Nishal’s Story

I didn’t want to be in the field of medicine

That’s probably not what you want to hear from a physical therapist, but it’s true. Growing up, I wanted to be something creative: an architect, specifically. But I was raised in a strict Indian household, and that was out of the question for my parents.

The options given to me were doctor, engineer, or computer programmer – no exceptions. My mom required me to register at the University of Texas as a pre-med student for her to cosign my student loans. Since I didn’t really want to be there for medicine, I’ll be honest…

Nishal Patel, PT, DPT, M.S. Owner, The Movement Clinic

Nishal Patel, PT, DPT, M.S.
Owner, The Movement Clinic

I ruined my chances of a good GPA

I didn’t go to class, didn’t study, and wound up in trouble more than once. To say I was “behaving poorly” would be an understatement.

So, when I was a 5th-year senior at UT, my mom had had it with my nonsense: she sent me to the Himalayas to learn a thing or two.

That might sound drastic but hang on: there’s this pilgrimage that multiple religions believe to be a “soul-cleansing” experience. My mom had done it herself, and now she saw no other alternative to help put me back in line.

Image of the Himalayas

This is Where My Journey Began

After flying to Nepal, driving 3 days to Tibet, bathing in the highest lake in the world (which was barely water, it was so cold), and embarking on the multi-day 53-kilometer trek around Mt. Kailash… something happened.

I was busy thawing out my tent one morning, and I saw the natives who were guiding us along the trek as they sat and ate by the fire. They were laughing and enjoying themselves in a way I never had before. These people were climbing out of huts made of literal garbage, and they were clearly happier than I had ever been in my life.

Image of mountain climbers and Nishal in the Himalayas
Image of mountain climbers and Nishal in the Himalayas
Image of mountain climbers and Nishal in the Himalayas

That’s when reality hit me

I had so many opportunities handed to me that these people could never imagine. I was going home to a soft, warm bed and clean, running water from the tap when I got back to the states. I was attending one of the best universities in the world…and I was wasting it away out of spite. Things had to change when I got home.

Image of Nishal and his family at his wedding
Nishal stretching out the arm of a patient
Nishal instructing a patient with a medicine ball

I Finally found my passion for PT

I applied myself in ways I never had before, graduated top of my class when I went back to school to get my Master’s in Exercise Science, and second in my class at physical therapy school. I had finally learned to love Physical Therapy!

I then went on to work in a variety of PT clinics. Over the next few years, I quickly found out what was wrong with my profession: insurance reimbursement rates are declining, and clinics are having to treat multiple patients at once, reducing the overall quality of care. There were days where I treated 30+ people in a day, and I wondered if anyone truly got better as a result.

This realization made me want to do better for my patients…

Nishal at The Movement Clinic office

SO I founded the Movement Clinic!

I’m on a mission to provide high quality care that’s patient-centered and kicks ass! If you’d like to explore a different style of physical therapy that caters to your individual needs, give us a call and let’s get moving!

-Nishal Patel, PT, DT, M.S
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Let’s Get Moving!

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