Preferred Physical Therapy

Preferred Physical Therapy Helping folks 40+ overcome pain and stiffness naturally so they can move better and live stronger.

We help people aged 40+ in Northwest Phoenix stay active and independent, live free from pain killers, and avoid surgery, …even if they have had pain for years. Preferred Physical Therapy is a clinic owned and operated by Nick Hunter, PT, DPT and his wife, Jessika. Preferred Physical Therapy is located in the convenient Arrowhead area of Glendale, Arizona. We are a small practice which gives us the opportunity to connect with each patient on a deeper level. Our staff is a compassionate team of specialists that devotes our time to leading the way for our patients to become healthy, stable, and pain free. We strive to accommodate our patients with a personalized plan of care that’s most effective to their pain levels or medical conditions. Everyday we open our doors, we make it our focus to create an environment that demonstrates our mission through superior care and friendly service.

11/17/2025

Before ➜ After in the SAME session.

This 17-year-old basketball player came in with radicular pain shooting down his leg from a back injury — the kind of pain that makes sprinting, jumping, and even standing uncomfortable.

During his evaluation, his nerve mobility was severely limited, and his “before” measure showed exactly how irritated the nerve was.

After targeted treatment to reduce pressure on the nerve and improve nerve glide, his “after” measure improved dramatically — in just minutes.

👉 Why this matters:
When a nerve is irritated or compressed, no amount of stretching, resting, or “working through it” will fix the problem.
The body needs:
• decreased compression
• improved nerve mobility
• restored movement patterns

This is how real progress happens.
This is how pain calms down.
And this is how young athletes safely return to their sport — without making the injury worse.

He still has work to do, but now he has a clear path back to the basketball court 💪🏀

📲 If your athlete has leg pain, back pain, or nerve symptoms that aren’t improving, message us “ATHLETE” — early treatment makes all the difference.

11/14/2025

When I started Preferred Physical Therapy 10 years ago, these four were little boys running around the clinic, raiding the snack drawer, asking if they could use the treatment tables as trampolines, and growing up right alongside this business.

A lot has changed since then.

The boys got taller.
The clinic got bigger.
And somewhere along the way I realized running a clinic and raising kids have a lot in common. Mostly that you are never actually caught up and there is always someone looking for a snack.

What has not changed is why we do this. We help folks over 50 stay active, independent, and living life on their terms. That part has held steady through every messy, busy, unforgettable year.

If you see this and want to stop by today, we would love it.

10-Year Anniversary and Patient Appreciation Party
🗓️ Today at 4 pm
📍 Preferred Physical Therapy

Come say hi, grab a treat, and celebrate with us. I’d love to see you.




11/14/2025

⚠️ Youth athlete injuries are NOT “normal.” And they are NOT something your kid will just grow out of.
That’s why it’s so important that parents stop believing the 3 myths in this post — because these beliefs keep kids in pain longer, reduce performance, and increase the risk of future injuries.

Here’s what every sports parent needs to know 👇

1. Injuries don’t always heal on their own.

Overuse injuries are the #1 reason kids miss sports — and most don’t resolve without correcting movement faults or weakness.
📚 Research shows more than 50% of youth sports injuries are overuse injuries. (JOSPT)

2. Pain-free does NOT mean fully healed.

Kids often feel better before they’re strong enough to return to full intensity.
That’s why re-injury rates in young athletes can reach 30–40% when they return too early. (Sports Health)

3. Ice and rest alone don’t fix the problem.

Ice temporarily helps symptoms… but symptoms aren’t the cause.
If we don’t fix strength, mobility, and mechanics, the pain always returns once they start competing again.

⸻

Why does this matter so much?

Because the decisions made right now don’t just affect this season —
they affect their entire future.

I can’t tell you how many adults in their 30s and 40s tell me:
“I hurt this in high school and never got it treated. Do you think I could have avoided this now?”

Often… the answer is yes.
And that’s why early, proper care is crucial.

⸻

You’re not just protecting their sport. You’re protecting their future.

Strong, healthy movement now = fewer chronic issues later, better performance, and a happier athlete.



📲 If your athlete keeps having pain, limping after practice, or missing games, message me “ATHLETE” and I’ll help you figure out what’s really going on.

11/12/2025

🎖️ Happy Veterans Day — and meet one of our heroes in action.

At 94 years young, this veteran isn’t done fighting — he’s just training for a different kind of mission: regaining control, coordination, and independence after a stroke.

In this video, we’re working on his walking coordination by kicking a Swiss ball — alternating right and left to retrain timing and rhythm between his legs.

In slow motion, you can see the challenge clearly:
⚙️ His involved side moves slower and with more effort than his strong side.
But every repetition helps his brain and body reconnect, improving the balance and timing needed to walk safely and confidently again.

These kinds of exercises may look simple, but they’re powerful.
They rebuild the communication between the brain and muscles — one movement, one connection, one victory at a time.

At 94, he’s showing us all what it means to keep pushing forward — to fight for independence, to work for every step, and to never give up on living your best life.

💪 Here’s to all our veterans who’ve served with strength and courage — and continue to inspire us every day.
Happy Veterans Day. 🇺🇸

11/10/2025

💭 “Fear of falling steals more life than falling ever will.”

That’s what makes Jerry different.

At 81 years old, he’s not letting fear decide what his life looks like. While many slow down, he’s in here — dribbling a soccer ball through cones with ankle weights on — training for his next ski trip in January. 🎿

He’s been skiing for years, and he’s not ready to stop now.

Too often, fear of falling slowly takes away confidence, independence, and joy from our grandmas and grandpas. It convinces them they’re fragile… when what they really are is under-trained.

But Jerry refuses to accept decline. He’s putting in the work to stay strong, agile, and ready for adventure.

💪 Not everyone is willing to go through what it takes to live the life they want —
but Jerry, like so many of our patients, doesn’t compromise.

He’s proof that age doesn’t define you — your effort does.

📲 If you want to stay active, independent, and fearless like Jerry, message us “BALANCE.”
We’ll help you build the confidence and strength to keep living life on your terms.


11/05/2025

This patient in her early 30s came to us struggling with low back pain radiating down her leg. Standing for even five minutes brought on burning, aching pain — and it started to feel like this was just going to be her new normal.

That feeling of hopelessness is something we hear often.
When pain becomes constant, it’s easy to believe that nothing will ever help.
But here’s the truth ⤵️

Relief doesn’t come from doing “more of the same” — it comes from finding the right combination of movements, exercises, and treatments that match your body’s specific needs.

In just a few weeks of personalized care, she’s now standing for over an hour with less pain and moving with confidence again — and most importantly, she’s feeling hopeful for the first time in years. 🌤️

Because once you see that your pain can change,
you start believing your life can too.

📲 If you’ve been living with back or leg pain that feels endless, message us “RELIEF.”
We’ll help you take that first step toward getting your life back.


11/05/2025

🦵 “If you’ve done all the foot and shin exercises but still have pain… this is for you.”

You can stretch, ice, roll, and strengthen your calves all you want —
but if your hips are weak, that pain will keep coming back.

Here’s the truth:
Most lower leg pain — shin splints, plantar fasciitis, foot pain — isn’t just a “foot problem.”
It’s a stability problem.

When your hip and glute muscles don’t control your pelvis well,
every step sends more load and tension down your leg.
👉 Your shins work harder.
👉 Your feet collapse inward.
👉 Your joints get angry.

It’s like building a house on a shaky foundation —
you can patch the cracks, but until you fix what’s holding it up,
the problem always returns.

That’s why in our clinic, we look above the pain —
training hip and core strength to stabilize your stride,
reduce stress on your shins and feet,
and help you move efficiently again.

💡 If your foot or shin pain just won’t go away,
stop chasing the symptoms — start strengthening the source.

📲 Message us “RUN” to learn how we help runners and active adults
get out of pain and stay moving strong.

10/30/2025

🎾 “Back to tennis, pickleball, and 3-mile walks — without knee pain!” 🙌

After her knee replacement, this patient struggled with persistent pain along the outside of her leg — that sharp, aching band that just wouldn’t calm down.

It wasn’t her new joint causing trouble… it was IT Band irritation — one of the most common (and frustrating) issues after hip or knee replacement.

The IT Band (Iliotibial Band) is a thick band of tissue running from your hip to your knee. When it tightens up, it can rub or pull against the new joint, causing pain, stiffness, or that nagging “tight band” feeling on the outer thigh.

✅ With a combination of dry needling, manual therapy, and targeted exercises, we helped her calm the irritation, restore muscle balance, and get back to moving like herself again.

Now?
She’s playing tennis, hitting pickleball courts, and walking 3 miles — pain-free. 💪
The only thing stopping her now… is getting tired, not her knee.

If you’ve had a joint replacement and still feel that tight, pulling pain on the outside of your leg, don’t ignore it. Relief is possible — and it’s often just a few smart treatments away.

📲 Message us “IT BAND” to learn more about how we help post-surgery patients get back to the activities they love.

Address

18301 N 79th Avenue, Ste B122
Glendale, AZ
85308

Opening Hours

Monday 7am - 7pm
Tuesday 7am - 7pm
Wednesday 7am - 7pm
Thursday 7am - 7pm
Friday 7am - 4pm

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