Our Team
B.S. Exercise Science
East Tennessee State University
​
DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy)
East Tennessee State University
​
COMT
(Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist)
​
Running Coach Certification
RRCA (Road Runners Club of America)
​
CDNT
(Certified Dry Needling Therapist)
BRITTANY HENDRICKSON
PT, DPT, COMT, CDNT
NPT&P Owner
My Why: I want everyone to live the healthy and active life that they want without restrictions because of aches and pains and limited strength or mobility.
​
My Personal Life: I was born in southern California and lived there through my childhood until my family relocated to northeast Tennessee. I went to college and PT school in East Tennessee then moved to Nashville. I live here with my husband, Jack, and our miniature schnauzer, Baxter. I have a 10 year old stepson who is one of the smartest kids around. I have loved seeing him grow and change over the years. My husband and I love to travel, both in the US and around the world. Most of our vacations center around adventure and aren’t necessarily what you’d call relaxing, but it’s our favorite way to do it.
My Professional Life: I started Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance after being frustrated with the standard model for PT I had spent 9+ years of my career in – high volume clinics with very limited time spent with each patient. It didn’t feel fair to the patient. I wanted to do things differently, spending quality time listening to and getting to know my patients and not having corporate or insurance dictating what I needed to do with my patients.
My Favorite Color: Favorite as in I have to pick just one?! I love red, but I also really like purple. Red has always been a color I love seeing, so bold and vibrant. It makes me feel alive when I see it. I also love purple though. It was my Mom’s favorite color and I always think of her when I see it.
My Hobbies: I have really gotten into woodworking lately. I remember helping my Dad with things like that growing up and I thought it was really neat. I guess that early exposure to it coupled with enjoying working with my hands made it the perfect hobby for me. So far, I’ve built a dining table, coffee table, barstools, and a side table. I’m always looking for the next project.
My Favorite Quote: “Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.”
- John Muir
My Belief on Physical Therapy: Physical therapy should be accessible to all as the first line of defense for aches and pains that come up and keep us from doing what we love. Physical therapists are the best equipped providers to handle these issues as well as work to prevent them in the future. Everyone should have a “go to” PT that they love working with and can call and see whenever they need something.
My Passions: I love living an active lifestyle. I am an avid runner, rock climber, hiker, cyclist, and love lifting weights too. I’ve been known to do Crossfit, yoga, and bootcamps on occasion as well. I really enjoy spending time in our National Park system and hope to get to all of them one day. I just went to my 25th park recently (Channel Islands in CA) so I’m well on my way!
GINA STEFANOV
PT, DPT, COMT
My Why: To help people live a life without limits of pain or worry of injury. There is no better feeling than freeing someone of debilitating and/or chronic symptoms.
My Personal Life: I was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio with my parents and younger sister. With Cleveland in my blood, I grew up and remain a loyal Browns and Indians fan (as painful as it may be sometimes). I received my undergraduate degree in Pre-Physical Therapy from the University of Dayton, performed a physical therapy internship at the Cleveland Clinic, and completed my Doctor of Physical therapy degree at the University of Pittsburgh. After graduating from Pitt, I headed south to Nashville! I now reside in the Gulch with my fiance Pat and our 85 lb baby, a Golden Doodle named Brady. We love spontaneity and travel, frequently taking weekend trips to visit friends and family all over the US, and also try to sneak in a beach vacation when we can!
My Professional Life: I am a Doctor of Physical Therapy. I have been practicing for 6+ years, and for the last 3 years I was the clinic director and head physical therapist for a leading outpatient orthopedic physical therapy clinic in the Greater Nashville area. As an outpatient orthopedic manual therapist, I treat patients of all ages, with a specialized interest in young athletes, skaters and dancers. Since starting in the outpatient orthopedic realm, I found myself frequently frustrated by the industry's pressures to treat high patient volume, limiting the time and individual care necessary for each of my patients. Ultimately, I knew there had to be a better way to do it! Joining the Nashville Physical Therapy & Performance team was my answer. I am able to truly connect with my patients and spend the necessary time required to achieve optimal outcomes for all that I serve.
My favorite color: White. (Haha Is that weird? Wait, is white even a color?) White is simple, fresh, and light - how I like to keep life.
My Hobbies: Outside of my family, my friends, and physical therapy....figure skating is my love. I have been involved in figure skating in some capacity since I was 4 years old . Early in my life I trained as a competitive skater, which transitioned into coaching during my college years. I was then brought on as a coach locally with the Scott Hamilton Skating Academy at the Ford Ice Center. I currently stay involved with the sport by skating as a member of the NHL's Nashville Predators Energy Team during their games at Bridgestone Arena. I also enjoy sand volleyball, yoga, pilates, running, dog park adventures with Brady, and taking advantage of the Nashville music and awesome restaurant scene.
My Favorite Quote:
"There is freedom waiting for you,
On the breezes of the sky,
And you ask "What if I fall?"
Oh but my darling,
What if you fly?"
​
- Erin Hanson
My Belief on Physical Therapy: Physical therapy has a unique opportunity to use a holistic approach in order to identify injuries and the underlying causes of pain. A physical therapist can help treat conditions without becoming reliant on medication. A physical therapist can prevent re-injury and ultimately lead to a successful return to physical activities. It excites me everyday to have an opportunity to influence a patient's outcome, working to solve the problem in a systematic way that allows the patient to live without pain. I feel extremely lucky and humbled to have the knowledge and skills that I gained over my career to provide this service for all of my patients!
My Passions: Skating. Christmas. Red wine. And Brady. Skating brings me joy, clarity, and freedom. It is 'my thing' that I hope all of my patients can find for themselves. My family nicknamed me the Christmas Elf because I love everything about Christmas and the holiday season. From the festive lights and decorations, to movies, candy canes and cheer, there is something about the holidays that brings true joy to my heart. More so, I cherish every minute I can spend with friends and family during those special days. There's just something about a glass of red wine on the couch at home that helps warm my soul, but even better when Brady, my dog, is curled up on my lap with me. Above all, I try my best every day to be present, be kind, and smile.
SANDY GIBSON
PT, PRPC, CMPT
My Why: I have always enjoyed a very active lifestyle and have been able to continue being active because of the physical therapy interventions I have learned and have applied to myself. I am passionate about being able to help others do the activities they enjoy doing most – no matter how simple or difficult they may be.
My Personal Life: My hometown is Kansas City, MO and my husband and I raised our three children there. I loved playing sports throughout my childhood, and then coached my daughters when they were involved in sports in their childhood. When our youngest daughter had graduated from high school in 2016, we decided to move to Franklin, TN to be able to do all of the things we enjoy doing outdoors in warmer temperatures such as hiking, biking, golf and camping.
My Professional Life: I have over 30 years’ experience working as a Physical Therapist. My initial focus of my career was in Outpatient Orthopedics. About 20 years ago, I was led to my specialty of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy. I was amazed by what I learned about my body, specifically how the pelvic floor muscles can be the cause of hip, back and pelvic pain. I then became passionate about using this information to help others get to the root of their problems to be able to get back the quality of life they deserve. Recently, I became discouraged that time constraints, and insurance restrictions were not allowing me to provide quality of care to my patients. I decided to join Nashville PT to be able to have the 1:1 time with patients to be able to fully listen and treat in a comfortable setting.
My Favorite Color: Blue. It was team color for many of both mine and my children’s sports teams. I’ve also been told it is a good color for me to wear.
My Hobbies: My husband and I are playing a lot of golf now. Since I played many years of softball, I had to retrain my body to learn the differences of swinging a golf club. And of course, exploring all of the outdoor wonders of TN mountains. I love the waterfalls!
My Favorite Quote: “We grow fearless when we do the things we fear.” - Robin Sharma
My Belief on Physical Therapy: I once read that “if exercise could be put into a pill it would be the most widely prescribed medication in the world”. There is no disease or illness that can’t be prevented or helped with consistent exercise and Physical Therapy is the first line of defense to help people be able to stay active to prevent many other diseases.
My Passions: Spending time with my family being active in the great outdoors, helping others and spreading the word about how pelvic floor physical therapy may be the missing link to help people who are suffering with bladder, bowel or sexual dysfunction.
AMANDA STEPHENS
PT, DPT, Titleist Performance Institute Medical 2 Certified
My Why: I want to help people golf better for longer with less pain. I also want to be an advocate for my patients and my profession because I believe physical therapy is the best medicine for musculoskeletal pain, as well as a preventative measure for future pain. No one should have to quit doing what they love because pain is preventing them from doing that activity.
My Personal Life: I was born and raised in a small town in Illinois, also known as the Pumpkin Capital of the World- 75% of the world’s canned pumpkin supply is grown and canned in Morton, IL. Yes, I could see pumpkin fields from my driveway, and yes we have a pumpkin festival every year that is as magical as it sounds (think pumpkin everything)! Growing up, I tried just about every sport available to me but tap dancing was the one activity I stuck with for 16 years. In high school, I decided to try out for the golf team and re-discovered my love for the sport. I played golf all 4 years of high school, but recurrent shoulder injuries prevented me from playing competitively in college. It was during that time I fell in love with PT as a profession. I stayed in central IL for undergrad at Bradley University, then moved to Nashville to attend PT school at Belmont University. During PT school, I brought home my sidekick, an Irish Doodle named Clark, and developed a passion for training dogs. In my free time you can find Clark and me traveling around the country, watching Netflix originals on the couch, or training a future service dog with Retrieving Independence.
My Professional Life: I knew from the start of PT school that I wanted to specialize in golf rehab, and I’m forever grateful to my professors at Belmont for helping me achieve my dream so early in my career. During my clinical rotations as a PT student, I quickly realized the corporate PT world was not for me. I never felt like I could give my 100% to any patient because I was usually required to see more than one patient in a given hour, and I constantly felt like my hands were tied by insurance companies. I was fortunate enough to have a clinical rotation in a private practice that specialized in golf rehab, and I knew that was the setting I wanted to seek out for employment following graduation. I also have experience working with spinal cord injuries, orthopedic surgery rehab, chronic pain management, concussion management, balance disorders, geriatric wellness, and neurological dysfunctions. I became certified through Titleist Performance Institute in January 2020 and thrive on treating golfers of all ages and abilities. I am also certified in SFMA, dry needling, concussion management, and ELDOA.
My Favorite Color: Champagne - the color and the drink. I also like teal & purple for a pop of color!
My Hobbies: Golfing, traveling, hiking with Clark, baking & cooking, going to concerts, creating things with my hands, training dogs.
My Favorite Quote: “Love big, pack light.” - Bob Goff
My Belief on Physical Therapy: Physical therapists are experts of how the body moves and have gone through extensive training and education in order to thoroughly examine and diagnose musculoskeletal dysfunction. We are not only versed in how to rehab an injury or surgery, but we also know how to look at how the body moves and help prevent pain and injuries from occurring in the first place. My hope is that one day the general public will value a wellness screen done by a physical therapist, a necessary measurement of how your body moves and adapts to different activities of daily life, the same way they value an annual physical done by their PCP.
My Passions: Chick-fil-A, coffee, wine, whiskey, golf, and exploring the world to get a better understanding of how people from different states/countries/cultures live life. I am also passionate about dogs, particularly service dogs and therapy dogs, and the positive impacts they can have on someone’s life.
ASHLEE BUTLER
MS, PT, COMT, CDNT, CST
My Why: I believe in wholeness. Body, mind, and spirit. In my chosen profession of physical therapy, I have the ability to help people attain the strength, stabilization, flexibility, and opportunity to function best in their body – freeing their mind and spirit to concentrate on other things – better things. I believe that if you can touch a person’s pain, you can change their life. For the better. I believe if you can change the way someone views pain, you can change their life. For the better.
​
My Personal Life: I was born in southwest Georgia (Leesburg, Ga to be exact) and lived there until I went to college in Dahlonega, Ga (fun fact - the site of our nation’s first Gold Rush…even before California!). I went to college and Physical Therapy School at the University of North Georgia. I got my first PT job with my mentor from school and worked with her for more than 3 years. I moved to Nashville when I married my musician husband, Matt, in 2002. We were one of the first couples to move into the newly reviving neighborhood of Germantown in 2002, and we have enjoyed life in downtown Nashville with our 2 children, Miles and Emilee Micah. This fall, we’ve decided to try life on Old Hickory Lake. It will be a big change of pace, but we are looking forward to it. Our family attends church at The Village Chapel, and we homeschool both of our kids. I am also a Group Exercise instructor for the Downtown YMCA, an exercise instructor and Strategic Business Development Associate for Travel Trim Corporate Wellness, a PT Consultant for East Nashville’s Quantify Fitness Smart Gym, and a Full Time Staff in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Department at Tennessee State University.
My Professional Life: All of my career as a physical therapist has been spent in the outpatient environment. I have diligently worked to expand my professional education. I have several post-graduate certifications – Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist, Certified Level III Dry Needling Therapist, Certified Strength Trainer, Credentialed Clinical Instructor, and some other non-PT certifications as well (Certified BOSU instructor, Certified Group Exercise Instructor). For the last 15 or so years, I focused on clinical education and mentoring PT students, new graduates, and Clinical Instructors. I love the education side of my work. Empowering people with knowledge is one of my favorite things to do. I’m working toward obtaining my certification in Functional Nutrition, but COVID put that on pause for now. Clinically, my favorite area to treat is the spine. I also enjoy treating pregnancy-related conditions.
My Favorite Color: My favorite color to wear is black. My favorite color to experience in nature is sunset pink. My favorite color on my husband is blue. My favorite color on my son is red. My favorite color on my daughter is purple.
My Hobbies: I think I’m too busy to have a hobby. Plus, somehow I tend to turn hobbies into side hustles – and I’m ok with that. I do love to cruise. If cruising is a hobby then I pick that one. 😊
My Favorite Quote: “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” ~ CS Lewis
My Belief on Physical Therapy: I believe that Physical Therapists should be primary care musculoskeletal providers. I believe we are well equipped to diagnose and treat musculoskeletal pain and movement dysfunction. We are also experts in knowing when to refer out when necessary and collaborating with other health care professionals to bring about optimal outcomes for our patients. I want to be a part of educating our communities on the benefits of PT first – saving people valuable time and money.
My Passions: First and foremost, my faith. Then my family. And friends. I’m also passionate about community wellness and well-being. Oh. And spending time in the sun. Being in the sun is my happy place. Being in the sun with family and friends is my pinnacle of happiness.
JENN SCOTT
PT, DPT, COMT, CSCS
My Why: To help people pursue and reach their health and wellness goals
My Personal Life: Born and raised middle Tennessean. I come from an active family and grew up playing several sports. I believe this inspired me to want to live an active and healthy lifestyle, and to help others do the same. I lived in Memphis for several years while in school, attending UTHSC for physical therapy. Then moved back to Middle TN afterwards to begin my career. When not working, I’m usually doing something outside: hiking/running the trails and greenways around Nashville, working around my house, walking with my black lab, and planning my next trip!
My Professional Life: I have worked in the outpatient orthopedic setting for 10+ years, treating various musculoskeletal injuries. Being a runner and triathlete, I love helping other athletes dealing with injuries be able to continue training and return to their sport. I also have a strong passion for treating people dealing with headaches and vestibular dysfunctions. Being a certified orthopedic manual therapist (COMT) allows me to better evaluate, find the cause of the person’s pain, and treat it to get them back to the activities they enjoy.
My Favorite Color: Blue. I’ve always loved it. Plus I did my undergrad at University of Memphis, so I bleed blue. Go Tigers Go!!
My Hobbies: I love traveling, being outdoors, and training for the next race. I’ve combined my love of running with travel, setting a goal to run a half marathon in all 50 states. I’m currently on state number 29.
My Favorite Quote: I have too many… But here is a good one that will make you stop and think. “We do not stop exercising because we grow old — we grow old because we stop exercising.” ~ Dr. Kenneth Cooper
My Belief on Physical Therapy: Physical therapists play a valuable role in healthcare being primary providers for musculoskeletal issues. The advanced training we receive allows us to educate, treat, and provide guidance to people wanting to live life without limitations from pain, weakness, or loss of mobility.
My Passions: Being and staying active, and motivating others to pursue their health and fitness goals. I love traveling to visit new places, being outside hiking, cycling, swimming, and of course running!
SARA BANDY
PT, ATC, DMT
My Why: It is my desire to get to the root of my patient’s pain and help them feel better not just physically, but mentally as well. It is a blessing to be able to play a role in impacting patient’s lives daily.
​
My Personal Life: I grew up in Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri area but moved to Kansas City after high school for college and ended up staying there for the next 30 years. I have twin boys that are 16 and it is so fun watching them grow into young men. I enjoy watching them play football and have been known to cheer a little loud at their games. In 2021, my family moved to Nashville for my husband’s job. Although we absolutely love living here, we are and will always be die hard KC Chiefs fans!!! We even named one of our dogs KC. We have two dogs Koda (black lab) and KC (sheepadoodle) and some days are my saving grace due to living in a house full of boys.
My Professional Life: I attended Mid America Nazarene University for Athletic Training and worked as a Certified Athletic Trainer for a local high school for 5 years. I loved working with the athletes but also knew I wanted to learn to help more people live without pain. I went to PT school at Rockhurst University and spent the next 17 years working in an orthopedic private practice in the Kansas City area. In addition to treating patients, I helped open and manage a new clinic while in KC. In 2014, I attained my Doctorate of Manual Therapy from Ola Grimsby Institute and did my dissertation on femoralacetabular impingement (FAI). After moving to Nashville, I have spent the past year in the corporate healthcare system leading a large and busy clinic. I am happy to be back in familiar territory of private practice as It is truly the best quality of care a patient can receive.
My Favorite Color: Purple, or specifically lavender. And yes, I love the smell of lavender too. It was my mom’s favorite color and the color of her dress she was wearing last before gaining her angel wings.
My Hobbies: I love being outdoors-nature can be so healing. I’m always up for a good hiking trail, listening to the sounds of ocean waves, or catching the perfect sunrise/sunset. I enjoy traveling and seeing new places, going to concerts, and love going out to dinner with friends/family.
My Favorite Quote: "Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.” ~ Marianne Williamson
My Belief on Physical Therapy: Physical therapists are the experts in diagnosing and treating musculoskeletal injuries. Not only can we save you a significant amount of time and money with treating your injury, but we can equip you on prevention of re-injury as well. We can stop the pain before it becomes one.
My Passions: Family, Faith and Friendships- the three things I couldn’t live without. I am a huge dog lover and some days feed my fur babies before my own children. I believe most problems can be fixed with prayer and a good glass of wine. I have helped raise money for pediatric brain cancer for the past 15 years and also hope to become more involved in the Children's Miracle Network and Juvenile Diabetes Foundation as I have family members who have been impacted by both.
AMY CROUSE
PT, DPT, OCS, COMT, CDN
My Why: I believe that our bodies are designed to move. Healthy lifestyles including diet, fitness, exercise, and hydration can lead to longevity and prevention of so many injuries and illnesses. If I can be a piece of that…to keep people moving and doing the activities that they love…then I have contributed to my purpose.
​
My Personal Life: I was born in Indiana then transplanted to Knoxville, TN as a teenager. I completed my undergraduate degree at Auburn University then received my Doctorate in Physical Therapy at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). My husband and I moved to Nashville and have lived here for the last 16 years. We have two children: a son in high school and a daughter in elementary school. Together, we are busy with their school activities, friends, and sports including football, lacrosse, and gymnastics; but we still try to squeeze in time for vacations and date nights!
My Professional Life: I received by PT degree in 2005 and have worked in outpatient orthopedics since. I received my COMT (Certified Orthopedic Manual Therapist) in 2008 and became an Orthopedic Certified Specialist in 2010. I have completed the highest certification in Trigger Point Dry Needling (Level 3). My favorite conditions to treat are headaches and any foot/ankle pain, however, I can treat anything head to toe! I have extensive experience with young dancers.
My Favorite Color: I truly don’t know if I have a favorite. My daughter tells me at least once a week that I have a new favorite. If I had to choose, I would say it is a tie between pink, teal, and purple.
My Hobbies: I feel like I don’t have time for hobbies! When I do have down-time, I love to read. It quiets my mind and gets me away from a screen. For exercise, I love to dance, do yoga, and take barre classes.
My Belief on Physical Therapy: Physical Therapists are the musculoskeletal experts! We see a dentist, a primary care doctor, our hairdresser….we should be seeing our PT at least one a year for a good overall check of our muscles, bones, and joints. As a profession, we can take care of so much to avoid imaging, medication, and surgeries, especially if we see a PT when our aches and pains start. We are trained to recognize with a condition is beyond our scope of care and can make appropriate referrals to our great medical partners. Motion is Lotion. We are designed to move. The more we take care of our bodies, the more it will do for us!
My Passions: My biggest passions include my faith, my family, and friends. I love to try new restaurants, new foods, great wines, and good bourbons. I am a huge fan of Auburn sports, all things Disney My newest passion is travel!! I have always loved traveling with my favorite destinations including England and Australia. I not only love to plan my own trips, but for others as well! I am also a travel advisor specializing in Disney, Universal, cruises, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Hawaiian destinations!