Meet the Founder
Dr. Melissa Curl, PT, DPT
Owner • Physical Therapist • Running Specialist
Originally from the suburbs of Dallas, I have lived in Atlanta off and on for more than a decade. I earned my B.S. in Exercise Science with minors in Dance and Psychology from the University of South Carolina, then completed my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. When I made a permanent move to Atlanta in 2020, I became deeply involved in the local running community and discovered how much I love treating runners at every stage of their journey. My goal is simple. I want to help you accomplish your goals so you can Run For Your Life.
My Story
OutRun Physical Therapy grew out of my desire to give runners the kind of focused, one-on-one care I always believed they deserved. After earning my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and returning to Atlanta, I started my career in a busy outpatient clinic. I learned a lot, but the high patient volume made it impossible for me to treat people the way I knew they needed. Eventually I stepped away from physical therapy and joined a small tech startup that created medical devices for stroke rehabilitation. I gained new skills in business, technology, and strategy, but I also realized how much I missed working directly with patients.
During that time, I became even more connected to the Atlanta running community. My family joined a Decatur run club years earlier, and it gave us a sense of belonging that shaped so much of my life. I realized that this was the community I wanted to dedicate my career to.
With that clarity, I returned to physical therapy and used what I learned in the tech world to create a clinic built around quality, time, and trust. That clinic became OutRun Physical Therapy. Today I help runners stay healthy, overcome injuries, and Run For Their Life.
The OutRun Philosophy
You don’t have to choose between recovering and training. You need a plan that supports both. Pain is information, not a dead end. Strong runners stay healthy because they train smarter, not because they avoid stress.
Melissa's goal is to help you:
• move with better mechanics
• run with more efficiency
• build strength that supports your sport
• understand what your body needs and why
• stay consistent instead of constantly restarting
OutRun is here to give you answers, direction, and a path that feels doable but not overwhelming.
Community Connection
OutRun is proudly rooted in Decatur and the Atlanta running community. Melissa and her family have been active in a local Decatur run club since 2013, which shaped her personal and professional journey. This clinic is a direct reflection of that connection. OutRun continues to partner with local runners, run clubs, community events, and Atlanta’s expanding endurance scene. Supporting this community is at the heart of everything we do.
Start Your Recovery Journey
Ready to return to running with strength and confidence?
Schedule your evaluation and take the first step toward running for your life.
