Aaron Hertel and Mike Brown couldn't imagine opening their physical therapy clinic anywhere other than Erie. “Without the community supporting us like they have, there's no way we would have five locations open right now,” Hertel says. “We've grown to 55 employees, and we've seen 15,000 patients over our six years in business.”

The goal has always been the same throughout that time. “We want to educate our patients on how to treat themselves first,” Hertel says. “They have a choice when it comes to physical therapy.”

Hertel and Brown Physical and Aquatic Therapy provides a one-stop shop for physical therapy. "We're certified in the McKenzie Method for treatment of the spine," Hertel says. “By using that, we use a patient's symptoms to guide their treatment. We put them through a series of movements to see if a certain one increases their symptoms. It has a very high success rate.”

“We also have aquatic therapy at four of our five locations,” Hertel adds. “Using the private, warm pool gives us another way to treat you if you cannot handle land exercises at first. The rehabilitation potential is greater, and the treatment time is significantly reduced.”

One of their locations, on Sterrettania Road in Millcreek, provides outpatient neurological care for patients with a spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease. Other care options include a women's health program and vestibular treatments, among other specialties.

“We provide all of these care options in a comfortable atmosphere,” Hertel says. "We're even open late on weekdays and on Saturdays."

Hertel and Brown are moving from their Frontier location to a new facility in the West Erie Plaza in late 2013. “Our new 7,000-square-foot space will include an open fitness gym, indoor field turf and a larger pool,” Hertel says. "It's our commitment to the community to provide a state-of-the-art facility where patients will receive the highest quality, most compassionate care. We treat every body like family."