About Dr. Michael Nelson | The Body Shop Physical Therapy

Dr. Michael Nelson Founder & Physical Therapist

Doctorate of Physical Therapy

A Career Built on Elite Performance

Dr. Nelson graduated from A.T. Still University with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2003. He is a licensed physical therapist in the state of Arizona and Hawaii, and a proud alumnus of Arizona State University where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science.

Over the past 20 years, Michael's passion and expertise has been outpatient orthopedics and sports performance. His unique background allows him to fuse the fields of personal training and physical therapy in a way few clinicians can — giving patients a truly comprehensive approach to recovery and performance.

In 2012, Dr. Nelson founded The Body Shop Physical Therapy to bring back the "black bag" model of care: a physical therapist fully present and devoted to a single patient, without the distractions and compromises of a typical group outpatient clinic.

DPT · A.T. Still University BS Exercise Science · ASU CSCS PES CES FMS Certified Rocktape Doc Licensed AZ & HI

Elite Training Background

Trained by the Best, for the Best

Dr. Nelson's clinical development spans some of the most elite sports medicine institutions in the country. These experiences define how he treats every patient — from weekend warriors to world-class competitors.

01

EXOS (Athletes' Performance)

Training at EXOS — formerly Athletes' Performance, the world-renowned sports performance institute based in Phoenix — gave Dr. Nelson direct exposure to the methodologies used by elite professional and Olympic athletes globally.

02

Brett Fischer · Arizona Cardinals

Dr. Nelson trained alongside Brett Fischer, the longtime physical therapist for the Arizona Cardinals (NFL), gaining invaluable insight into the demands of professional football and the injury management required at that level.

03

Indiana Pacers · NBA

Completing specialized training with the Indiana Pacers organization provided Dr. Nelson firsthand experience in the high-stakes, fast-turnaround world of NBA sports medicine — where margins are measured in days, not weeks.

04

USTA Sport Science Division

Work with the United States Tennis Association's sport science chair deepened Dr. Nelson's expertise in the biomechanical demands specific to tennis — from overhead mechanics to the lateral movement patterns unique to court sports.

Our Philosophy

The Black Bag Model of Care

The traditional outpatient clinic model asks therapists to split their attention between multiple patients, rely on aides for hands-on time, and move people through sessions on a rigid schedule. The results are often adequate — but rarely exceptional.

Dr. Nelson built The Body Shop on a different premise: that real outcomes require real time and real attention. Every session is conducted personally by Dr. Nelson, who applies the full depth of his training — manual therapy, advanced technology, performance coaching — to a single patient goal.

"I believe patients deserve to see a physical therapist — not a clinic. One person, one goal, and the best available tools to get there."

— Dr. Michael Nelson, DPT · Founder

Ready to Begin?

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Experience the difference that true one-on-one care makes. Contact us today to schedule your first visit.

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