GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., April 13, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Agility Health, a leading provider of physical rehabilitation and software services that benefit patients, healthcare providers and employers, today announced it has formed two partnerships in the St. Louis and Phoenix markets as part of its strategy to extend the company's multi-state group of owned and partnered clinics.  Financial terms were not disclosed.

The two clinics, which specialize in outpatient sports physical therapy and spine rehabilitation, include:

• Amato Physical Therapy Associates, Inc., with two locations in central and west St. Louis

• Continuum Wellness Clinics, LLC, a three-location physical therapy provider located in the Mesa, Ariz. area.

"There are few things we enjoy more than building long-term relationships based a shared commitment to service, and we are proud to welcome the outstanding Amato and Continuum Wellness teams to Agility Health," said Steven N. Davidson, Agility Health CEO.  "The track records of both practices have been consistently strong, and we look forward to working closely with them on pursuing additional growth opportunities in the St. Louis and greater Phoenix markets."

The new partnerships provide a number of immediate and longer term opportunities for Agility Health, including building on the clinics' excellent reputations for quality outcomes and patient satisfaction; drawing on the advanced training of their highly experienced therapy professionals; achieving additional growth without the need for new facilities; and operating in developed healthcare markets defined by mature managed care and reimbursement environments.  In addition, both practices' current ownership teams will continue to play a role, ensuring the quality of the services Agility Health is committed to providing in the St. Louis and Phoenix-area communities.

"We believe maintaining leadership continuity in our partnered clinics will be an important part of their successful operation and growth," noted Davidson.  "We are particularly pleased that our entry into the St. Louis and Phoenix markets includes the opportunity to collaborate with Al Amato and Mike Stratton, both of whom are nationally recognized leaders in our profession."

Alfonso L. Amato started the first physical therapy private practice in the St. Louis area, building it into the largest local provider of outpatient and contract services prior to its sale to a national company.  Throughout his career, Amato has been actively involved in the advancement of the physical therapy profession, winning the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Private Practice Section's Robert G. Dicus Service Award in 1990.

Michael Stratton has played a particularly significant role in the sports medicine field, working with a broad array of clients, from professional rodeo cowboys and arena football players to U.S. Olympic team members and student athletes. An active member of the APTA and National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), Stratton is also a published author whose work includes an article in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association and a definitive guide to pursuing a career in the physical therapy profession.

"In addition to the strong strategic reasons underlying our St. Louis and Phoenix-area partnerships, both investments help illustrate the important benefits a physical therapy practice can derive from aligning with Agility Health," concluded Davidson.  "Our approach is defined by flexibility in ownership structure; providing access to Agility Health's administrative, IT, marketing and recruitment capabilities; and ensuring the financial resources to support future growth."

About Agility Health

Agility Health (www.agilityhealth.com) is a leading healthcare provider devoted to the rehabilitation of patient physical injuries and conditions.  Established in 1968, Agility Health delivers personalized care through nearly one million therapy visits annually at more than 110 service sites in 12 states nationwide.  The company is dedicated to providing exceptional value to the patients, clients and partners it serves.  Through its innovative clinical services, proven practice management systems and flexible partnership models, Agility Health helps achieve optimal performance in a variety of settings, including outpatient clinics, hospitals, long-term care facilities and employer work sites.

SOURCE Agility Health