Whether you’re a trail runner, weekend warrior, or competitive athlete, Breakthrough Performance Physical Therapy helps you recover faster, move better, and get back to doing what you love. Every session is one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy — no aides, no shortcuts. No referral needed. Start with a free 20-minute phone consult.

The Injury Cycle Never Ends

Rest, stretching, and pain medication might provide temporary relief, but without addressing the root cause, you’re stuck in an endless cycle of setbacks. Each flare-up pushes your goals further away and makes it harder to trust your body again.

Losing the Active Lifestyle You Love

When injuries linger, it’s easy to stop running, hiking, lifting, or competing altogether. Over time, missed workouts become lost confidence, and the activities that once energized you start feeling out of reach.

At Breakthrough Performance Physical Therapy, we don’t treat you like a number or hand you off to an aide. Every appointment is spent one-on-one with a licensed Doctor of Physical Therapy who digs into the root cause of your pain — not just the symptom. Our therapists are trained in the gym, certified in dry needling, and experienced treating the mountain-lifestyle demands unique to Asheville. On average, our patients experience significant pain reduction in just 6 visits or fewer.

• 100% one-on-one care with a Doctor of Physical Therapy — every session, every time
• No doctor’s referral required — North Carolina is a Direct Access state
• Free 20-minute evaluation available for new patients — zero risk to get started

Step 1: Book Your Free Discovery Call 

Schedule your complimentary 20-minute evaluation with one of our Doctors of Physical Therapy. We’ll listen to your story, assess your knee, and confirm that we’re the right fit to help you reach your goals.

Step 2: Get Your Personalized Plan 

We build a care plan around you — your lifestyle, your sport, your body. Using manual therapy, dry needling, therapeutic exercise, and more, we identify and treat the root cause of your knee pain, not just the symptoms.

From ACL tears and shoulder injuries to chronic running pain and pelvic floor dysfunction, our team at Breakthrough Performance Physical Therapy treats the full spectrum of conditions that keep Asheville’s active community sidelined. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, dealing with a stubborn overuse injury, or looking to prevent the next one, we’ve got a one-on-one solution built around your life. If you’ve been searching for sports physical therapy near me, our clinic on Biltmore Ave is ready to help.

• Knee, hip, and shoulder injuries — including ACL reconstruction, meniscus repair, and rotator cuff rehab
• Running injuries, back pain, and sports-related overuse conditions
• Pelvic floor dysfunction — prenatal, postpartum, and menopause support

Dan at Breakthrough Performance is an exceptional resource for all your PT needs. Immediately upon our initial assessment he identified some old 20+ years of patterns that addressed the cause in areas I was not aware of. After several weeks, the daily workout performance videos and App helps you stay focused, and on track. His gym is well loved, and his education and background help patients reach their fitness and performance goals! Definitely a valuable resource.

–Zachery A. 

I worked with Rachel Pascko on a couple issues over several months and I’ve seen dramatic improvement. She has a sophisticated understanding of biology and fitness training, she’s a fantastic teacher, and she’s just a lovely and pleasant person. I have referred family to this practice and would refer anyone else who could use a PT.

–Holly S. 

Dan Carmack, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS 

Owner and Orthopedic Certified Specialist with extensive experience helping patients reach their fitness and performance goals. Known for his exceptional diagnostic abilities, identifying patterns and root causes that other practitioners miss. Specializes in orthopedic PT, sports injuries, dry needling, golf performance, and back pain.

Rachael Paszko, DPT, OCS 

Pelvic Floor Specialist and Orthopedic Certified Specialist who completed an orthopedic residency in 2020. She has found her passion for treating individuals experiencing pelvic floor dysfunction, with extensive training through Herman and Wallace Pelvic Rehabilitation Institute. Specializes in working with distance runners, triathletes, CrossFit athletes, and pregnancy/postpartum care.

Emma Gasinski, PT, DPT, Cert. DN, RYT 

Specializes in helping older adults reduce fall risk and improve overall fitness, as well as treating vestibular disorders including BPPV and vestibular hypofunction. Certified in dry needling with additional training as a registered yoga teacher and CrossFit Level 1 coach. Passionate about chronic pain management and functional movement.