in Fort Collins: Your Complete Guide to Getting Back Stronger

If pain is messing with your training, your climbs, your lifts, or just your ability to live the Colorado life you love, you don’t have to guess your way through it.

We help active adults and athletes overcome injury and get stronger than ever, without unnecessary medications, injections, or surgery.

Primary next steps:

Free 10–20 Minute Discovery Call
Ask About Availability & Cost

Or call us at (970) 500-3427. We’re located at 2700 S College Ave, Suite 140, Fort Collins, CO 80525 (Mon–Fri 7AM–7PM, by appointment).

Quick Links

Is Up & Running Pt The Right Fit For You?

Short answer: If being active is part of your identity, and you want a plan that helps you recover, keep training, and come back more resilient, yes, this is built for you. 

Our clinic messaging is focused on runners and active adults in Fort Collins who want to overcome injury and avoid unnecessary time off.

We’re a great match if you’re saying any of this

  • “I’m trying to stay fit, but pain is limiting my workouts.”
  • “I’ve rested, stretched, or tried ‘random fixes’… and it keeps coming back.”
  • “I want to know why this happened, not just what hurts.”
  • “I’m a runner / climber / lifter / weekend warrior and I want performance-minded care.”

Quick use-cases (so you can self-identify fast)

Runner

Knee pain on hills/squats, shin splints, Achilles pain, recurring niggles, form questions
Consider PT + Running Gait Analysis.

Climber

Shoulder pain, finger/forearm irritation, “can’t climb like I used to”
Start here: Rock Climbers.

Lifter

Back tightness, cranky knees, shoulder impingement, confidence loss under the bar
Consider a performance-minded path: Performance Rehab.

Pelvic Health

Leakage with running/jumping, pelvic pain, diastasis concerns, pressure/heaviness
Start here: Pelvic Health.

What Makes Up & Running PT Different From A “Traditional” Physical Therapy Clinic?

We’re built around time, attention, and performance-driven problem-solving, so you stop cycling through temporary fixes. 

We explicitly describe ourselves as “not a traditional clinic” and we don’t let insurance-driven constraints dictate the care you receive.

The “URPT Difference” (in our own words)

On our URPT Difference page, we state that insurance companies often influence treatment at traditional clinics, and we refuse to let that be the case here.

We’ve designed our model to be focused and effective around what works, not what insurance dictates.

Dave Seabeck

5 star rate

“I got personalized exercises with modifications to work on my weak zones.”
— Dave Seabeck

What We Actually Do (So You Can Feel The Difference)

  • We start with “why.” Our first step is to find the real cause of your pain and understand how it’s affecting your life.
  • We give you a plan built around your goals. We tailor treatment to your sport, your schedule, and what you’re trying to get back to.
  • We train you forward. Once you’re pain-free, we build “bulletproofing” strategies so the problem stays away and you perform at a higher level.

Want the short version of how we work?

Our 3 Step Process

What Should You Expect When You Work With Us?

You can expect a clear plan, measurable progress, and a path that connects pain relief to performance, because that’s the whole point. 

We use a hands-on approach with our 3-step method and personalized plans.

Implementation Steps for You (how to prepare for your first appointment)

  1. Write your top 3 goals (example: “run 3 miles pain-free,” “climb without shoulder fear,” “squat without knee pain”).
  2. Bring your training context: weekly mileage, recent changes, shoes, terrain, lifting split, climbing volume.
  3. Track patterns for 7 days: what triggers symptoms, what reduces them, and what movements you avoid.
  4. Bring your history: prior PT, imaging, surgeries, and your “what I’ve tried” list.

Fastest Way to Get Clarity Before Committing

We offer a free 10–20 minute discovery consult call to answer questions, make sure we’re a fit, and explain what to expect.

Get More Information

How does our 3-Step Method work, and what is the RUN Ladder?

Our 3-Step Method is simple: (1) find the real cause, (2) fix your problem areas with a plan built for you, and (3) reach/stay at peak performance so it doesn’t keep coming back.

Our 3-Step Method (our clinic’s core framework)

  1. Find the real cause of your pain (assessment + explanation of what needs to change).
  2. Fix your problem areas (a treatment plan tailored to your goals, often keeping you training appropriately during recovery).
  3. Reach / stay at peak performance (bulletproofing + performance strategies).

The RUN Ladder (our “make it actionable” framework)

To make your progress super clear, we use the RUN Ladder as a shared language. It keeps your plan focused and measurable:

  • R — Relief: pain decreases; daily life feels easier.
  • U — Understand: you know the “why” (load, strength gaps, mechanics, recovery).
  • N — Normalize: restore baseline movement, range, and strength.
  • N — Next-level: sport-specific drills + real-world demands (hills, speed, hard climbs, heavy lifts).
  • R — Resilient: prevention plan so you stay active long-term.

Which Service Should You Choose?

  • If you’re in pain or losing function, start with Physical Therapy.
  • If you’re mostly out of pain but want higher performance or fewer setbacks, Performance Rehab / Gait Analysis / Coaching can be the right next step.
  • If symptoms are pelvic-floor related, Pelvic Health is the right starting point.

Up & Running PT Services: How to Choose Fast

Physical Therapy

Best for: Pain, injury, recurring setbacks, post-op recovery, confidence loss

What we do: Assessment + personalized plan using our 3-Step Method; hands-on + exercise-based progression

Link: Physical Therapy Services

Performance Rehab

Best for: Return stronger, prevent future injuries, build “bulletproof” capacity

What we do: Injury screening, performance enhancement, exercise prescription, BFR training option

Link: Performance Rehab

Running Gait Analysis

Best for: Recurring running injuries, inefficiency, form questions

What we do: Slow-motion video + AI-driven analysis (RunEASY) to identify inefficiencies and root causes

Link: Running Gait Analysis

Run Coaching

Best for: Race prep, smarter training, performance plateaus, injury risk reduction

What we do: Personalized plans + injury prevention + coaching (one-on-one)

Link: Run Coaching

Functional Dry Needling

Best for: Muscle tension, trigger points, pain modulation, recovery support

What we do: Dry needling targeting trigger points; often part of a broader plan

Link: Functional Dry Needling

Pelvic Health

Best for: Leakage, pelvic pain, diastasis concerns, pelvic floor dysfunction

What we do: 3-step pelvic health process + individualized rehab and education

Link: Pelvic Health

Common Approaches Vs. A Performance-Based Pt Plan

Rest-only

Pros: May temporarily reduce irritation
Cons/risks: Doesn’t rebuild capacity; symptoms often return when training resumes
When it can make sense: Very short-term flare management with a plan to reload

Stretching-only

Pros: Feels good; can improve short-term mobility
Cons/risks: May not address strength, control, load, or mechanics (common reasons issues recur)
When it can make sense: Complement to a full plan

Generic online rehab

Pros: Accessible; low barrier to entry
Cons/risks: Not individualized; may miss underlying drivers (load, form, weakness patterns)
When it can make sense: Low-risk issues, used cautiously

Performance-based PT plan

Pros: Finds root cause; builds resilience; ties progress to your sport/goals
Cons/risks: Requires consistency and follow-through
When it can make sense: Best for persistent, recurring, or performance-limiting problems

What Do We Treat, And What Does Evidence Generally Say Helps Most?

We treat a wide range of orthopedic, sports, and movement problems, and our service lists include back pain, knee pain, shoulder issues, running injuries, vertigo/BPPV, post-surgical recovery, and more.

Common Condition We Treat

From our services page, examples include: arthritis, ACL repair, ankle injuries, back pain, balance issues, bulging discs/DDD/stenosis, dizziness, frozen shoulder, rotator cuff tear/tendonitis, headaches/migraines, hip pain, sciatica, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, sprains/strains, vertigo/BPPV, and more.

How We Think About “Root Cause” 

We don’t want you to keep repeating the same injury doing the same cycle:

  • Load & recovery: sudden spikes in training, not enough recovery, or “doing too much too soon.”
  • Capacity gaps: specific strength and control deficits that show up under fatigue.
  • Movement mechanics: especially for runners, we use slow-motion video and AI-driven gait analysis (RunEASY) to spot inefficiencies.
  • Whole-body connection: pain location doesn’t always equal root cause.

Evidence-Based Resources About What Actually Helps

Related Internal “How We Can Help” pages

Do you need a referral, and what are your next steps?

Short answer: The simplest next step is a free 10–20 minute discovery consult call so you can get clarity fast. From there, we’ll help you choose the best service path (PT, gait analysis, performance rehab, pelvic health, coaching).

Start here (top options)

FAQs

Yes. We work with runners from first-5K recreational runners to experienced runners, and we offer running gait analysis to help improve form and reduce recurring injuries.

It’s a detailed look at how you run to identify inefficiencies and patterns that may contribute to pain or limit performance. We use slow-motion video plus AI-driven analysis (RunEASY) for objective, real-time mechanics feedback.

Dry needling uses acupuncture needles but it is a different application and is not based in Eastern Medicine practices. 

Here, dry needling is the process of inserting tiny sterile needles into painful trigger points to help “reset” muscles and reduce pain, typically as part of a larger plan.

Our dry needling page states it can “jumpstart” recovery after strenuous activity and notes that athletes may use it regularly for recovery, not only when injured.

We do both. Performance Rehab is explicitly positioned as helping you recover from injury and prevent future issues, with the goal that you leave not just feeling better, but being a better athlete.

Our pelvic health page pushes back on the idea that pelvic issues are “just aging” or “just childbirth,” and it frames pelvic health care as a long-term, natural solution beyond “just wait and see.”

Use Get More Information to request the free discovery consult call (10–20 minutes). We use that call to confirm fit, answer your questions, and explain what to expect.

We’re at 2700 S College Ave, Suite 140, Fort Collins, CO 80525. Hours listed: Mon–Fri 7AM–7PM (by appointment). Call (970) 500-3427 or email info@upandrunningpt.com.

Ready to stop guessing and start moving forward?

Book your free 10–20 minute discovery call: Get More Information

Or ask about availability & cost: Ask About Availability & Cost

Which External Sources Are Worth Trusting For Pt, Rehab, And Return-To-Sport Decisions?

When you’re researching your symptoms, prioritize clinical practice guidelines, major professional associations, and reputable public health agencies over influencer-style “one-size-fits-all” advice.

Authoritative external references (10–20) used/recommended

Get in touch for a quick conversation first. Request your free 10–20 minute discovery call: Get More Information

Medical disclaimer reminder: website content is informational only; no guarantees of results are made.