Today we’d like to introduce you to Ryan Friend.
Ryan, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Passion is the driving force behind my career and current business. This was not always the case.
Years ago, before I became a doctor of physical therapy, I attained a degree in psychology. I had a deep fascination with human behavior and had a desire to help others overcome their mental challenges. Throughout my life, I attracted people in search of advice for various problems they were experiencing and somehow I intuitively provided them with the needed guidance. I decided that if I was all ready counseling others then I would not continue on to grad school.
I decided I would follow another path which eventually led me to going to graduate school for physical therapy. I chose this career path because of my history as an athlete and having had first hand experience working with athletic trainers/PTs who helped with my recovery from multiple injuries.
I was overall uncertain about this career choice, but was following the normal path of going to college to get a degree. After 5 years of working as a Physical Therapist, I quickly learned how our current model of healthcare is a ‘profits over patients’ model and lacks the understanding of the complexity of how the human body works as one system. Working at a number of locations dictated by this ‘system’ I became burned out.
It was at this time when I started a new position that was a ‘diamond in the rough.’ My new employer allowed for more time with the patients and did not restrict clinicians from helping in the way they best see fit. It was at this point in my career that I began to learn new therapeutic approaches and techniques that were more holistic in nature. I began having more success with my patients and helping to resolve issues I was unable to in the past.
A ‘spark’ had ignited and I have been advancing my skills every year to learn what’s needed to help people dealing with more complex problems.
During the time at this employer, I had the desire to start my own practice. I began working on my own during my days off. The practice began to grow without marketing. Due to the cost of living in this area and having a growing family, I decided to move and would start a practice at my new ‘home.’
My goal was to completely focus on starting my business in my new state. Unfortunately, I closed my office the same month that I opened because of the Covid pandemic.
After over a year of struggle, my family made the decision to move once again which landed us in Greenville.
While I planned on starting another business (third times a charm), life sometimes makes you change directions. I once again became an employee working for a corporate practice over the past three years. Back working in ‘the system’ I was again limited how I could treat my patients. Frustrated by these limitations and knowing I was not helping patients to the best of my ability, I finally let that ‘spark’ reignite and decided to start a practice here in Greenville.
My passion to help others get the best care they deserve made it inevitable that I would once again go out on my own.
It’s been an interesting journey and I am excited for this next chapter where Body Evolution Physical Therapy will be a catalyst in the movement toward trust-based healthcare.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road has certainly not been smooth.
In 17 years of my career, I only had one employer that I actually enjoyed working for. If it were not for this employer I would not have had the opportunity to explore different therapeutic approaches and actually have the time to see their positive impact.
The majority of my career was one of frustration. The healthcare system really has clinicians working below their capacity and typically has everyone burned out. This was certainly the case multiple times throughout my career. It is very hard to to know that you can help someone with what you know, and skills you have gained, but cannot apply them due to short appointment sessions, seeing multiple patients at one time, or having your patient be seen by multiple practitioners before they return to your schedule.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Body Evolution Physical Therapy?
Dr. Ryan Friend, founder of Body Evolution Physical Therapy, helps adults suffering from nagging aches and pains get back to an active, healthy lifestyle without the need for pain medication, injections, or multiple visits to the doctor.
Dr. Ryan specializes in manual physical therapy, corrective movement, stress reduction techniques and helping patients who suffer from chronic issues other medical professionals haven’t been able to identify or treat.
His own journey in healing both his body and mind have inspired him to bring a more holistic approach to his physical therapy practice.
For over 15 years, he’s worked in a variety of orthopedic and other settings refining his skills. Now, he brings those skills at his clinic or to your doorstep.
Dr. Friend’s unique treatment approach relies less on traditional tests and measures and more on your response to his therapeutic approach. His personalized approach helps him identify pain syndromes and dysfunctions other doctors can miss. Through one-on-one treatment plans, he addresses the root causes, instead of just symptoms, and helps patients discover freedom from pain in less time than traditional PT.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
When it comes to my practice, what matters most is growing a business built around strong morals and ethics with a client-focused model. It really comes down to making a difference in helping people get rid of their pain so they can get back to living a more enjoyable life.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://Www.bodyevolutionpt.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bodyevolution_pt/
