Physical Therapy

Now Open in Ahwatukee Foothills

Phoenix, AZ 9/14/2020 — Pritchette Physical Therapy is expanding and has now opened its second location at 1331 E. Chandler Blvd. #102-103, in the Ahwatukee Foothills on September 14, 2020 in order to greater serve the Ahwatukee community which they are so proud to be a part of for the past 11 years. This location serves to  complement the flagship location at 4730 E. Warner Rd. #5, and will offer 5-star physical therapy and massage therapy care to residents of the Ahwatukee Foothills and the surrounding communities. 

Pritchette Physical Therapy has proudly been serving the Ahwatukee community since 2009, during this time they have been awarded the Best New Business, Best Physical Therapy Practice, and Best Massage Therapy awards by the Ahwatukee Foothills News, as well as consistently placed in the top three annually for each category. Pritchette Physical Therapy has grown to not only provide exceptional orthopedic and sports injury physical therapy services, to offering sports performance training, personal training, massage therapy, and fascial stretch therapy services as well.

Dr. Sarah Thompson, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS, who has been with Pritchette Physical Therapy since 2012, is the Clinic Director and Doctor of Physical Therapy for the Ahwatukee Foothills location.  This location is now taking new patients, contact 480-371-1555 to schedule your appointment today!

What an exciting time for Pritchette Physical Therapy! I started with this company as a student in 2011 and have watched it grow from a small outpatient clinic to a state of the art facility offering the wonderful people of Ahwatukee not only physical therapy services, but also massage therapy, personal training, and fascial stretch therapy. I have worked alongside Dr. Keith Pritchette for nearly 8 years and we share a passion for exceptional customer service and successful patient outcomes. I am honored to have the opportunity to represent Pritchette Physical Therapy in the Foothills and continue to provide the exceptional level of care that has made us a consistent Best of Ahwatukee! 
— Dr. Sarah Thompson, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
11 years ago I fulfilled my dream of offering physical therapy care to the Ahwatukee community that went above and beyond what patients’ expectations were. I wanted to not only provide quality care, I also wanted to provide a level of customer service which seems to have been lost in today’s world, a place where the patients felt heard and always felt welcome. I am so proud to have succeeded in achieving this dream and am extremely excited to expand and now offer the residents of the Ahwatukee Foothills, and surrounding areas, an additional and more convenient option for those in need of our services. This location will provide the same level of premium care and customer service which our clientele have come to expect from us. Dr. Sarah is an amazing physical therapist and I have the utmost confidence in her ability to make our new location a resounding success!
— Dr. Keith J Pritchette, PT, DPT, AT, Cert.-DN, Cert.-SM, Cert-ASTYM

Welcome Back Dr. Sarah Thompson

We are very happy to have Dr. Thompson rejoin our team as we begin preparation to open our 2nd location. She has always been an important part of our family and know our patients will love having her treat them once again. She is currently seeing patients at our Warner location. Here is a brief interview we did with her.

How do you like to practice as a Physical Therapist?

I like to practice with the patient's chief concerns at the forefront of their care. Often times I think it is easy as a clinician to fall into a habit of treating similar cases in similar manners, but certainly we understand that if each person is different, each case and plan of care should be different as well. I also like to have fun while I treat. This makes the experience more enjoyable for everyone involved and helps address the emotional implications associated with injury. Laughter is the best medicine!

What makes Pritchette Physical Therapy different?

Pritchette Physical Therapy is family to me. I have known Keith since 2011, and in this time, I have learned a tremendous amount not only from him, but from my coworkers, and from my patients as well. The clinic always has a positive energy to it and is filled with laughter. Most importantly, Keith is very committed to and cares deeply for his patients and his staff. He is someone that I respect deeply and look forward to working with for many years to come.

What excites you about the new location?

The new clinic is going to provide the Ahwatukee Foothills community with the high-level physical therapy services that Pritchette Physical Therapy is known for in a location that is much closer to home. It is located an area that is very accessible to neighboring communities as well, thanks in large part to the expansion of the 202 freeway. As the area continues to grow and develop, we look forward to the opportunity to be the physical therapy provider of choice and become family to the community we serve.

Yoga vs. Physical Therapy for treating chronic Low Back Pain

Many people tout the benefits of Yoga for reducing chronic back pain and many studies have shown that physical therapy is more effective than taking pain medication.  So which is more effective, Yoga vs. Physical Therapy for Chronic Low Back Pain?

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine  finds that yoga was just as good as physical therapy for reducing pain and increasing mobility. While clinical guidelines and many large-scale randomized controlled trials endorse yoga as a reasonable first line approach, physical therapy still remains the most common reimbursable, evidence-based, non-pharmacologic therapy prescribed by doctors.

Yoga is a great way to maintain pain relief once the initial phase of back pain has been addressed.  But caution should be practiced when considering Yoga as a primary method for treating chronic low back pain.  First, the cause of low back pain is different for everyone and needs to be addressed individually.  Secondly, Yoga instructors are not medical providers, so they aren’t trained to recognize potential risks when performing certain movements.

Physical Therapy is great to help address increased bouts of pain and help educate the patient about what precautions they should take with any exercise program, including Yoga.  Also Physical Therapy, is covered under most insurance plans, while Yoga is not.

Most people would benefit from practicing Yoga as a maintenance program between physical therapy services in treating chronic low back pain.  Pritchette Physical Therapy utilizes our Therapeutic Yoga Services as an aftercare program to help our patients maintain a healthy back.