Physical Therapists in Austin, TX
Compare 1312 physical therapists in Austin, TX. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
1,312
Physical Therapists
100%
Accepting patients
42%
Most common: DPT
Top-Rated Physical Therapists in Austin, TX
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Specialty: physical-therapistState: TXCity: Austin
About physical therapists in Austin, TX
Austin's healthcare infrastructure is racing to catch up with a population that has more than doubled since 2000. Dell Medical School, which opened in 2016, is still young but has already shifted the city from a medical education desert into a growing academic hub. The challenge is that provider supply hasn't kept pace with demand, and new-patient wait times for specialists can be long.
Austin has 1,312 physical therapists. The most common credential is DPT (42%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
Dell Seton Medical Center at UT anchors downtown as the region's Level I trauma center. St. David's has multiple campuses across the metro. Ascension Seton has historically been the largest system but is transitioning. The I-35 corridor is the main healthcare spine, with hospitals clustered along it from Round Rock through downtown to South Austin. Cedar Park and Round Rock have their own hospital campuses for the northern suburbs.
Providers practice throughout Austin. South Congress (SoCo) is a popular south Austin corridor with growing healthcare options and proximity to St. David's South Austin Medical Center. East Austin is a rapidly growing area with community health centers like CommUnityCare serving a diverse population. Downtown Austin is dell Seton Medical Center at UT anchors downtown healthcare as a Level I trauma center. Hyde Park is a central neighborhood near UT campus with family practices and Seton healthcare offices.
Nearby hospitals include Dell Seton Medical Center at UT, Ascension Seton Medical Center, and St. David's Medical Center. Local training programs run through University of Texas at Austin and Dell Medical School (UT Austin). Dell Medical School, opened in 2016, is the first new medical school at a Tier 1 research university in nearly 50 years.
What to expect at your first physical therapist visit in Austin, TX
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.
Tips for Austin, TX patients
Austin's outdoor culture means strong demand for sports medicine and orthopedic PT. The hike-and-bike trail system, Barton Springs, and the greenbelts produce a steady stream of running, cycling, and swimming injuries. Many PT practices offer early morning hours to accommodate the active population.
When to see a physical therapist
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.
Typical costs
Session copay: $20-75 · Session (out-of-pocket): $75-200 · Initial evaluation: $100-250
Common reasons to see a physical therapist in Austin, TX
Trail running, rock climbing at Reimers Ranch, and paddle boarding on Lady Bird Lake are popular activities that produce specific injury patterns. Austin PT practices tend to be experienced with outdoor recreation injuries.
Post-surgical rehabilitation
After joint replacement, ACL repair, rotator cuff surgery, or other procedures, physical therapy is essential for regaining strength, range of motion, and function.
Sports injury recovery
Physical therapists design sport-specific rehabilitation programs that get you back to your activity safely and help you prevent the same injury from recurring.
Chronic back and neck pain
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 and fall prevention
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.
Shoulder, knee, and hip pain
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.
Frequently asked questions about physical therapists in Austin, TX
Austin, TX has 1,312 licensed physical therapists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of physical therapists in Austin, TX are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
Austin employer plans skew toward Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, UnitedHealthcare, and Aetna, driven by the tech and state government sectors. Sendero Health Plans is a Travis County-based nonprofit insurer on the marketplace. Central Health is the local healthcare district that funds programs for uninsured residents through CommUnityCare clinics.
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 Austin, TX 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.
Austin's hospital systems include Dell Seton Medical Center at UT (academic, Level I trauma), St. David's HealthCare/HCA (four Austin hospitals, the largest by bed count), Ascension Seton (historically dominant, now transitioning), and Baylor Scott & White (growing presence in Round Rock and Cedar Park). Dell Medical School is building out its clinical network, which is adding new provider options each year.
DPT stands for Doctor of Physical Therapy and PT stands for Physical Therapist. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Austin, TX, 42% hold the DPT credential and 29% hold PT. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
28% of physical therapists in Austin, TX 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.
Central Health is Travis County's healthcare district, funded by property taxes. It doesn't run hospitals directly but funds CommUnityCare community health centers and the Medical Access Program (MAP) for uninsured residents. MAP provides access to primary care, specialty care, prescriptions, and some hospital services for income-eligible Travis County residents.
Yes, significantly. Before 2016, Austin was the largest US city without a medical school. Dell Medical School has attracted new specialists, created residency programs, and built out clinical facilities through its partnership with Ascension Seton. The Dell Seton Medical Center at UT opened in 2017 as a teaching hospital and Level I trauma center.
Nearby Cities
Other specialties in Austin
Insurance & Physical Therapist coverage
Top accepted carriers in Austin, TX include qhp-33602, medicare, qhp-17091, qhp-71837, and centene.
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.
