About | FITREHAB

is the Standard

Message from Brian

“Admittedly, delivering on the A+ Standard is easier said than done. As the old saying goes, ‘A goal without a plan is just a wish.’ That is why I took great care when mapping out a plan for FITREHAB to hit that mark, and I am excited to share the guiding principles below.”

- Brian Ivy

Mission

Empower clients to overcome hand and upper limb challenges through compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to their unique needs.

Vision

A community that understands the value and expertise of occupational therapists and certified hand therapists as integral resources for achieving optimal health and wellness, fostering a future where every individual has access to personalized, innovative care that empowers them to live their fullest life.

Values

Accessibility

Keep prices reasonable by limiting overhead expenses to what is necessary.
Grow within reason and the needs of clients.

Relationships

Build lasting relationships through genuine, compassionate, and collaborative interactions.

Integrity

Stay in FITREHAB's "lane” by sticking to strengths.
Remain committed to evidence-based care.
Refer clients outside of expertise to provider(s) better-suited to serve their needs.

Continuous Learning

Embrace experiences as opportunities to learn and grow.
Stay current on relevant research and best practices.
Foster continual growth by encouraging honest feedback and self-reflection.

Harmony

Promote an active, rested, and well-nourished lifestyle.
Respect hours outside of work as time to refresh.

Brian Ivy

MOT, OTR/L, CHT, ACSM-CPT

Occupational Therapist & Certified Hand

Therapist | Founder

Brian's Bio (About Page)

Brian started FITREHAB to solve a problem he kept seeing: clients discharged from traditional hand therapy having met the standard benchmarks for activities of daily living, but with real performance gains still left on the table. FITREHAB is built to bridge that gap — carrying clients beyond the point where conventional hand therapy typically ends and toward their full potential.

That focus traces back to early in his academic studies, when he was drawn to the intricacies of the elbow, forearm, and hand and knew he wanted to become a Certified Hand Therapist — a goal that shaped his decision to pursue occupational therapy. He earned his Master's degree from Bay Path University in 2017, where his research on the validity of a commercial electrical impedance myography device for predicting grip strength was presented at the 64th Annual Conference for the American College of Sports Medicine and 8th World Congress on Exercise is Medicine. He then completed fieldwork in Nashville and spent a year as a traveling therapist, gaining exposure to different clinicians and clinical settings before settling into his own approach.

His interest in the upper limb grew out of an even earlier one: sports and human performance. He studied Sport and Exercise Science at the University of Central Florida, working as a personal trainer at the campus Recreation and Wellness Center and later at a large hospital system's wellness center, where he trained post-rehab and general fitness clients and partnered with the local police department to assess cadets' physical readiness.

A native Floridian, he returned to Tampa in 2019. Since then, he has trained under accomplished hand and upper extremity surgeons, became a Certified Hand Therapist in 2022, and went on to lead hand therapy at an outpatient orthopedic clinic, where he mentored a colleague through earning his own CHT credential.

When not in the clinic, Brian is happiest outside — patio, yard, beach, doesn't matter — usually with his girlfriend, his family, or his Australian Shepherd, Po, close by. You might spot him at a Lightning, Rays, or Bucs game and proudly rocking his Knights apparel — no matter how much heat he catches from the local Bulls and Gators.