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Expert Running Physical Therapy in Murfreesboro, TN

Pain and injuries shouldn't keep you off the road. At Proactive Kinetics, we help runners in Murfreesboro identify the root cause of their injury, build a personalized recovery plan, and get back to running stronger — without the limitations of insurance. Whether you're dealing with runner's knee, IT band pain, plantar fasciitis, or chronic overuse injuries, our one-on-one approach is built around you and your goals.

Book Your Running Assessment
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Running Through Pain Isn't a Strategy — It's a Risk

Ignoring the real cause of your running injury doesn't make it go away. It makes it worse — and eventually forces you to stop running altogether.

Your Miles Are Disappearing

Every week you train through pain is a week of setbacks building up. Without addressing the root cause — weak hips, poor gait mechanics, overloaded tendons — you're not just delaying recovery, you're making the next injury inevitable.

Generic Advice Isn't Getting You Better

Rest. Ice. Stretch. You've heard it all before. Cookie-cutter treatment plans don't account for how you move, how you train, or what your body actually needs. You need a plan built for you — not the average runner.

Your Race Goal Is Slipping Away

Whether it's a 5K PR or your first half marathon, every week spent injured is a week behind your training plan. The longer the root cause goes untreated, the harder it becomes to get back to the starting line healthy and confident.

Why Murfreesboro Runners Choose Proactive Kinetics

We don't just treat your symptoms — we dig into why you got hurt in the first place. Using objective running gait analysis and hands-on manual therapy, Dr. Samantha Elrod builds a personalized plan to get you moving better, running stronger, and staying injury-free for the long run. No insurance delays. No rushed appointments. Just one-on-one running physical therapy near me that's built around your goals.

  • Objective running gait analysis to identify your specific compensations and weaknesses

  • Personalized one-on-one treatment — cash-based care with no insurance limitations

  • A proven 3-step framework: Investigate the root cause, Alleviate with a custom plan, Cultivate lasting self-management skills 

See How We Can Help
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"Dr. Elrod helped me develop a strength program to target my specific weaknesses. She also did a gait analysis, gave fueling recommendations, and helped me tweak my training plan to get me to my goal race strong and uninjured. It was worth the investment to receive personalized care and be able to run pain-free."

Getting Back to Running Is Simpler Than You Think

Step 1: Investigate

We start with a comprehensive running assessment — including gait analysis and a full movement screen — to uncover the true root cause of your pain or limitation. No guesswork. No generic protocols.

 

Step 2: Alleviate

Based on your assessment, Dr. Elrod builds a personalized treatment plan using manual therapy, dry needling, therapeutic exercise, and targeted strength work. Every session is one-on-one and tailored to your body and your goals.

Step 3: Cultivate

We equip you with the knowledge, exercises, and self-management tools to stay healthy and keep running strong long after you leave the clinic. Because the goal isn't just recovery — it's building resilience.

Running Physical Therapy for What's Slowing You Down

From the first ache on a training run to a full-blown injury that's keeping you off your feet, Proactive Kinetics treats the most common — and the most stubborn — running-related conditions in Murfreesboro. If it's affecting your ability to run, train, or move without pain, we can help.

  • Lower extremity injuries: Runner's knee, IT band syndrome, plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinopathy, shin splints, hip pain & impingement, hamstring strain, and ankle sprains

  • Spine and core issues: Low back pain, sciatica, and mid-back pain that limit your running posture, breathing, and stride efficiency

  • Overuse and performance conditions: Tendinopathy, stress-related injuries, and gait compensations identified through our Run Lab's objective running form assessment


     

Find Out If We Can Help You
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Real Results from Murfreesboro Runners & Active Adults

"I saw her for running related injuries, and she helped me develop a strength program to target my specific weaknesses. She also did a gait analysis, gave fueling recommendations, and helped me tweak my training plan to get me to my goal race strong and uninjured. It was worth the investment to receive personalized care and be able to run pain-free."

Laura Michael

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"Dr. Sam changed my fitness world! Before working with her, I couldn't run more than 50 meters, jump rope, or do heavy squats without feeling like I was going to pee my pants! Now I can squat heavier and do double-unders without fear of embarrassment. I'm even training to run a half marathon!"

Melissa Kelley

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"I came to Dr. Elrod with persistent back pain and it was making weightlifting incredibly painful and difficult. I am now back to lifting heavy without pain, have exercises that keep my core and back strong, and feel great! Go to Dr. Elrod if you are looking for a physical therapist who is invested in helping you reach your goals."

Karista Colwell ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Meet the Team Behind Proactive Kinetics — Built for Runners, by Runners

One-on-one care from providers who are invested in your goals.
Dr. Samantha and Adam Elrod with their sons, Glen and Briggs.

Dr. Samantha Elrod, PT, DPT — Owner & Physical Therapist

Dr. Elrod brings 9 years of clinical experience and 28,000+ completed treatments in orthopedics and pelvic health. A graduate of the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (DPT, 2014), she specializes in running analysis, sports rehabilitation, pregnancy and postpartum care, and injury prevention. She founded Proactive Kinetics to deliver the personalized, one-on-one care that large corporate clinics simply can't offer.

 Adam Elrod — Co-Founder & Business Development  

A Murfreesboro native and MTSU graduate, Adam co-founded Proactive Kinetics alongside Dr. Elrod after his own experience with physical therapy following a major ankle injury. His firsthand recovery journey fueled a passion for preventive care and accessible therapy, and he now leads strategy, marketing, and business operations to ensure every client has a seamless experience from first contact to final session.



Visit Proactive Kinetics in Murfreesboro, TN

We're just a 6-minute drive from downtown Murfreesboro — about 1.9 miles west via NW Broad St and W College St. You'll find us at 1400A W College St, conveniently located near The Oaks Shopping Mall, Towne Centre, and Broad Street Center.

From downtown Murfreesboro, head west on W College St via NW Broad St and W Lokey Ave / Medical Center Pkwy. Proactive Kinetics is approximately 1.9 miles from the city center — just a 6-minute drive. We're located at 1400A W College St, near The Oaks Shopping Mall and Towne Centre.

You were built to move. So move the way you want to without discomfort.

Your life is moving. Your body should too.

Your body feels at its best when you are able to move the way you want to without pain, numbness, and discomfort. Sometimes all it takes to start moving again is a little help.

Take control of what is preventing you from living your best life. We’re here to show you how.