Barry Brown, PT, owner of FYZICAL locations in Hagerstown and South Hagerstown, MD, and Waynesboro, PA, is on a mission to transform lives through the power of physical therapy. A self-described passionate Ravens fan with an impressive 40-year physical therapy career (that includes working with numerous college and professional athletes), his greatest accomplishment is harnessing the life-changing potential of FYZICAL's Balance Program—not only to improve the lives of his patients but to elevate his practice and make a lasting impact on his community. By following FYZICAL's 10-point management system and delivering innovative, patient-centered care, Barry was met with overwhelming demand for FYZICAL’s life-changing Balance Program, recently opening a third clinic to serve more patients.
Q: Can you describe your physical therapy journey?
Barry: I became a physical therapist in 1985 and am currently in my 40th year. After graduating, I worked in various settings—home therapy, nursing homes, with children with disabilities, and mental health hospitals—always focusing on roles that complimented my physical therapy expertise while building my outpatient practice.
I also coached basketball for a nationally ranked top-ten team, so my days were nonstop. My father and I coached together, and I coached for 28 years. I’d work at the clinic until 5:30 pm and head straight to a 6 pm basketball practice. If practice started at 4 pm, I’d work until 3:30 pm, coach, and return to the clinic to see evening patients until 8 or 9 pm. As a solo practitioner, I was at the clinic morning, noon, and night, constantly pushing forward and doing whatever it took to keep everything running.
Barry: We were a traditional outpatient practice, primarily treating orthopedic and sports injuries. We also had a significant number of geriatric patients. Balance therapy was a primary focus for this population, and I’ve always been deeply interested in it. While we didn’t specialize in vestibular therapy, we regularly treated necks, backs, shoulders, knees, and total joints—offering standard physical therapy services. Despite this, I've always maintained a deep passion for balance therapy.
What inspired you to join FYZICAL?
Barry: When FYZICAL first contacted me in 2019, they immediately got my attention. Their focus on balance therapy and the Fight the Fall initiative really appealed to me—I felt it was something I could really sink my teeth into. After 30 years in the field, I had to ask myself, "Do I really want to make a change?" But I kept coming back to what FYZICAL stood for.
After a year of researching and exploring, we decided to move forward. I saw only positives and no downsides. At the time, I didn’t even realize everything FYZICAL had to offer—like working with the incredible corporate team and being trained by Brian Werner, PT, MPT, and FYZICAL's National Director of Balance Center Development. I had no idea just how great balance and vestibular would be until we made the leap, and let me tell you, it far exceeded my expectations. These days, I'm in the clinic at 8:00 am, I do my physical therapy, and I'm finished. FYZICAL has made sure I stay busy, and I appreciate that.
Q: You said you considered the decision for about a year. Why?
Barry: Having been in business for 35 years, I really wanted to know how I could make a profit. I wanted to see if I could pay a royalty and still make more profit than before. I found the answer pretty quickly: Absolutely. The royalty is more than worth it for what we get in return, from the extensive education through FYZICAL College to the corporate team's incredible support for owners and staff.
I also wondered how everything would fit together—the profitability and the overall support system. Gosh, it went way beyond my expectations. The corporate leadership has been phenomenal. I can’t say enough about Brian Werner. His influence on those working in balance and vestibular therapy has been tremendous.
Q: How has FYZICAL addressed any initial concerns you had, and how has the Balance Paradigm played a role?
Barry: I joined at a challenging time, just before the pandemic hit. Despite the obstacles, we were excited about the opportunity. My wife and I became Level 2 certified and attended a live course in North Carolina to deepen our expertise.
We started using the FYZICAL Paradigm, and the response in our area was incredible! So many people mentioned they had been struggling with dizziness or wanting access to a balance center for years. Once we opened, patients began coming in regularly—many through word of mouth and referrals from local doctors. Despite some delays during the pandemic, we experienced tremendous growth as the word spread in our community.
"So many people mentioned they had been struggling with dizziness or wanting access to a balance center for years. Once we opened, patients began coming in regularly."
- Barry Brown, Physical Therapist, Owner
I went in with an open mind, not knowing what to expect. However, I knew this would be a great adventure with FYZICAL. It has been a fantastic experience all around—no question.
Q: How has FYZICAL contributed to the success of your clinics?
Barry: I truly believe we’re the best at treating balance and vestibular problems.
Our goal is for people to immediately think of us when they think of balance and vestibular rehab therapy. I believe we’re achieving that in our community. We regularly have patients who travel over an hour to see us, which is a compliment and a testament to our work.
My experience has been nothing but positive. When I joined, I was told to follow the plan—not only for balance and the Paradigm but also the overall strategy laid out by the corporate leadership team. Their guidance was incredibly impressive, and I’ve found that listening to their advice and following their instructions truly works.
Barry: I wouldn't have even considered it.
There are so many similar therapy practices in our area. Most focus on orthopedics, but with two hospitals, their doctors and therapists, and orthopedic and neuro groups with their own therapists and numerous private practices, everyone competes for the same caseload. As a FYZICAL clinic, we're different—we're not only spelled differently, we are different. Patients want to come to us, and that uniqueness has allowed us to grow and open a third office. I give full credit to FYZICAL for making that growth possible.
Q: What advice would you give to new franchisees who are considering expanding?
Now is really the time to consider growing your business. One of the key advantages of being a FYZICAL franchisee is the potential profitability of operating multiple locations. As you expand, your profits grow with you. Word of mouth spreads quickly, and while opening new offices can be financially challenging, I believe it’s well worth the effort.
I don't see it as a risk—I see it as a sound investment. I’m open to acquisition for further growth if the opportunity exists. If not, I’ll be perfectly happy with our three offices in my hometown. We'll take it one step at a time.
"As a FYZICAL Clinic, we’re different...Patients want to come to us, and that uniqueness has allowed us to grow and open a third office. I give full credit to FYZICAL for making that growth possible."
- Barry Brown, Physical Therapist, Owner
Q: What has been the biggest unexpected benefit of joining FYZICAL?
Barry: I didn’t know much about Class IV Deep Tissue Laser treatment until I joined FYZICAL. I’ve been blown away by how incredibly effective it is.
Also, I knew the Balance Paradigm was a good concept, but to see it in action has been incredible. When patients take their initial test, we identify issues—whether somatosensory, vestibular, or otherwise. Then, after a couple of months, they take a follow-up test. One of my favorite moments is sharing those results with patients. I’ll pull up their first test, say, "This is where you started," and then show them the new results. This is the moment when it all hits for me.
They'll look at the results, and their jaws drop. They see the blue lines from failed attempts replaced with clear progress. Sometimes, I don’t even say anything—I just let them take it all in and watch their reaction. To see the improvement—it's a powerful moment. That's something I didn't expect, just how powerful that would be.
That moment is what I love most about what we do.
Thank you for your time.