Prior to becoming a physical therapist, Karson Becker developed a passion for rehabilitation and performance through his consistent involvement in gym training and recreational sports since high school. After undergoing shoulder surgery from a football injury, Karson spent years managing various overuse aches and pains on his own, dedicating significant personal time to learning how to prevent and address musculoskeletal issues and enhance his training methods. This journey — combined with a career change from working as an agricultural statistician for the USDA — led him to pursue physical therapy with the goal of helping others learn how to manage their bodies for both performance and longevity.
Karson earned his Bachelor of Science in Criminology from Florida State University in 2012. He went on to graduate from the University of Maryland Baltimore with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2021, and earned his Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification in 2020.
Although Karson did not complete any sports-focused clinical rotations during PT school, his final rotation introduced him to Functional Manual Therapy (FMT) — an experience that proved to be a turning point. Recognizing the power of this approach, he committed to mastering FMT through extensive mentorship and has spent the past five years at the same clinic developing this skill set. FMT correlates mechanical capacity with neuromuscular function and motor control, both segmentally and globally, to promote functional efficiency — making it especially effective for helping athletes perform to their body's full potential. Treating a wide range of patients, from older adults managing chronic pain to high-level athletes, has given Karson a deep appreciation for the full spectrum of human physical capability.
Karson's clinical interests include shoulder, pelvic girdle, and foot and ankle conditions, with a particular passion for working with field sport athletes, runners, golfers, tennis players, and outdoor recreational athletes. His areas of expertise include manual therapy, PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation), chronic lower back pain, postural dysfunction, post-operative rehabilitation, and hypermobility. Outside the clinic, Karson remains active through ultimate frisbee, golf, and general athletic performance training.
