Our Story

How it all started...

Robert Kans was on a career path to become a doctor, but physical therapy wound up finding him instead.  He was studying to go to medical school and was spending time volunteering at a hospital when he noticed something interesting: the people who got to spend the most time with the patients weren't the doctors.  They were the physical therapists.  In fact, the physical therapists were the ones who got to work directly with people, hands on, and actually got them better.  Seeing this decided it for Robert and he completed a 7-year program and became a physical therapist. 

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For a while, Robert served as director of rehabilitation for a large orthopedic surgical group, overseeing offices in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. While it was a rewarding experience in many ways, it was also discouraging to see that the continuity and uniformity of treatment was often missing.  The personal aspect was missing too.  What he loved most about physical therapy     the one-on-one time with patients     too many physical therapists weren't valuing.  Also, he would train physical therapists, and time and time again, he saw that the most talented ones left and started their own practices.  So in 2005, he decided that it was time he did the same.

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He started Orthopedic & Sports Physical Therapy in 2005 to bring the highest standards of quality care and research-based treatments to the area he was raised and the community that he loved.  OSPT specializes ONLY in orthopedics, and they use Maitland manual therapy techniques     the most modern and proven mobilization techniques in the field.   Although Robert is the owner, he sees patients regularly and makes sure every member of his staff is providing a level of care that cannot be matched.  It's continuity from the beginning to the end.  He has also worked to create a positive environment for his staff, where everyone loves coming to work.  People who come to work for Robert come because they care about the same things he cares about, and it shows up in the way they care for patients. 

In his eight years in business, Robert has not only attracted therapists from the other states, he has also had virtually no turnover.  He jokes that he started his own practice just so he could play the music he wanted on the radio and get to talk to people all day long.  But it goes to what OSPT is truly about: making people feel welcome and comfortable    and ultimately, helping them feel well again so they can get back to the life they want.