Physical Therapy in Mount Pleasant, SC for Athletes Who Refuse to Settle
Whether you're a weekend warrior, competitive athlete, or fitness enthusiast, you didn't work this hard to let pain keep you on the sidelines. At Apex Physical Therapy, we combine expert sports medicine with advanced strength training to get you back to your sport—stronger, faster, and more resilient than before your injury.
Your Training Shouldn't Stop Because of Pain
Every day you wait is another day away from the activities that define you. These challenges demand more than generic physical therapy.
You've Been Told to "Just Rest"
But rest alone won't fix the root cause of your injury. Without addressing movement patterns, strength imbalances, and compensations, you're setting yourself up for re-injury the moment you return to training.
Cookie-Cutter PT Isn't Cutting It
Your sport demands specific movements, positions, and strength levels. Generic exercises that work for everyone work for no one—especially not athletes who need to perform at their peak.
You're Losing Fitness While You Heal
Time off means lost strength, reduced conditioning, and mental frustration. The longer you're out, the harder it is to come back at the level you were before—and that's unacceptable.
Sport-Specific Physical Therapy That Gets Results
At Apex Physical Therapy in Mount Pleasant, we don't just treat your pain—we eliminate it while building you back better than before. Led by Dr. Doug Timme, a board-certified orthopedic specialist and certified strength coach with experience training NFL, NBA, MLB, and NCAA athletes, we bring elite-level expertise to every session.
Our approach combines hands-on manual therapy, advanced techniques like dry needling and blood flow restriction training, and sport-specific strength programming tailored to your exact needs. We diagnose the root cause, not just the symptoms, and create a plan that keeps you training even while you heal.
Checkmark Bullets
✓ 1-on-1 sessions designed around your sport and position demands
✓ Advanced manual therapy, dry needling, and cutting-edge recovery techniques
✓ Performance-focused strength training to prevent re-injury and improve output
✓ Return-to-sport testing to ensure you're truly ready—not just pain-free
"Apex PT has helped me tremendously with multiple injuries I've faced in my neck, shoulders, and lower back. Doug is an incredible physical therapist who has guided me through nerve and disc pain in my neck that radiated down my shoulder blade, improved headaches and pain in that area, and helped me return to the activities I love. As a former collegiate runner, I've had many doctors tell me I would never run again after dealing with low back pain, lumbar instability, and a bulging disc that caused nerve pain down my leg. Doug never accepted that as the final word. Through a combination of treatment and targeted exercises, he's gotten to the root of the issues, encouraged me when others didn't believe in my recovery, and given me hope for continuing my running goals. I am so grateful for the time, effort, and care Doug puts into every session. I wouldn't be on the path to healing, or have nearly as much hope for the future, without the treatment I've received at Apex."
— Chandler Bergeron
Former Collegiate Runner
How We Get You Back to Your Best
Our proven process identifies the root cause, accelerates recovery, and builds lasting strength so you come back better than before.
Comprehensive Physical Assessment
We start with a 50-point evaluation including range of motion testing, strength assessment using microFET2 technology, functional movement screening, and gait analysis. This isn't guesswork—we identify exactly what's holding you back and why it happened in the first place.
Advanced Treatment & Strength Training
Using manual therapy, dry needling, blood flow restriction training, e-stim, and sport-specific corrective exercises, we eliminate pain while simultaneously building strength. You won't just rest—you'll actively improve the areas that caused your injury while maintaining fitness in everything else.
Return to Sport & Performance Testing
Before you're cleared, we put you through rigorous return-to-sport testing and sport-specific drills to ensure you're not just healed—you're prepared for the demands of your activity. Many of our athletes leave stronger and more capable than they were before their injury.
Conditions We Treat in Mount Pleasant
We specialize in sports and performance-related injuries for athletes of all levels—from high school competitors to recreational CrossFitters, runners, and strength athletes. Our Mount Pleasant physical therapy clinic has successfully treated everyone from professional athletes to weekend warriors who refuse to let pain dictate their lifestyle.
Whether you're recovering from surgery or dealing with a nagging injury that won't go away, we have the expertise and tools to get you moving pain-free.
✓ ACL tears and post-surgical ACL reconstruction rehab
✓ Running injuries: IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, shin splints
✓ Shoulder injuries: rotator cuff tears, labral repairs, impingement, instability
✓ Knee pain: meniscus tears, patellar tendinopathy, jumper's knee
✓ Back and neck pain: disc herniations, sciatica, nerve pain, lumbar instability
✓ Strength sport injuries: tendinopathy, muscle strains, overuse injuries from powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and CrossFit
✓ Post-operative rehabilitation for all orthopedic surgeries
✓ Sports-specific injury prevention and performance optimization
What Athletes in Mount Pleasant Are Saying
Real reviews from real athletes who got their performance back.
Meet the Team
Expert care backed by elite credentials and real-world experience at the highest levels of sports medicine.
Name: Dr. Doug Timme
Credentials: PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Dr. Doug Timme is a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist and certified strength and conditioning specialist who brings elite-level expertise to every athlete he treats. Doug earned his Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Miami in 2020 and completed his Orthopedic Residency at Emory University, where he also taught in the DPT program.
With experience working alongside NFL, NBA, MLB, NCAA, and special forces athletes, Doug understands what it takes to compete at the highest level—and how to get you back there. He specializes in ACL reconstruction rehab, sports injury recovery, and performance optimization for competitive and recreational athletes including runners, CrossFitters, powerlifters, Olympic weightlifters, BJJ practitioners, and triathletes.
Doug's approach is simple: identify the root cause, eliminate pain through advanced manual therapy and dry needling, and build strength that prevents re-injury while improving performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to common questions about physical therapy, treatment approaches, and what to expect at Apex.
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No, you don't need a referral to start physical therapy in South Carolina. We offer direct access, which means you can schedule your free phone consultation and begin treatment immediately without waiting for a doctor's referral. However, if you plan to use insurance, check with your provider to see if they require a referral for coverage. We're happy to help you navigate this process.
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Your first visit includes a comprehensive 50-point physical assessment where we evaluate your range of motion, strength, movement patterns, and functional capabilities. We'll discuss your injury history, training goals, and what's been holding you back. From there, we'll create a personalized treatment plan that combines manual therapy, corrective exercises, and sport-specific training designed to get you back to your activities as quickly and safely as possible. Most initial evaluations take 60-75 minutes.
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At Apex, you're not just another patient in a rotation. You'll work 1-on-1 with Dr. Doug Timme—a board-certified orthopedic specialist and certified strength coach with experience training professional and collegiate athletes—for the entire session. We focus on sport-specific treatment and performance training, not just pain relief. Our advanced techniques like dry needling, blood flow restriction training, and elite-level strength programming set us apart from traditional PT clinics. We don't just get you out of pain—we make you better than you were before the injury.
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We work with most major insurance providers, and we're happy to verify your benefits before your first visit. Many insurance plans cover physical therapy with varying levels of coverage depending on your specific plan. We also offer self-pay options for those who prefer to pay out-of-pocket or have limited insurance coverage. Contact us at (843) 284-9275 and we'll help you understand your coverage and options.
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Recovery timelines vary depending on your injury, training history, and goals. Some athletes see significant improvement within 2-4 weeks, while post-surgical rehab (like ACL reconstruction) can take several months. During your initial evaluation, we'll give you a realistic timeline based on your specific situation. Our goal is always to get you back safely and stronger—not just quickly. We use objective return-to-sport testing to ensure you're truly ready before clearing you for full activity.
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Absolutely. In fact, we encourage it. One of the biggest advantages of working with Apex is that we believe in keeping you active throughout your recovery. If you have a lower body injury, we'll train your upper body. If you're rehabbing a shoulder, we'll keep your legs strong. Our approach ensures you maintain fitness and strength while healing, so you don't lose months of progress. We'll modify your training to work around your injury—not stop it entirely.
Still have questions?
We're here to help. Give us a call at (843) 284-9275 or schedule your free phone consultation to discuss your specific situation and goals.