Exploring Life & Business with Tara Loveland PT, DPT of Revitalize Athletics Physical Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tara Loveland PT, DPT.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
From a young age, I was fascinated by anything and everything related to the medical field. It probably started when I first played the role of a pediatric victim for my mom’s ski patrol training scenarios during their annual refresher course in the fall. I was captivated by how quickly and skillfully they assessed my “injuries,” splinted me, and loaded me into a toboggan to be taken down the mountain. This experience opened my eyes to the field of medicine and, from there, I became fascinated with all the doctor shows on TV and anything related to medicine.

Unsurprisingly given my interests, throughout my schooling, I had my sights set on becoming a medical doctor. I graduated from the University of California, San Diego, planning to take one gap year to gain hands-on clinical experience before starting medical school. During that year, I earned my EMT certification and began looking for work on an ambulance or as an emergency medicine technician in an ER. After a few months of fruitless searching, I expanded my job hunt to include other roles in healthcare, one of which was a physical therapy aide.

During my search, I came across a posting for a PT aide position at a sports performance and rehabilitation company called EXOS. So, I applied and got the job! Within just a few weeks of working with high-level professional and amateur athletes at EXOS, I was hooked. I loved the rehabilitative process of being able to work so closely with patients and play a key role in their recovery. It was incredibly gratifying to see someone come in on crutches and, months later, return to full-speed play on the field or court. From there, I made the switch from pursuing medical school to pursing a career as a physical therapist.

In 2018, I moved to Colorado to attend physical therapy school at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. From the start, I knew I wanted to specialize in orthopedics given my background in athletics. So, I took all the orthopedic rehabilitation elective coursework and completed many of my clinical rotations in orthopedic settings. When I graduated from Physical Therapy School, my first job was in an orthopedic sports clinic.

Just a year and a half into my career, I started Revitalize Athletics Physical Therapy. At first, it was a small side hustle and 100% mobile. I was seeing just 3–4 clients a week in their homes while still working full-time with my employer. I never expected that two years later, I’d be on the path to turning that “side gig” into a full-time practice with both convenient mobile options, as well as gym-based visits with access to a full array of gym equipment to support high-level, return-to-sport rehabilitation. But…I’m getting ahead of myself…

As I began growing my practice early on, I also experienced a shift in my clinical approach. About three years into my career as an orthopedic-focused PT, I started feeling like something was missing in my clinical approach – especially with patients who had chronic, unrelenting low back or hip pain. I was doing everything “by the book,” but the progress wasn’t matching the effort. I knew I needed to dig deeper.

At the time, I was still working for a nationwide company with access to a large library of continuing education resources. Out of curiosity, I enrolled in my first pelvic health course, mainly to explore its connection to low back and hip pain. That course was a turning point. It opened my eyes to how deeply the pelvic floor is involved in nearly every aspect of movement. It was the missing piece I had been looking for!

Now, in my practice, I treat both orthopedic and pelvic health conditions. More importantly, I’m uniquely positioned to identify when issues involve both components and to address them through a truly holistic lens. This integrated approach allows me to get to the root cause of movement dysfunction, rather than just managing symptoms. That, combined with my offerings of both convenient mobile visits and gym-based visits, is what truly sets my work at Revitalize Athletics apart.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The biggest struggle early on was trying to grow my practice while still working full-time for an employer. I was teaching myself everything — business regulations, taxes, marketing strategies — on top of a 40-hour work week in the clinic. It made for some long nights and not-so-fun weekends. After all, physical therapy school taught me how to be an effective clinician, but not how to start, scale, or grow a business!

Even now, some of my biggest challenges revolve around learning how to run the business side of things. Figuring out which marketing strategies are most effective, managing cash flow during slower seasons, and deciding when (and how) to start hiring employees are all recent hurdles I’ve been navigating. Running a business is a constant learning process. It’s always evolving!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Revitalize Athletics Physical Therapy?
Revitalize Athletics Physical Therapy is a mobile and gym-based practice that specializes in orthopedic rehabilitation and pelvic health, particularly for active individuals, athletes, and outdoor enthusiasts. I work one-on-one with each client to help them overcome pain or injury and return to the activities they love without compromise. Whether it’s recovering from an orthopedic injury, navigating postpartum changes, or dealing with persistent back or hip pain, I take a holistic approach to care that looks at the whole movement system, not just isolated symptoms.

What sets Revitalize Athletics apart is the depth of care and flexibility I offer. Clients can choose between mobile visits in their home, workplace, or another convenient location, or in-person sessions at my fully equipped gym space within Catalyst Fitness in North Lakewood. Every session is a full hour of individualized, hands-on care with me, which allows for a deeper understanding of the root cause of pain and dysfunction.

I specialize in working with mountain athletes, runners, skiers, triathletes, and other highly active people, especially those who have “tried everything” but still aren’t getting the results they want. My background in both orthopedic and pelvic floor physical therapy uniquely positions me to treat cases where these systems interact, offering more comprehensive care than traditional clinics often provide.

I’m most proud of building a brand that challenges the belief that physical therapy is all the same. Just because someone hasn’t had success with PT in the past doesn’t mean it can’t work. It just means they haven’t had the right approach yet! At Revitalize Athletics, clients feel seen, heard, and empowered in their recovery journey. My mission is to help them move better, feel stronger, and live life on their terms with confidence and clarity.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
Something that might surprise people who know me or my work is that I was actually very artistic as a kid. I wanted to be a cartoonist when I grew up and spent a lot of time creating my own cartoon characters and doodling them everywhere. I always loved school projects that let me tap into my creative side. One of my proudest moments was winning first place in the Los Angeles County Fair for a sculpture I made of a terra cotta warrior. Creativity has always been a big part of who I am—even if it looks a little different now in my professional life.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://revitalize-athletics.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/revitalize.athletics/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/revitalize.athletics
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RevitalizeAthletics