Orthopedic and Sports Performance Physical Therapy
Expert Orthopedic Physical Therapy For Sports Injuries, Joint Pain, and Post-Surgical Recovery
Whether you are recovering from a sports injury, rehabbing after surgery, managing chronic joint pain, or working to return to peak performance, our team of Doctors of Physical Therapy treats the root cause, not just the symptom. Every session is 60 minutes, 1-on-1, no aide, no referral required.
60
1-on-1 with your DPT, every session
1st
Treatment begins at your first visit
28+
Combined years of experience
What Is Orthopedic Physical Therapy, and What Makes Ours Different?
Orthopedic physical therapy is the assessment and treatment of conditions affecting your muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons. It is the most common form of PT and covers everything from a sprained ankle to a total knee replacement, from a rotator cuff tear to years of chronic low back pain that nobody has been able to fix.
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Most orthopedic PT clinics in Holly Springs and the Triangle operate on a high-volume model: 20 to 30 minute sessions, multiple patients per PT at the same time, and significant portions of your visit spent with a tech or aide rather than your actual therapist. This is not a criticism, it is simply how in-network, insurance-driven PT is structured.
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At Carolina Elite, we operate differently. Every session is a full 60 minutes, 1-on-1 with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. Your PT assesses the whole picture: how you move, what compensations your body has developed, and what the actual source of your problem is. Treatment begins at your first appointment. There are no intake-only visits, no aides, and no shared time. The result is faster progress, fewer total sessions, and a plan of care built around what your body specifically needs.
Root-Cause Diagnosis
We do not treat the symptom. We find what is actually causing it. Your evaluation assesses your movement patterns, strength, joint mechanics, and history to identify the true source of your pain.
Performance
For athletes and active patients, recovery is only step one. We build toward your performance goals: return to sport, return to competition, or return to the activities that define your life.
One-on-One
Full hour with your Doctor of PT. No double-booking, no aide time, no 10-minute check-ins. Every minute of your session is focused clinical time.
Hands-On from Day One
Manual therapy, dry needling, IASTM, and targeted exercise begin at your first appointment. We do not save treatment for session two.
Orthopedic Conditions We Treat in The Triangle
We treat the full spectrum of musculoskeletal conditions, from acute sports injuries and post-surgical recovery to chronic pain that has been limiting your life for years. If you do not see your condition listed, call or text us. There is a good chance we can help.
Back & Neck Pain
​The most common reason patients come to us. We treat lumbar disc herniation, cervical radiculopathy, facet syndrome, postural dysfunction, and chronic low back pain that has not responded to other treatments. Our root-cause approach looks at the whole spine and surrounding structures.
Knee Injuries
ACL tears, meniscus injuries, patellar tendinopathy, IT band syndrome, patellofemoral pain, and post-surgical knee rehab including ACL reconstruction and total knee replacement. Dr. Lindsay Hren's OCS and CSCS credentials make her uniquely equipped for complex knee cases and athletic return-to-sport progressions.
Shoulder Pain
Rotator cuff tears and tendinopathy, shoulder impingement, SLAP tears, labral injuries, frozen shoulder (adhesive capsulitis), shoulder instability, and post-surgical rehab including rotator cuff repair and shoulder replacement. One of the most complex joints, we assess the full kinetic chain, not just the shoulder in isolation.
Hip Pain
Hip impingement (FAI), hip labral tears, bursitis, hip flexor strains, piriformis syndrome, and post-surgical rehab following total hip replacement. Hip dysfunction is frequently the source of knee, back, and even foot pain. Our whole-body assessment catches what isolated hip treatment misses.
Ankle and Foot Pain
Plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, ankle sprains and instability, peroneal tendinopathy, and stress fracture recovery. We treat runners, gymnasts, cheerleaders, and everyday patients dealing with foot and ankle conditions that limit their ability to walk, exercise, or compete.
Elbow, Wrist and Hand
Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis), golfer's elbow, wrist sprains and tendinopathy, and overuse injuries common in gymnasts, swimmers, and overhead athletes. Dr. Sara Roberts has particular expertise in wrist and upper extremity conditions in gymnasts from her on-site work at Sonshine Gymnastics.
Nerve Pain and Sciatica
Sciatica, lumbar and cervical radiculopathy, thoracic outlet syndrome, and other nerve-related pain conditions. Nerve pain often has a mechanical cause that responds well to physical therapy. We assess the full neural pathway, not just the symptom location, to find and treat the source.
Post-Surgical Rehabilitation
We specialize in post-surgical rehab following ACL reconstruction, total knee and hip replacement, rotator cuff repair, spinal surgery, and more. Our 1-on-1, 60-minute session model is especially valuable post-surgery. You need real clinical time, not a shared session, to navigate the nuances of surgical recovery safely and efficiently.
Sports Performance and Injury Prevention
For athletes who are not injured but want to move better, reduce injury risk, and perform at a higher level. Our CSCS-credentialed PT bridges the gap between rehab and performance training: building strength, addressing movement inefficiencies, and preparing athletes for the specific demands of their sport before injury happens.
Who We Treat
Our orthopedic patients range from competitive Division I athletes to grandparents who want to keep up with their grandchildren. If pain or a movement limitation is keeping you from the life you want to live, we are the right fit.
Competitive and Recreational Athletes
High school, collegiate, adult recreational, and masters athletes. Sports including soccer, football, baseball, basketball, swimming, running, gymnastics, cheerleading, golf, pickleball, and more. We understand athlete psychology and the pressure to return to competition. We will be honest with you about timelines and will not rush your return.
Desk Workers and Professionals
​Neck pain, upper back tension, and low back pain driven by prolonged sitting are among the most common conditions we treat. We assess your posture, movement patterns, and workstation mechanics, and build a plan that addresses the root cause, not just the symptom.
Active Adults and Older Adults
Patients in their 50s, 60s, and beyond who want to stay active, reduce their pain, and maintain independence. We treat arthritis, osteoporosis-related movement limitations, balance and fall prevention, and chronic musculoskeletal conditions, with the same 1-on-1 intensity as our youngest patients.
Post-Surgical Patients
Recovering from ACL reconstruction, joint replacement, rotator cuff repair, spinal surgery, or another orthopedic procedure. Mobile PT is available for patients who have limited mobility in the early weeks of surgical recovery. We come to you.
Youth Athletes
We treat athletes as young as 8 years old for sports injuries, overuse conditions, and injury prevention. Dr. Sara Roberts has a particular specialty in gymnasts and cheerleaders. Dr. Lindsay Hren, a former Division I swimmer, brings deep expertise in youth athletic development and sport-specific rehab.
Patients with Chronic Pain
If you have been living with pain for months or years, have seen multiple providers, and feel like nothing has worked. We are experienced at complex, chronic cases. Our comprehensive evaluation often finds things that prior treatments missed because they only looked at the site of pain rather than the whole body.
Techniques Included in Every Orthopedic Plan
Your treatment plan is built around what your body specifically needs, not a generic protocol. The techniques below are all available to orthopedic patients at Carolina Elite and are included in your session fee.
No add-ons, no upcharges, no surprises.
Dry Needling
Thin monofilament needles target myofascial trigger points to reduce pain, release tension, and restore normal muscle function.
All three DPTs are certified.
Cupping
Decompressive cupping increases blood flow, reduces fascial tension, and promotes soft tissue recovery.
IASTM (Scraping)
Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization uses specialized tools to break down scar tissue, fascial restrictions, and adhesions.
Therapeutic Exercise
Progressive, science-backed exercise programming to rebuild strength, improve movement, and prevent re-injury.
Manual Therapy
Hands-on joint mobilization and soft tissue manipulation to restore mobility, reduce pain, and improve neuromuscular control.
Kinesiotaping
Applied between sessions to support joints, reduce swelling, and maintain neuromuscular activation as you return to activity.
What to Expect from Orthopedic PT at Carolina Elite
Here is exactly what happens from the moment you book your first orthopedic appointment through the end of your plan of care.
1
Comprehensive Evaluation in First Session
Your first appointment is a full assessment, not an intake form session. Your PT reviews your history, symptoms, imaging (if you have it), and goals. We then assess your movement patterns, joint mechanics, strength, and flexibility to identify the root cause of your pain or injury. Treatment begins at this visit. You leave with a clear diagnosis, a personalized plan of care, and hands-on treatment already underway.
2
Personalized Plan of Care
Based on your evaluation, your PT builds a progressive plan specific to your condition, your goals, and your lifestyle. If you are a competitive athlete with a return-to-sport deadline, that shapes the plan. If you are a 65-year-old who wants to return to hiking, that shapes it differently. The plan is yours, not a template.
3
Progressive Treatment Sessions
Each session builds on the last. Manual therapy, dry needling, IASTM, and cupping are used when clinically appropriate and are included in your session fee. Therapeutic exercise progressions are advanced as your strength and movement quality improve. Your PT is with you for the full 60 minutes assessing, adjusting, and coaching in real time.
4
Home Exercise Program
What you do between sessions is as important as what happens in them. Your PT gives you a targeted home program specific to your current phase of recovery, and adjusts it as you progress. We teach you why each exercise matters, not just what to do.
5
Direct Access to Your PT Between Visits
Have a question about your program? Something change with your symptoms? Text, call, or email your PT directly between sessions. No front desk relay, no waiting for a callback from someone who does not know your case. Your PT is your point of contact throughout your care.
Your Orthopedic Physical Therapists
Every orthopedic patient at Carolina Elite works 1-on-1 with one of three Doctors of PT who specialize in musculoskeletal care. All three are former athletes: they understand what it takes to return to competition, not just to daily function.
Dr. Sara Roberts
PT, DPT, Cert. DN - Founder
Dr. Lindsay Hren
PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Dr. Kate Krier
PT, DPT, Cert. DN
Founder of Carolina Elite with nearly two decades of orthopedic and sports PT experience. Sara earned her DPT from Elon University in 2007. She is certified in dry needling and has advanced training in IASTM, vestibular rehab, and pelvic floor PT. A competitive gymnast from age 8 through 21, Sara holds a rare specialty in treating gymnasts and cheerleaders. She provides on-site PT at Sonshine Gymnastics for their competitive team. Her 19-year career encompasses a wide range of orthopedic conditions across all ages and activity levels, with particular depth in complex, multi-layered cases that have not responded to standard treatment.
Board-certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, a credential held by fewer than 10% of physical therapists in the United States. Lindsay graduated from UNC's Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2022 and completed UNC's competitive Orthopedic PT Residency in 2023, one of the most rigorous post-professional training programs in the country. She is also a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) and a certified dry needling provider. A former Division I swimmer at NC State, Lindsay brings both scientific rigor and athletic experience to every orthopedic case she manages.
Dr. Kate Krier brings five years of clinical experience and a dual specialty in outpatient orthopedics and pelvic health to her orthopedic patients. She earned her DPT from Marymount University in 2021 and is certified in dry needling. Kate has advanced training in IASTM, kinesiotaping, and soft tissue mobilization. A multi-sport athlete who played soccer and field hockey through college, Kate brings a firsthand understanding of sport-specific movement demands, overuse injury patterns, and what it takes to return to competition after injury. She is particularly skilled at treating orthopedic conditions in female athletes and in patients navigating the intersection of orthopedic and pelvic health concerns.
Orthopedic PT
FAQs
Do I need a referral to see an orthopedic physical therapist?
No. North Carolina is a direct access state, which means you can begin orthopedic physical therapy without a referral or prescription from a physician. You can book online or call us directly to start care. If you are working with an orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine doctor, or another provider and want us to coordinate with them, we are happy to do that, but it is never a requirement to get started.
How many physical therapy sessions will I need?
It depends on your condition, how long you have had it, and how your body responds to treatment. Acute injuries like a mild ankle sprain may resolve in 4 to 6 sessions. Complex post-surgical cases like ACL reconstruction typically require 16 to 24 sessions or more over several months. Chronic pain conditions vary widely. We will give you a realistic estimate after your evaluation, and we will be honest with you if the timeline changes. We will not keep you coming in for sessions you do not need.
Can physical therapy help me avoid surgery?
In many cases, yes, and strong research supports this. Conservative physical therapy is frequently as effective as surgery for conditions including meniscus tears, rotator cuff tendinopathy, lumbar disc herniation, and knee osteoarthritis, when done correctly and consistently. We will always be honest with you about when PT is a strong alternative and when surgery is the more appropriate path. We are not in the business of keeping patients coming indefinitely if another intervention is what they actually need.
Do you accept insurance for orthopedic PT?
We are an out-of-network provider. We do not bill insurance directly. Payment is due at the time of service, and we accept credit and debit cards, HSA and FSA cards, and Venmo. If your insurance plan has out-of-network benefits, we can provide a superbill so you can submit for possible reimbursement. We chose this model because it allows us to give you a full 60 minutes of 1-on-1 care with a Doctor of PT every visit, something that is not possible under most in-network insurance contracts.
Do you offer mobile orthopedic physical therapy in The Triangle?
Yes. We provide mobile orthopedic PT throughout Holly Springs and the greater Triangle area. Mobile PT is especially popular for post-surgical patients who have limited mobility in the early weeks of recovery. We bring the treatment to you so you can begin rehab without the added strain of traveling to a clinic. Mobile sessions are the same 60-minute, 1-on-1 format as in-clinic care.