Compare 54 physical therapists in St. Louis, MO. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
54
Physical Therapists
100%
Accepting patients
50%
Most common: PT
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
St. Louis punches above its weight in healthcare, anchored by Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital, consistently ranked among the top ten hospitals in the country. The city also benefits from Saint Louis University's medical school and a deep bench of community hospitals operated by SSM Health and Mercy. With more hospital beds per capita than nearly any other US city, capacity is rarely the issue here. Finding the right fit within those systems is.
St. Louis has 54 physical therapists. The most common credential is PT (50%). 100% are currently accepting new patients. Practitioners see patients in neighborhoods including Central West End, Soulard, The Hill, and Tower Grove.
The Washington University Medical Campus and Barnes-Jewish Hospital sit in the Central West End, which is the city's primary medical district. SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital is just south of downtown. Mercy Hospital St. Louis is in west St. Louis County near Creve Coeur. MetroLink light rail has a station at the Central West End, providing direct transit access to Barnes-Jewish. Most patients outside the city core drive, with I-64 and I-44 connecting the major hospital campuses.
Nearby hospitals include Barnes-Jewish Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital. Local training programs run through Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and Saint Louis University School of Medicine. Barnes-Jewish Hospital, affiliated with Washington University, is consistently ranked among the top 10 hospitals in the nation.
Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield and UnitedHealthcare are the dominant commercial carriers in the St. Louis metro. Ambetter is the largest ACA marketplace presence. BJC HealthCare participates in most employer plans but is excluded from some narrow-network marketplace offerings. MO HealthNet (Medicaid) enrollment is significant, with managed care through Home State Health and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan. 13% accept Medicare.
The first visit (about 45 to 60 minutes) includes a thorough evaluation of your movement, strength, flexibility, and pain. Your PT will ask about your daily activities and goals. They will put together a treatment plan with exercises and hands-on techniques, and teach you what to do at home between visits. Follow-up sessions are typically two to three times per week.
The Rehabilitation Institute of St. Louis (a partnership between BJC and Washington University) is one of the top rehab programs in the Midwest. Outpatient PT clinics affiliated with BJC, SSM, and Mercy are distributed throughout the metro, with strong clusters in Clayton, Kirkwood, and the I-64 corridor.
See a physical therapist for back or neck pain, joint pain, recovery after surgery (knee replacement, ACL repair, rotator cuff), sports injuries, balance problems or fall prevention, chronic pain, reduced mobility, or any musculoskeletal condition your doctor recommends therapy for. In most states, you can see a PT directly without a doctor's referral.
Session copay: $20-75 · Session (out-of-pocket): $75-200 · Initial evaluation: $100-250
The aging population in many St. Louis neighborhoods drives demand for home health and outpatient rehabilitation services. Post-hip and post-knee replacement PT is a major volume driver at rehab clinics across the metro.
After joint replacement, ACL repair, rotator cuff surgery, or other procedures, physical therapy is essential for regaining strength, range of motion, and function.
Physical therapists design sport-specific rehabilitation programs that get you back to your activity safely and help you prevent the same injury from recurring.
Physical therapists use manual therapy, targeted exercises, and movement education to treat back and neck pain at its root cause rather than masking symptoms.
Balance training reduces fall risk in older adults and people with neurological conditions. Physical therapists assess your balance, identify deficits, and build a program to improve stability.
Joint pain often responds to targeted exercise and manual therapy before surgery becomes necessary. Physical therapists strengthen the muscles that support the joint and improve how it moves.
St. Louis, MO has 54 licensed physical therapists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of physical therapists in St. Louis, MO are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Missouri residents use HealthCare.gov for ACA marketplace plans. Ambetter, Anthem, and Aetna offer plans in the St. Louis area. MO HealthNet is the state Medicaid program. Employer-sponsored plans often include BJC, Mercy, and SSM in-network, but always verify. The St. Louis metro also extends into Illinois, so residents in the Metro East may have different plan options.
Session copays range from $20 to $75. Out-of-pocket sessions cost $75 to $200 each. An initial evaluation runs $100 to $250. Actual costs in St. Louis, MO depend on the provider and your insurance plan. Many plans cap the number of covered sessions per year, commonly 20 to 60. Ask your PT's office to verify your specific benefit limits and any authorization requirements before starting.
St. Louis healthcare is organized around BJC HealthCare (Barnes-Jewish and affiliated hospitals), SSM Health (Saint Louis University Hospital and community hospitals), and Mercy. BJC/Washington University is the academic powerhouse for specialty referrals. SSM and Mercy operate broader community networks. Your insurance plan's network will determine which system is most affordable, and narrow-network plans that exclude BJC/WashU are common on the ACA marketplace.
13% of physical therapists in St. Louis, MO accept Medicare. Medicare covers physical therapy when medically necessary. There is no hard annual cap, but a threshold amount triggers additional documentation requirements. Your therapist will handle the paperwork. You can filter for Medicare-accepting providers on FindClarity.
Some physical therapists in St. Louis, MO accept MO HealthNet, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers physical therapy in all states, though the number of covered sessions per year varies. Some states require prior authorization or a physician referral for coverage. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm MO HealthNet participation before scheduling.
Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a separate institution from Washington University, but they are closely affiliated. Washington University physicians staff Barnes-Jewish, and the medical campus is shared. Together they form the BJC HealthCare system. When people refer to "Wash U Medicine," they usually mean the combined academic and clinical enterprise.
St. Louis City and St. Louis County are separate jurisdictions, which can affect Medicaid eligibility, public health services, and some community programs. Most hospital systems and private practices serve both areas regardless of the boundary. If you are on MO HealthNet, confirm your provider accepts patients from your specific jurisdiction.
Top accepted carriers in St. Louis, MO include medicare, qhp-44228, centene, unitedhealthcare, and qhp-94248.
Most health insurance plans cover physical therapy with a copay per session, typically $20 to $75. Many plans limit the number of covered sessions per year (commonly 20 to 60). Some require prior authorization or a doctor's referral for coverage. Ask your PT's office to verify your benefits before starting, including any visit caps or annual limits.