WELCOME TO Smith performance center
Resolve your pain with expert physical therapy
Your lifestyle shouldn't be limited because you are in pain or struggling with an injury. We help determine what is causing your pain and give you the tools to manage the problem on your own.
Are you experiencing any of these common problems?
Struggling with
pain and nothing
is helping
- You don't have a clear diagnosis
- You have stopped activity, which helped, but it comes back
- An endless amount of information makes it unclear what to do
- You want the pain to get better but nothing you have tried has worked
Unable to independently
manage your pain
- Medication helps but you don't want to keep taking it
- You have been helped by other medical providers but you cannot replicate it on your own
- You are afraid of new activity because it might cause you pain
- You reduce activity to avoid flare-ups because it takes so long to get better
The same injury
keeps coming
back
- You believe a pain or injury is going to keep coming back
- You have periods of time when you feel good but then a flare-up occurs
- You have completely eliminated activities because it triggers an old injury
- You are afraid of your body
If these problems describe your situation, you are not alone. You should have confidence in your body and the support to manage your symptoms.
Physical Therapy at Smith Performance Center is designed to overcome these challenges and more.
Understand what is causing your problem
When you work with an SPC Physical Therapist, the focus at the beginning is to deeply understand what is causing your pain and symptoms. We use your medical history, an interview, comprehensive physical exams, confirmation treatments, trigger management, and a home plan to determine the most likely cause of your problem.
We do not rush. We give your problem the focus it deserves.
Our team understands how frustrating an injury can be and it takes you away from the life you want. We will help you start the process of feeling better.
- One on one sessions with highly experienced physical therapists
- Proprietary methodology using the SPC phases
- Focus on understanding your diagnosis and improving symptoms on the first day
- Scheduling based on need, not on maximizing visits
Learn to independently manage your symptoms
When we understand your problem deeply, our team teaches you how to feel better without us. Our treatments and home plan focus on activities and exercises that you can do on your own.
This is not an endless exercise list, but a concise plan that treats your fundamental problem.
Your home plan becomes the tool to regain your lifestyle and move past the frustration and fear of pain and inactivity.
- Home plan emailed after each visit
- Training to perform your home plan and reduce your own pain
- Monitoring of your response with adjustments based on what works
- Treatments in the clinic amplify your successes at home
Start your rehab journey today!
Schedule an initial evaluation
At your first visit with an SPC physical therapist, you will go through a complete review of your problem and figure out what is causing your pain or symptoms.
Apply treatments and develop a home plan
After determining your problem, you and your therapist will apply treatments to confirm the diagnosis. We will focus on reducing your pain then giving you tools to do the same.
Adjust the plan based on your progress
As you feel better, we focus on your ability to do more, address why it happened in the first place, and return you to your normal activity without pain or fear of it returning.
We have spent the last decade helping individuals struggling with pain, injury, and inactivity
There is a problem with the current state of healthcare.
The cost is out of control and not transparent. Value is unclear. Practitioners rush from patient to patient and suffer burn out. Patients get lost in the machinery of a gigantic healthcare system that does not understand their problem or pain.
We believe the lack of cohesive rehab process with a supportive team causes a significant portion of these issues.
We are on a mission to address the issues in physical therapy and exercise. We are at our core idealists who want to positively impact healthcare and improve the experience and outcomes of every patient we see.
MEET YOUR PHYSICAL THERAPY TEAM:
With nearly two decades of hands-on clinical experience and a reputation for solving complex musculoskeletal problems, Carlee Uhrich, PT, COMT, brings both expertise and empathy to every client interaction. Her advanced training with the International Academy of Orthopedics and certification in manual therapy showcase her commitment to mastering the most effective therapeutic techniques. Known for her meticulous, diagnosis-driven approach, Carlee seamlessly blends manual therapy, individualized exercise programs, and movement retraining within the Smith Performance System to address the root causes of pain and dysfunction. She excels in tissue-specific diagnostics, treating a wide range of conditions, from the spine and upper extremities to the lower extremities.
Carlee’s impact at Smith Performance Center has been profound, particularly in how we approach diagnosis and integrate it with our strength program. She has shaped our care strategies by identifying contributing factors and guiding activity progression, especially in complex cases involving multiple structural diagnoses. Her precision in treatment and her holistic vision for care have elevated SPC’s overall strategy and outcomes.
As Carlee often says, “The person that matters most is the person you’re treating. It takes away the ego because the most important thing is that the person gets better.” This philosophy drives her patient care. She delivers thoughtful, customized treatments structured within the SPC system, tapping into the team’s expertise when necessary to ensure optimal results.
Clients frequently share how Carlee’s unique approach has transformed their lives—turning years of frustration into newfound mobility and relief. Whether she’s helping athletes return to peak performance, guiding those with chronic pain to long-term relief, or providing long-term support to complex cases, Carlee’s passion for delivering results is evident in every case.
If you’re seeking relief from chronic pain or looking to optimize your physical performance, Carlee’s expertise and care make her a trusted guide to help you achieve your goals.
Alex Griffis, PT, DPT, is a dedicated physical therapist with a passion for helping clients return to pain-free movement. He received his doctorate in physical therapy from Northern Arizona University and specializes in treating musculoskeletal injuries of the lower extremity and spine. With a large range of techniques, including manual therapy, dry needling, and targeted exercise, Alex ensures that each client receives a personalized recovery plan built around the specific problem facing his patients.
Alex’s path to a life of helping others stems from his own experiences with injury and recovery. Since earning his first degree in physiology, he knew that applying his personal struggles to his understanding of anatomy, training, and rehabilitation would be a lifelong journey of growth and development.
As Alex puts it: “I love working with people, learning about their problems, and getting them back to a lifestyle they want.”
His diverse clinical experience ranges from treating athletes of all ages, including CrossFit and weightlifting competitors, to working with individuals facing joint pain, movement limitations, vertigo, vestibular conditions, and balance issues in geriatric populations. This broad expertise allows him to address diverse needs with precision and care. Since joining the Smith Performance Center team, Alex has brought a steady, patient-focused mindset that supports each client’s unique goals.
His personal enjoyment of exercise and movement has driven him to participate in various sports, including swimming, CrossFit, and most recently, competing at a national level in Olympic weightlifting. His athletic journey fuels his commitment to helping clients recover from injuries and return to the activities they love.
Alex’s passion lies in empowering clients to overcome physical challenges, guiding them back to their desired activities, and helping them reclaim an active, fulfilling life.
If you’re recovering from an injury or looking to improve your physical performance while struggling with pain, Alex’s personalized approach and dedication to your long-term success make him a trusted partner on your journey to achieving your goals.
Dr. Edith Yee, PT, DPT, COMT earned her clinical doctorate of physical therapy at Duke University. She also has advanced training with the International Academy of Orthopedic Medicine and certification in manual therapy and dry needling. With over 20 years of experience working with the most complicated cases surrounding spinal pain, she has a unique perspective on management and diagnosis. She specializes in the low back, thoracic, cervical pathology, and post-surgical management.
Developing the ability to help people live their best lives has always been a strong driving force in Dr. Yee’s decision to pursue the healing arts. Physical activity has provided her with consistent benefits in her own physical, mental, and emotional well-being, and becoming a physical therapist has allowed her to help others realize the advantages of becoming and staying active. In addition, it has proven to be a field that has allowed her to educate and empower her patients in caring for their bodies from the full spectrum of injury to performance.
Outside of physical therapy, Dr. Yee enjoys mountain biking, running, and her newfound love, golfing.
Dr. Craig Smith PT DPT is a co-owner and physical therapist at Smith Performance Center. Dr. Smith earned his clinical doctorate in physical therapy at Northern Arizona University where he graduated with distinction and was awarded the Distinguished Graduate for the Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training. Dr. Smith also graduated with honors from the University of Nebraska at Kearney and was awarded the Outstanding Major of the Year in Exercise Science by the Nebraska Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance. Most recently, he was awarded the Excellence in Achievement from Northern Arizona by the NAU Alumni Association.
Dr. Smith has presented research at the American Society of Biomechanics National Conference, the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting, and the National NEXT conference along with numerous local and regional meetings on topics surrounding injury screening and prevention. He has publications in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, Journal of Athletic Training, Journal of Orthopedic and Sports Physical Therapy, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Journal of Sports Medicine, and Lower Extremity Review. Dr. Smith and his colleagues, Dr. Warren and Dr. Chimera, were selected as one of the “Best Clinic Case/Research Submissions” at the 60th Annual Meeting and 4th World Congress on Exercise is Medicine of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Dr. Smith is interested in physical therapy concepts, diagnosis, innovative healthcare solutions, and team-based practice. He specializes in lower extremity care, walking gait, running gait, and physical therapy.
Dr. Sarah Smith PT, DPT is a physical therapist and co-owner of Smith Performance Center. She specializes in musculoskeletal injuries, with her focus being on spine injuries. This includes whiplash, cervical dysfunction and headaches, and mid to low back pain. Dr. Smith earned her clinical doctorate degree in physical therapy through Northern Arizona University.
Dr. Smith practices with a combination of manual therapy, movement analysis, therapeutic exercise, and a long-term perspective for care. She is interested in developing long-term exercise programs to maintain a healthy lifestyle and optimize quality of life.
Frequently Asked Questions
Physical Therapy at Smith Performance Center
In the state of Arizona, you can come directly to physical therapy. You do not need a script from a physician to be examined, evaluated, or treated.
You will be sent a medical history form and a consent form when you book your initial evaluation. This can be filled out online.
If you fill this out prior to the session, you do not need to arrive early.
For your session, bring anything that you feel is relevant to your problem. If you hurt walking in certain shoes, bring those shoes.
You should wear, or bring with you, clothes that are comfortable that allow you to move.
For pain or injuries in leg:
If you are having problems with your legs (pain in the hip, knee or feet), make sure to bring any shoes that you wear for daily activities or for running and walking. If possible, wear clothes that allow us to see or feel the area that hurts. So if you have a knee injury, shorts that expose the knee would be preferable.
For pain or injuries in the arm:
Hand, wrist, thumb, and elbow injuries may be originating up into the shoulder, upper back, and neck. If possible, wear or bring with you a looser shirt, tank top or under shirt that you feel comfortable wearing during an examination. Occasionally we will use tape and/or bracing to help with your pain. The easier it is to access your shoulder and the area surrounding it, the easier it will be for your therapist to examine and apply the treatment.
For pain or injuries in the neck, mid back, low back, and pelvis:
For these injuries, wear clothing that allows us to see the area. We want to visualize the area to check for any changes in the muscles or posture. To apply the treatments, we do not need the area to be exposed so as long your garment can be moved to expose the area for examination, that is sufficient for the session.
For specific activities that cause pain or discomfort:
For the first visit, we will determine if we need video or have you do the activity during the session. The physical therapist will instruct on what to bring after the initial evaluation. Typically this is required only if you get the pain during this activity and your examination is negative or at the end of your physical therapy plan of care as you fully return to your activity.
We strongly recommend scheduling with the first physical therapist that works for your schedule.
The physical therapists at SPC use the same phase structure, exams, and methodology. We spend 2 to 3 hours each week training our skill sets and processes together. This means that we have significant overlap in how we practice.
If our team believes another therapist is required or better suited, we will have a co treat or transfer your care.
We understand that you want to work with someone who has experience with your problem.
It is typical to see a page that lists the number of pathologies that they can treat. We can treat your orthopedic issue. Our team has decades of experience in physical therapy ranging from common joint injuries to complex, long standing chronic pain that has been resistant to any other treatment. We have worked with individuals competing at the Olympics to new athletes running in their first 5K (to individuals who struggle to walk). We are often used by other medical providers (physicians, nurses, physical therapists, chiropractors) when they need support for their plan of care or diagnosis.
You can read more about our diagnostic process HERE.
We recommend scheduling with whichever provider works best for your schedule. If anyone on our team needs help, we can transfer your care or use cotreats.
When you work with one person on our team, you are working with all of us.
We recommend scheduling the first appointment that works for you.
When you schedule, let us know that you would like to come in sooner. You can either do this by noting it on your appointment confirmation or calling our office at 520-398-4886.
We will place you on our cancellation list and will call you when any new appointment becomes available.
If it is a medical emergency, use Urgent Care or ER.
If you are not sure, you can call our office at 520-398-4886.
If this problem seems appropriate for physical therapy, we will place you on our cancellation list if no appointment is available the same day and get you into our facility as soon as possible.
Since we are a low volume clinic, we cannot guarantee immediate care.
Unlike traditional physical therapy clinics that accept insurance, we prioritize a personalized approach. While insurance-based clinics often schedule multiple patients per hour and utilize assistants for exercises and passive modalities, our focus is on providing each patient with a full hour of one-on-one care with a physical therapist.
We prioritize your progress by dedicating our time solely to activities that directly contribute to your recovery, rather than billing for non-interactive and less useful services. This tailored approach leads to faster recovery and better results, helping you achieve your goals efficiently.
If you are not enrolled in Medicare, Smith Performance Center can provide a superbill of your visits to submit to your insurance carrier. This includes ICD 10 codes, CPT codes, place of service, cost, units, and date of service. We put on the superbill that you have paid in full for the service and all reimbursement needs to be sent to you. We have found that if you submit a superbill to insurance, you need to point out that it has been paid in full or they will send the payment to Smith Performance.
A superbill is different from a receipt (or paid invoice) that only includes the amount paid for the service.
We do not speak with insurance companies about billing. We are legally unable to send Superbills to anyone enrolled in Medicare.
At Smith Performance Center, our providers are un-enrolled with Medicare, which means Medicare will not reimburse you for our services. By choosing to receive physical therapy at our clinic, both you as the patient and we as the practitioner agree not to contact Medicare for reimbursement.
While we can provide you with a receipt for your records, it will not include coding.
Physical therapy is a service covered by Medicare when provided by an enrolled provider. We respect your decision if you choose to seek treatment at another facility.
A superbill is different from a receipt (or paid invoice) that only includes the amount paid for the service.
We do not speak with insurance companies about billing. We are legally unable to send Superbills to anyone enrolled in Medicare.
Do you have any other questions about Smith Performance Center? You can find out more by checking our Frequently Asked Questions page.
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