Since 2021, Herlong Sports Physical Therapy (HSPT) has been a trusted resource for athletes and active individuals across Maryland, helping them overcome pain, recover from injuries, and return to the sports and activities they love. But behind every strong practice is a story—and at the heart of HSPT is founder and physical therapist Shawn Herlong.
In this blog, we’ll highlight Shawn’s journey into physical therapy, what inspired him to launch his own clinic, and what drives his vision for the future of HSPT.
Q&A With Dr. Shawn Herlong
1. What inspired you to become a physical therapist?
When I first got to college, I wasn’t sure what my answer to the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” would be. I knew I wouldn’t be able to sit behind a desk, and I wanted an active job that would allow me to problem solve. I found physical therapy to be the perfect combination!
2. What inspired you to start your own practice?
I never saw myself starting my own practice when I started my career. After working for two small private practices and seeing different brands of physical therapy, I felt that I could do a great job of bringing it all together. Nick Campanaro also played a huge role in the journey. He had a vision for what Herlong Sports could be and gave me the nudge, or maybe 2-3 nudges, to start the practice. Sharing the gym space and the existing community at the gym was a perfect match!
3. What was the most difficult thing about starting your own practice?
When my wife and I first started to discuss whether starting a practice was the right decision for our family, she was pregnant with our first baby. It was the biggest motivating factor and also gave us the most pause. We decided to take the chance, and it was the best decision we ever made. It’s given us the confidence to believe in ourselves more and make big decisions for our family with more confidence.
4. What was your favorite part about starting your own practice?
Hands down, my favorite thing about having a practice is the people and the community, from the staff to the patients and everything in between. Not only do we get to help the people in our tight-knit community recover when they’re hurt (or prevent them from getting hurt by working alongside our strength staff), but we also get to develop relationships with them. It’s a unique environment that we are really proud of!
5. How do you help patients stay motivated during their rehabilitation journey?
The rehab and recovery process is daunting at times. It’s a lot of work, and sometimes people can lose sight of their goals during the process. The environment helps! A lot of our patients may know one another, and they’re fighting to reach their goals together. Sometime during the rehab process, we might stop and just talk about how they’re feeling about their progress. By having that chance to refocus together, both the patient and their physical therapist can add a lot more value than going through what might have already been planned that day.
6. What advice would you give someone recovering from a sports injury?
When you’re an athlete, your sport is a huge part of your daily routine and your identity. You’re either playing, practicing, or working towards making yourself better. Plus, you spend a lot of time with friends, coaches, and other athletes. When you’re injured, you lose a lot of that, and it creates a huge void.
We try to take that same energy and passion that athletes have for their sport and put it towards their rehab. The rehab process is the gateway back to playing, so we want them to play and we want them back better than ever. All of our PTs (myself included) are current and former athletes too, so we’ve been there. We know it’s just as much about the mindset as it is about the physical rehab.
7. Can you share a memorable success story from your career?
This is the best part – it’s why we do what we do. When you’ve got someone who’s going through rehab, they’re putting in the sweat and dedicating hours upon hours to their recovery, and getting to the end is the big reward.
I’ve been fortunate enough to see so many people win along the way, and it’s always fun to be a part of. From patients having multiple major knee injuries and still getting recruited to play at the collegiate level, a patient with a traumatic brain injury gets back to kicking on the football field, or a patient getting back to ice hockey after a broken neck, there’s so much success and it’s why we do what we do.
8. What do you think sets your approach apart from others in the field?
At HSPT, we take pride in fostering an environment for our patients to succeed. Whether it’s the physical gym space or the act of being there for them when they just need to talk about how they’re feeling, we’re there for them. Our PTs have a passion for helping patients get better, and we are thrilled that we get the opportunity to be a part of that.
9. Can you describe the culture of the team at HSPT and what makes it unique?
There aren’t many physical therapy practices out there that work in a strength and conditioning gym setting or alongside strength coaches. Having that combination of different talent in the room and a space that provides the ability to meet the demands of our patients sets us apart!
10. How do you stay up-to-date on the latest in research in physical therapy?
Once every other week, our physical therapists meet to talk about different tactics towards a specific injury or rehab strategy. These sessions are usually run by Dr. Noah Shrago or someone who recently completed an educational course or workshop and wants to lead a discussion/ lab about that topic.
11. What are your favorite things to do in your free time?
I love being a dad and a husband. My two girls and my wife keep me busy. It’s my favorite thing that I get to do. There’s never a dull moment, and watching my kids grow up while doing the most off-the-wall things is really special, particularly when they’re so young.
12. What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you?
Sometimes we’re making it up as we go. We’ve learned a lot since starting the practice in March of 2021, but there’s plenty left to learn, and there probably always will be. There are some things you’ll never be able to prepare for, so it’s important to learn to be adaptable.
