Rehabilitative Therapy Practices

The 31,700 rehabilitative therapy practices in the US provide services to help patients restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent disabilities. Rehabilitative therapy includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and audiology. Practices may also provide therapy through art, music, dance, exercise and recreation.

Dependence On Referrals

While most states allow patients to have direct access to therapy services, many managed care and Medicare plans require patients to obtain a referral from a physician.

Demand Projected To Grow

The aging US population, earlier hospital discharges, and improved infant survival are projected to drive increased demand for rehabilitative therapy.

Oct 3, 2026 - Patients Give Billing Processes Low Ratings

• No US state scores even 2 out of 5 on patient sentiment about medical billing, according to a survey conducted by patient-experience intelligence company Tellex. Nationally, billing scored 1.75 out of 5, and 84% of what patients wrote about it was negative. California posted the best score at 1.87, while Wyoming came in lowest at 1.61. Overall patient satisfaction told a very different story, with every state scoring 3.79 or higher.
• Ransomware attacks on health care organizations increased 14% year over year during the first six months of 2026, according to technology research firm Comparitech. Of the reported incidents, 247 targeted hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare providers, while 163 affected healthcare businesses, including pharmaceutical manufacturers, medical billing firms, and health technology companies. Attacks against providers increased about 3% from the previous six-month period while attacks on healthcare businesses climbed nearly 35%.
• Fewer than half of Americans (49%) can consistently afford the care and medications they need, according to the latest West Health-Gallup Healthcare Affordability Index. Rehabilitative therapy practices may be negatively impacted by decreasing health care affordability. The share of adults who are “cost secure” has decreased from a 2022 peak of 61%, and an estimated 2.8 million more people fell out of that category between 2024 and 2025 alone. Cost insecurity now reaches groups long considered insulated: just 61% of adults 65 and older are cost secure, down from 73% in 2021.
• Rehabilitative therapy industry employment increased slightly and average wages for nonsupervisory employees decreased slightly during the first six months of 2026, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. Rehabilitative therapy practice sales are forecast to grow at a 5.72% compounded annual rate from 2026 to 2030, faster than the growth of the overall economy, according to Inforum and the Interindustry Economic Research Fund, Inc.

Industry size & Structure

A typical rehabilitative therapy practice operates out of a single location, employs 15 workers, and generates $1.5 million annually.

• The rehabilitative therapy industry consists of 31,700 companies, employs about 461,400 workers, and generates about $47 billion annually.
• Most rehabilitative therapy practices are small, independent operations; 67% have a single location and 89% employ fewer than 20 workers.
• Large companies include Select Physical Therapy, US Physical Therapy, and Concentra.