Concierge Mobile Physical Therapy: What It Is, Who It’s For, and What to Expect (Metro Detroit)
- melissamtye
- Feb 5
- 9 min read
Updated: Feb 6
Concierge mobile PT is for people who want care that fits real life
If you’ve ever wondered whether concierge mobile physical therapy is “worth it,” you’re not alone. Most people can intuitively tell when their care isn’t fitting real life — they just don’t always have the language for it.
Concierge mobile physical therapy is the language.
It’s a model of care built for people who want more than the minimum: more attention, more personalization, more problem-solving, and more carryover into daily life — whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing a chronic condition, training for a big goal, or trying to stay strong and independent for the long run.
When I started my independent practice in 2020 (mid-COVID), I didn’t know the term “concierge mobile physical therapy” either. I just knew I wanted to practice physical therapy the way it’s meant to be practiced: one human at a time, fully present, in the real environment where life happens — without the distractions and restrictions that often shape traditional care.
As this model grew, I was invited to publish on it in Home Healthcare Now, because concierge mobile PT represents a meaningful shift: away from insurance-driven limits and toward client-centered goals, flexible scheduling, and truly customized care.
To dig even deeper into the background of concierge mobile physical therapy, this article I wrote explains what concierge mobile physical therapy is, who it’s for, and what you can expect if you’re considering care in Metro Detroit.
Watch: How meaningful physical therapy can be, especially when it takes place in your home
I was interviewed on AgeWise Health (produced by Bloomfield Community Television) because most people still think PT is “a few exercises after an injury.” In reality, PT supports prevention, performance, recovery, and quality of life across the full spectrum. The stumbling block here is that many of these types of goals and services are not supported by insurance guidelines which is probably why it is not generally known what we are capable of providing as physical therapists.
Watch the interview here:
In the interview, we talk about:
Why MRI findings don’t always match pain or function
How PT can be a first stop (even without a referral)
What a wellness assessment / “PT checkup” looks like
Why in-home service often solves problems faster
Why movement should feel meaningful — even joyful — not like punishment
What is concierge mobile physical therapy?
Concierge mobile physical therapy is one-on-one care delivered where you live, work, or train — home, senior living community, workplace, gym, or even outdoors when that’s the best fit for your goals.
Most concierge PT practices are cash-based / out-of-network, meaning we do not bill insurance directly. That matters because insurance-based care can be highly restrictive, shaping what gets treated, how long care lasts, and how often you can be seen.
Concierge care reduces those insurance-driven restrictions and allows the purpose, frequency, and duration of care to be established collaboratively by you and your therapist. Put simply, you get the right care at the right time.
Concierge PT can also include wellness services, fitness prescription, and performance enhancement — areas insurance typically doesn’t reimburse anyway, but that make a huge difference in how you move and feel.
Why does concierge physical therapy feel different than insurance based (traditional PT)?
Insurance-based PT can be very helpful — but it’s often built around medical necessity rules and reimbursement limits. That typically pushes care toward minimum functional checkpoints. For example, reimbursement may stop once you can walk safely at home.
A functional, joyful life is bigger than that.
People choose concierge care when they want:
Confidence walking outdoors, not just down a hallway
Strength for travel, hiking, golf, pickleball, and real-life demands
Strategies for chronic conditions (arthritis, diabetes, heart health, neurologic recovery)
A plan that supports longevity, prevention, and performance — not just short-term rehab
Concierge care isn't new - this model aligns with a shift in health care
Concierge medicine has been around for decades. One widely cited early concierge practice, MD², opened its first concierge medical office in Seattle in 1996. (md2.com). More recently, fee-based models such as concierge and direct primary care have grown rapidly. Johns Hopkins Carey Business School reported that from 2018 to 2023, concierge and direct primary care practice sites increased 83.1% and clinicians increased 78.4%. (carey.jhu.edu)Concierge physical . therapy fits the same “why”: some people choose to invest in access, personalization, prevention, and higher-level outcomes beyond what insurance systems are designed to cover.
Who is concierge mobile physical therapy for?
Concierge mobile PT is for people who want high-touch, highly individualized care and prefer sessions that are unhurried, focused, and practical.
People who want expert-level problem solving (even short-term)
Some clients come after they’ve tried multiple providers and still don’t feel confident they’ve gotten to the root of the issue. They want a high-level consult to:
Make sense of imaging findings vs. actual function
Identify likely drivers (movement patterns, strength deficits, mobility restrictions, load management issues)
Determine whether imaging, a specialist, or a different approach is truly needed
People in assisted living, memory care, or rehab facilities who need more goal-specific work
Sometimes people are “getting therapy,” but it isn’t enough or it isn’t specific to the environment and goals that matter most. Concierge sessions can fill those gaps, including the training that caregivers need to be effective.
People recovering from surgery, hospitalization, illness, or injury
Concierge visits help bridge the gap from “basic function” to real life — walking outdoors, navigating stairs, getting in/out of a car, returning to gym routines, or rebuilding confidence after a setback.
Active adults and performers (including high-level athletes)
Some clients use concierge PT for injury prevention, tissue recovery, performance enhancement, movement analysis, and programming that complements what they’re getting elsewhere.
Neurologic recovery — acute, chronic, and beyond one year
Stroke recovery is an example where high-quality, consistent practice matters. Intense work done safely is very important soon after the neurological injruy. However, progress doesn’t stop after a year — people can continue building new movement strategies with the right plan and expectations.
People who want a “PT checkup” (wellness assessment)
You don’t need a diagnosis to benefit. Many clients want a structured assessment of posture, balance, strength, endurance, and movement strategy — and a plan to address issues before they become limiting. Doctors of physical therapy can evaluate you and determine a physical therapy diagnosis even without injury or active pain problem. You don't need to wait until there's a problem you can't ignore.
What to Expect During Your First Visit
Your first concierge mobile PT visit is comprehensive and not rushed. A typical evaluation includes:
A detailed conversation about your goals, lifestyle, and concerns
Review of relevant medical history and medications
Assessment of movement, strength, balance, walking, and functional tasks
Observation of your environment when relevant (stairs, bed height, home office, daily routines)
A clear plan of care explained in plain language. We will also establish a clear plan for amount of visits and expected cost so there are no surprises.
Treatment begins right away: strategies, exercises, and practical next steps
Education on prognosis expectation, family involvement and collaborative goal setting
Why mobile concierge PT can solve problems faster
One of the biggest advantages of concierge mobile PT is that we see you inside your real ecosystem whether that is your living room, your place of business or where you enjoy recreation.
Here are some examples:
A client with neck pain may improve quickly once we adjust a home office setup (screen height, keyboard position, posture habits).
A stroke recovery client struggling to manage cooking and using kitchen tools may become immediately more functional by learning a different movement strategy in their actual kitchen environment.
An avid backpacker with knee arthritis and back pain who is struggling tolerating the type of terrain on his next hike can actively practice learned strategies and application out on the trail.
This is the power of environment-specific care: it’s not just rehab; it’s real-life problem solving.
Mini stories: Why this work matters to me
Concierge PT isn’t just a service model — it’s deeply human.
A client with multiple medical complications rebuilding after a stroke had a goal that mattered more than number feet he walked: he wanted to transfer safely in and out of his new car so he could travel to the cottage that he loves with his family. This was long after insurance based therapy was completed due to insurance restrictions, reported plateau or unknown reasons. We broke down the task, built a strategy that fit his body, practiced it until it was consistent, and helped him reclaim meaningful time with the people he loves.
On the other end of the spectrum, I work with high-level athletes who want a different kind of victory: getting through a season without major injury so they can keep doing what they love.
And then there are the moments that make our whole team light up — the message from a hiker who trained for months, sending a photo from the summit because they reached the goal they weren’t sure their body could do anymore.
When people reach their goals — whether that goal is a car transfer, a safe athletic season, or a mountain — it means everything to us.
Money vs. Cost: Looking at the Bigger Picture
A common first reaction is: “I want to use my insurance,” or “I can’t afford concierge care.”That’s understandable — and important to talk about honestly.
Concierge mobile PT pricing varies by region, provider experience, and case complexity. Many U.S. home-visit models are often in the $100–$300 per visit range, with specialized services commonly $150–$350+.
At the same time, it helps to look at total episode cost, not just one visit price.
For many people using traditional insurance-based care, out-of-pocket spending (copays, deductible, coinsurance) for a PT episode can still add up — often in a practical range around $800–$1,800 (costs vary widely by insurance design and other factors), depending on plan design and how much of the deductible has already been met.
Physical therapy is only one piece of what people spend while trying to solve pain and mobility problems. Out-of-pocket dollars often go toward copays, office visits, imaging, medications, braces/devices, massage, chiropractic care, gyms, trainers, supplements and more. In my published article, I referenced national out-of-pocket spending related to musculoskeletal conditions and falls as a reminder that the total financial burden is already substantial.
So the real question is not only: “What does this visit cost?”The better question is: “What is my total cost to solve this problem — in money, time, and quality of life?”
Yes, concierge care costs money, and it is not the right fit for everyone. For the right person, getting a precise, individualized plan early can reduce wasted steps, shorten frustration, and sometimes reduce total spending over the full journey. The true cost of unresolved pain is never just financial — it’s also lost time, lost confidence, and lost ability to do the things that make life meaningful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a referral? (Michigan direct access)
In Michigan, you can access physical therapy without a physician referral under a restricted direct access framework (commonly described as up to 10 visits or 21 days). (aptami.org)
If you’re unsure what applies to your situation, we can clarify this during your consultation.
When we are providing "wellness services" we do not need a physician referral and can work without restriction. We are happy to collaborate with physicians and health care providers.
Is concierge mobile PT the same as home health PT?
No. Home health PT is typically insurance-based and requires being “homebound” with strict coverage rules. Concierge PT is private, one-on-one care guided by your goals and what you value — not limited by homebound criteria or insurance visit caps. (We do not bill insurance directly.)
What is the cost of concierge mobile PT?
What conditions do you treat?
We treat a wide range — orthopedic and neurologic rehab, chronic pain, post-surgical recovery, balance and mobility goals, as well as wellness, fitness programming, and performance-focused work.
How long are visits?
Concierge visits are typically longer and unhurried so there’s time for assessment, treatment, education, and real-life practice.
Next Steps: Start with support that fits real life
If you’re exploring concierge mobile physical therapy in Metro Detroit, here are two easy ways to get started:
✅ Download the FREE Balance Workbook. If you are looking for ways to get started immediately with improving your balance this is a good place to start.
📞 Book a complimentary 20 minute consultation. Ask questions, share your goals, and see if concierge mobile physical therapy is the right fit—no pressure, no obligation. Your mobility matters- getting help shouldn’t be harder than the problem itself.
References
Thomas, D. (2022). Concierge mobile physical therapy and wellness. Home Healthcare Now, 40(2), 110–111. https://doi.org/10.1097/NHH.0000000000001050
AgeWise Health episode page (“Physical Therapy with Dawn Thomas,” video added June 18, 2025). (bloomfieldtwp.org)
About The Authors
Dr. Dawn Thomas, DScPT, OMPT is a Doctor of Physical Therapy with 30 years of experience. She provides private concierge mobile physical therapy and wellness services across Metro Detroit. She specializes in helping people build strength, resilience, and confidence — bridging rehab, performance, and long-term mobility so clients can keep doing what they love at every age.
Dr. Melissa Tye PT, DPT, NCS is a board-certified neurologic doctor of physical therapy passionate about helping people restore movement and achieve their wellness goals through the power of exercise. In addition to her work in physical therapy, Mel also works in healthcare marketing research, speaking directly with consumers to better understand them. Whether it's PT or MR, she feels it is important to achieve a partnership and deep understanding of a client's goals.
Dr. Dawn Thomas, thank you giving me the opportunity to understand your business better and for your drive to elevate quality of life through concierge PT and movement initiatives. This is a valuable service that can benefit people of all ages and abilities. It's wonderful to know there are great alternatives to insurance-driven norms. Your service allows patients the comfort of home and the added benefit of truly being heard and understood, compassionately. Fantastic! - Melissa Hansen, Emboss Notary