Performance Physical Therapist in Clayton, NC

Beyond Pain. Beyond Limits.

1-on-1 with a Doctor of Physical Therapy every session. No aides, no double-booking, no cookie-cutter plans — just expert care built around your training goals.

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5.0 Rating • 74 Reviews

Man squatting with a weight ball while a trainer watches in a gym with fitness equipment.
What We Offer

Move Better. Build Strength. Stay Active.

Whether you're recovering from an injury, managing ongoing pain, or working toward higher performance, our personalized care helps you move confidently and stay active long-term.

Why Beyond Movement

The Standard of Care Active Adults Deserve

Cookie-cutter PT wasn't built for people who train. Beyond Movement was. Every session is hands-on, individualized, and guided by a Doctor of Physical Therapy who is also a fitness coach — because getting you back to full performance is the goal, not just getting you out of pain.

True 1-on-1 Care, Every Session

You see the same Doctor of Physical Therapy every visit — no aides, no double-booking, no hand-offs mid-session.

Built Around Your Training Goals

We don't ask you to stop training. We build your plan around your sport, your schedule, and what you want to get back to doing.

Physical therapist stretching a patient's leg on a treatment table inside a clinic.

DPT + CMFA: Rehab Meets Performance

Our provider holds both a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and a Clinical Management of the Fitness Athlete certification — bridging the gap between rehab and the weight room in every session.

Cash-Based Care, Built on Transparency

No insurance red tape, no visit limits, no surprises. HSA/FSA accepted. Superbills available for out-of-network reimbursement.

How It Works

Three Steps to Moving and Performing at Your Best

Assess and Understand

We evaluate how your body moves, identify what’s limiting your performance or causing pain, and give you clear answers — not guesswork.

Restore and Rebuild

Through hands-on treatment, targeted movement work, and progressive loading, we eliminate pain and build a lasting foundation — so what breaks down doesn’t keep breaking down.

Perform and Progress

Recovery is the floor, not the ceiling. We take you beyond pain relief into peak performance — back to lifting, running, CrossFit, or whatever you love stronger than before.

Meet Your Provider

Dr. Austin Chiang

DPT, CrossFit L2 Coach

Austin Chiang is a North Carolina native and the owner of Beyond Movement Performance and Physio in Downtown Clayton. He earned his degree in Exercise and Sports Science from the University of Georgia, then completed his Doctorate of Physical Therapy at High Point University, becoming licensed in July 2020.

Austin holds specialty credentials that set him apart: Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), Clinical Management of the Fitness Athlete (CMFA), and CrossFit Level 2 Coach. He currently coaches at CrossFit Clayton, which means he trains the same athletes he treats — and understands exactly what it takes to perform at a high level.

His mission is to bridge the gap between physical therapy, strength and conditioning, and functional fitness — so active adults can move and perform without limits. In April 2024, Austin and his wife Abby opened Beyond Movement to bring that vision to Downtown Clayton.

What Our Patients Are Saying

Serving active adults in Clayton, NC and surrounding areas

Austin is a great PT! He’s helped me so much with my foot pain and I’m getting stronger every day!
Andrea Momot
Austin is the best! He is knowledgeable, attentive, and truly cares about helping his patients. The carryover between his experience as a PT and a CrossFit coach is unmatched. I'm thankful for him carefully assessing my needs and providing a detailed plan of action. He is the best around, hands down!
Amanda Johnson
Austin is by far the best PT I’ve had. I started with him a few years ago and now I’m able to squat and workout (and live everyday) with minimal knee pain. I can’t recommend him enough.
Frankie Ellis
Austin provides exceptional care for athletes. Super knowledgable with exercises to do for injury AND prevention, not to mention the customer service is phenomenal... always super quick to respond to messages. I will definitely be using Austin in the future as well :)
Ashley Batchelor
Austin is one the best PT’s I have used in my 20 years of training. I have yet to come across a physical therapist that was able to diagnose and treat my symptoms as well as he has. No cookie cutter physical therapy programs, he is very detail oriented to exactly what the patient needs. Excellent job!
Blake Ellis
Highly recommend - I initially saw Austin to determine and treat the cause of some nagging back pain I’ve had for years. Austin figured out the root cause pretty quickly and we were able to resolve the issue over a few visits.
Donald Deeds
Had a great experience with Beyond Movement! Austin was great and helped heal a lasting hip injury for good! I’m able to exercise pain free!! Would highly recommend Austin and Beyond Movement!
Erin Jones
I came to Austin after having shoulder surgery. I come from a weightlifting background and Austin made sure I could get back doing what I love. He is pro weightlifting which is an awesome thing for any athlete. I was back in the gym lifting weights in six weeks. Anytime I need a PT he is the man I am going to see. Bonus points for just being a great guy too.
Joshua Johnson
Austin is a knowledge and innovative PT! I don't consider him an "ordinary" PT. He is creative in rehab, focuses on mobility, and the long-term functionality of the body. I've worked with him the last few weeks after injuring my middle back. His creative exercises have helped me feel completely back to normal! He has also helped identify other areas that contribute to old injuries.
Morgan Forrester Ray
Went to Austin having labrum hip repair. I was concerned that I wound never be able to do CrossFit or run again . After 3 months of Dr ordered PT with Austin I was back to doing both. He is extremely knowledgeable in his craft . I would highly recommend Beyond Movement for any and all sports related Pt concerns.
Lisa Ennis
Austin is very knowledgeable in his field. He was patient with me and checked in often while he was helping me recover from an injury. I appreciate his attention to detail!
Hadar Bekhor
Austin is one of the most creative and compassionate physical therapists and coaches I have been able to work with! He truly cares about getting you back to the things you love and won't settle for anything less. His approach will encourage you to believe in the healing capacity and strength of your body which is invaluable when working through pain and injury.
Anna Jewell
He helps me meet all my fitness goals!
Connor Gay
Austin is absolutely amazing! After following his recommendations, my pain was gone in just a few days. He deserves more than 5 stars!
Christy Flewwellin
Beyond Movement is my go to for physical therapy now. After suffering from a herniated disc and other lower back issues, Austin did in 8 weeks what other physical therapists were unable to do for the last year and completely eliminated my back pain through a comprehensive, movement-based approach to physical therapy. I’d highly recommend Beyond Movement to anyone with physical therapy needs.
Forrest Cherry
I was referred to Austin after knee replacement surgery following less than ideal results from a previous PT. Austin listened to my concerns and has improved my range of motion and strength with a variety of exercises and techniques. He is always willing to help me improve, and patiently works with me to ensure I am getting the most out of my treatment. I plan on continuing to see him on a regular basis to try to keep myself on track!
Dayna Leloudis
First of all, this is one of the dopest humans I have met. I don’t often find someone I instantly click with, especially when it comes to the medicine/training. He is respectful and down to earth and really encouraging. His insight is exceptional and I feel very safe with him as a physical therapist as well as someone who has a background in training. I will never go anywhere else and highly highly recommend!!
Kimberly Lyn
Austin is great takes lots of time with my son. Highly recommend
Tobie Mitchell
Great explanations, got me in quick!
Susan Lawhead
Austin has helped me finesse and fine tune my workouts, so I can get stronger and prevent injury. His office is like a playground for fitness, with fun equipment that I don’t have at home.
Liz Langston
Austin is great to work with. He works with his clients to understand their goals. Both my son and I have worked with Austin and seen great improvement. This is a wonderful local business to support!
Nick Taylor
Great places 🙏
Carlos Proutey
Austin has great knowledge of body mechanics and I’ve seen improvement within only a few sessions! 10/10 would recommend!
Rachel Bagley
My son has visited here several times. I have also sent several of my youth athletes here. Tons of knowledge , great communication and great service. Highly recommend for athletes of all ages.
Michael Lewis
Austin is great! He has helped our son through several injuries. He is always practical, realistic and honest with us about recovery. I know he always has our son’s health and best interest in mind when treating him. He will always be our first call when injuries happen.
Sara Tolley
I went to see Austin to help with some pain in my calf, ankle and achilles. He was very attentive to issues and helped me come up with a conclusion, types of exercises to perform to help increase the stability in the unstable areas and come back for some soft tissue work over the next couple weeks. I would highly recommend him for your recovery and rehabilitation needs.
John Wheeler
Great Doctor and strength coach for me. As a professional track & field athlete, my goal is to ensure I perform at a high level as consistently as I can. Also, how to prevent injuries. Any injuries I do get Austin is exceptional at diagnosing and treating. I live a good distance away but he’s worth the trip. Highly recommend for PT & strength/conditioning.
John Wood
Austin at Beyond Movement helped identify and correct ongoing issues I have had for years that contributed to chronic low back and hip pain. I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to improve their quality of life. I won't go anywhere else!
Anthony Bardsley
Very helpful at looking for the root of the problem. Very flexible with scheduling
jacob ferguson
Best PT I have been to. Very personable, understanding and empathetic of what you need to be successful!!! Thank you for all you have done.
Chase Jernigan
After a sports-related injury, I went to see Austin. He helped me through my recovery, providing the highest quality care. As a college athlete about to enter the season, not only did he ensure that I was healing and recovering appropriately, but he also improved my overall strength and conditioning in the process. I highly recommend Austin for any and all injuries or strength/conditioning needs!
Grayson Hale
I recently visited Beyond Movement in Clayton for some issues with my knee, and I couldn’t be more impressed. Austin and his knowledge and expertise were outstanding. He took the time to really understand my concerns, explained everything clearly, and created a plan that felt tailored to my needs. I appreciated how thorough and professional he was throughout the process!
Billy and Logan Gonzalez
I've turned to Austin a few times for help with injuries and treatment plans. He listens, evaluates, treats and gives great homework for in-between sessions. He is a knowledgeable and well-informed professional - a great resource for all things related to rehab and performance, and we're fortunate to have him in the Clayton area. Highly recommend Beyond Movement!
Steve
Super nice guy, very helpful would recommend!
Mateo Duffy
Austin was great and got my back, hip and glute back to normal and stronger. He used dry needling and various exercises. I highly recommend him for getting through your injuries and get back moving again.
Stephen Henderson
Austin was amazing to work with! I came in experiencing pain with several movements such as squats, overhead press, and running. As an active individual, movement quality is really important to me, and after just two months with Austin, my range of motion improved significantly and the pain as well. Highly recommend him for any PT or sports performance needs!
Rayshawn Kosie-Williams
Extremely knowledgeable, check them out if you need PT in Clayton!
Cole Counts - Off The Block PT
Had a slight back issue, went and saw Dr. Austin after he helped with my shoulder a couple years ago. Back issue was fixed within 2 sessions and with an week post sessions back to my normal self!
Ethan Storms
Austin truly cares about your progress. He goes above and beyond to support your health goals!
Jenna McKeel
Very professional, acknowledgeable & understanding of what I needed assistance with! I highly recommend him!!
jeana Kelly
Austin got rid of my pain. I tried yoga, stretching, rest, chiropractics, traction, etc. All with no luck. Then 3 sessions with Austin got rid of my pain and back into the gym. He’s my first call if I ever injure myself again.
Ben Disinger
Austin is an excellent physical therapist. He’s knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely cares about his patients’ progress. He took the time to explain everything and made the whole process comfortable and motivating. I highly recommend Austin to anyone needing physical therapy!
Joe Haag

Frequently Asked Questions

Have a question about cash-based PT, pricing, or what to expect? We've got answers.

How much does physical therapy cost?

The initial evaluation is $200 and includes a full movement assessment and individualized plan of care. Follow-up sessions are $170–$200 depending on your plan. No insurance required — HSA and FSA cards accepted.

Do I need a referral to start physical therapy?

No referral is required. North Carolina is a direct-access state, which means you can schedule an evaluation with Beyond Movement without a physician's order. Start with a free consultation and go from there.

Can I keep training while doing physical therapy?

In most cases, yes. We'll assess what your body can handle and build your plan around your training — not around stopping it. The goal is to keep you moving as much as safely possible while your body heals and rebuilds.

What happens at my first appointment?

Your first appointment is a 60-minute 1-on-1 evaluation. We'll assess how your body moves, identify what's limiting your performance or causing pain, and build an individualized plan of care before you leave.

Do you accept insurance?

Beyond Movement is a cash-based practice and does not bill insurance directly. You pay at the time of service — no claims, no denials, no limits on your plan of care. Superbills are available if you'd like to submit to your insurance for possible out-of-network reimbursement.

Still have questions?

Reach out — we're happy to answer before you book.

Ready to Move Better, Get Stronger, and Stay Pain-Free?

Start with a free phone consultation — no commitment, no pressure. Just a conversation about where you are and where you want to go.