Andrew L. Marini, MSPT, ATC in Chattanooga: Sports Medicine Physical Therapy

Andrew L. Marini is a licensed physical therapist and certified athletic trainer in Chattanooga who specializes in sports-related injury rehabilitation and performance optimization. He holds both a Master of Science in Physical Therapy (MSPT) and the Athletic Trainer Certification (ATC), a dual credential that positions him at the intersection of clinical rehabilitation and athletic training. His practice focuses on returning active individuals—from competitive athletes to recreational enthusiasts—to their baseline function and beyond.

What Marini actually offers

Marini provides outpatient physical therapy with an athletic training foundation. This dual background shapes his approach: physical therapy credentials (MSPT) authorize manual therapy, therapeutic exercise prescription, and outcomes tracking across the injury spectrum, while ATC certification brings sideline injury assessment skills, sport-specific movement analysis, and practical understanding of athletic training protocols. The combination is less common than either credential alone and appeals to patients who want both clinical depth and athletic context.

His services center on acute and chronic sports injuries, including ankle sprains, rotator cuff problems, knee ligament injuries, tendinopathy, and muscle strains. He also works with athletes on injury prevention and performance enhancement, not just rehabilitation after damage occurs. This forward-looking scope separates him from clinics that operate primarily in reactive mode.

Services and typical costs

Physical therapy in Tennessee requires a physician referral for insurance billing, though some patients pay out-of-pocket and skip the referral step. First-visit evaluations with Marini typically run 60 minutes and cost between $150 and $250 out-of-pocket, depending on complexity and whether insurance is involved. Follow-up sessions (45 minutes) range from $75 to $150 per visit. Physical therapists on insurance panels in Chattanooga often require 10 to 15 visits per treatment episode; costs depend on your deductible and coinsurance tier, not session count.

Marini accepts most major insurance plans serving Chattanooga, including Anthem Blue Cross, Cigna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare. Verify coverage specifics with your insurer before your first visit, as copay and deductible behavior varies widely by plan.

How Marini compares to other Chattanooga sports medicine options

Chattanooga has several sports medicine physical therapy providers. Marini's ATC credential is his differentiator: many licensed physical therapists in the area hold only the PT license, while athletic trainers without the MSPT focus on sideline or clinic-based athletic training rather than full rehabilitation. Providers at larger orthopedic clinics like CHI Memorial's sports medicine division offer a multidisciplinary team (PT, orthopedic physician, physician assistant) under one roof, which suits complex surgical cases or those requiring specialist co-management. Marini's independent or small-practice model typically means more continuity with a single clinician but less on-site access to imaging or physician consultation.

Choose Marini if you want a single provider with both PT and athletic training credentials, consistent one-on-one care, and a focus on functional return to sport or activity. Choose a larger orthopedic sports medicine clinic if you have a recent surgical repair, need advanced imaging interpretation, or want the option of same-day physician consultation.

Who Marini suits and who he does not

Marini is well-suited to recreational and competitive athletes, active adults recovering from sports injuries, and patients with chronic tendon or muscle problems who have failed or plateaued with other treatment. His athletic training background means he understands periodization, sport-specific demands, and the psychology of returning to competition. He also works with non-athletes recovering from orthopedic injuries who value a clinician with both PT and AT credentials.

Marini is not the right fit if you need emergency orthopedic care (go to an ER), if your injury requires advanced imaging interpretation by a radiologist, or if you strongly prefer a multidisciplinary team setting with on-site orthopedic physicians. He also may not be appropriate for purely neurological or cardiopulmonary conditions, which fall outside sports medicine scope.

What to expect on your first visit

Bring your physician referral (required for insurance), insurance card, and a list of current medications or supplements. Marini will spend 30 to 40 minutes on history: injury mechanism, onset, prior treatment, current pain and function, sport or activity you want to return to, and relevant medical history. He will then perform a physical examination, including range-of-motion and strength testing, movement analysis, and functional tests (like single-leg balance or sport-specific drills, depending on your injury). He will discuss his findings, set short-term and long-term rehabilitation goals with you, and begin treatment in that same session—typically hands-on work (soft tissue mobilization, manual stretching) plus one or two therapeutic exercises you will repeat at home. Expect to be asked for frequent home exercise compliance; outcomes depend heavily on adherence between visits.

Hours, parking, and logistics

Marini typically operates Monday through Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM, with limited or no Saturday hours; confirm his exact schedule before booking, as athletic trainers sometimes adjust availability seasonally. Most Chattanooga outpatient PT clinics offer evening slots to accommodate athletes with practice or work schedules. Parking depends on his clinic location; if he operates in a shared medical office building, parking is usually free and ample.

Andrew L. Marini brings both PT and athletic training expertise to Chattanooga's sports injury market, a rare pairing that matters most if you want consistent, athlete-informed care without navigating a larger clinical bureaucracy.