Today we’d like to introduce you to Cortney Herndon.
Hi Cortney, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy who has practiced in Danville, Virginia, for more than twenty-three years. In 2015, after being diagnosed with breast cancer, I unexpectedly found myself on the opposite side of health care — as the patient instead of the provider. That experience was both humbling and life-changing.
As I navigated treatment and recovery, I gained a deeper understanding of the powerful impact that compassionate, individualized care can have on both outcomes and the overall patient experience. Following treatment, I personally struggled to return to my normal activity levels, and for the first time, I truly understood many of the physical and emotional challenges my own patients had faced.
That journey ultimately inspired me to pursue a long-held vision of opening my own physical therapy clinic — one designed to remove barriers to care and allow the time, attention, and personalized approach necessary to help patients fully reach their goals.
Now, sixteen months into business ownership, I have found this model of care to be incredibly rewarding for both myself and my patients. While owning a business certainly comes with daily challenges and continual learning, it is deeply fulfilling to watch patients regain confidence, restore function, and achieve their health and fitness goals.
My practice has continued to grow and now includes pelvic health physical therapy as well as wellness and performance training, services I believe are essential components of long-term health, movement, and overall well-being.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Business ownership has been challenging in ways I didn’t fully anticipate, particularly on the business and administrative side of running a practice. While my clinical training prepared me to deliver high-quality patient care, it did not provide the same foundation in operations, finance, or systems management. To bridge that gap, I have sought guidance from business coaches, pulled from my experience as a clinical director, and leaned on the experience and insight of other business owners, whose support has been invaluable in helping me navigate the ongoing learning curve.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Fit & Function PT?
We are a patient-centered physical therapy practice built around the idea that healing takes time, attention, and individualized care. We work with patients who are dealing with pain, injury, post-surgical recovery, pelvic health concerns, scoliosis (including treatment using the Schroth method), and those looking to improve strength and performance. Our focus is on meeting people where they are and helping them return not just to baseline, but to a higher level of function and confidence in their movement. We offer dry needling, pelvic floor biofeedback, manual therapy, exercise prescription, nutrition counseling, and personal/performance training. The quality of care provided while reaching individual patient goals is of upmost importance to us!
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
My Christian faith is central to who I am and is the guiding influence in how I make decisions, both personally and professionally. It shapes the way I lead my team and the way I care for my patients, with an emphasis on compassion, service, and integrity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://fitandfunctionpt.com
- Instagram: @fitandfunctionpt
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fitandfunctionpt
Image Credits
Aaron Michael Productions
