MEET THE APT TEAM
Why wait for a doctor’s referral when you can start your physical therapy now! Come in for a free discovery visit to determine if physical therapy is right for you.
Altamont Physical Therapy
We're dedicated to providing exceptional care, ensuring you achieve the best possible treatment results.
Dr. Erik Carman, DPT
Dr. Carman was drawn to physical therapy by his desire to help people and his passion for fitness. He has extensive experience in post-op rehabilitation and joint replacement recovery. Dedicated to ever-expanding his abilities to serve his patients, he earned a specialty certification to work with individuals with Parkinson’s Disease through LSVT Global. Additionally, he is certified in E1 Lower Extremity Evaluation and Manipulation through the University of St. Augustine. Dr. Carman holds a doctorate of Physical Therapy from Russell Sage College. Outside the clinic, he is an avid runner and has completed multiple half marathons.
Dr. Stephanie Mason, DPT
Dr. Mason loves working with patients from all walks of life. She earned her doctorate in Physical Therapy from Russell Sage College. She is certified in E1 Lower Extremity Evaluation and Manipulation through the University of St. Augustine. She had the honor to present her paper “Effect of Aquatic Therapy on Glycemic Control in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review” to the American Physical Therapy Association Combined Sections Meeting.
Also a licensed Veterinary Technician, Dr. Mason is a Knox native. She played soccer for both Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School and Russell Sage College. Outside of work, she enjoys horseback riding on family farm, hiking, strength training at the gym, and playing recreational basketball and soccer.
Our Story
Altamont Physical Therapy was built on a simple belief: personalized care, laughter, and community connection can heal more than just the body.
Back in 1999, while working as a homecare physical therapist in Altamont, Dr. Brian Thornton noticed a building for sale on Maple Avenue. He had two thoughts:
- He couldn’t afford to buy it.
- There wasn’t a single physical therapy clinic in the area.
So, he took a chance. He contacted the seller and offered to rent the space instead — and the owner agreed. On October 4th, 1999, Altamont Physical Therapy officially opened its doors.
Dr. Thornton quickly earned a reputation for delivering quality, compassionate physical therapy with a side of humor. Patients often joked,
“I don’t know how much PT we do, but I LOVE going there.”
For 23 years, he cared for the people of Altamont and the surrounding community — always prioritizing personal relationships over business models. But by 2022, Dr. Thornton began thinking about retirement. One problem: he couldn’t leave his patients — his friends — without someone who truly cared about the mission he built.
In today’s healthcare world, independent, locally owned practices like ours are rare. Corporate chains and hospital affiliates dominate, often at the expense of individualized care.
Luckily, the perfect successor was close to home.
Enter Dr. Erik Carman — Brian’s nephew, godson, and a skilled physical therapist with a passion for people and community-based care. Brian asked Erik if he’d ever consider taking over the practice. The answer was yes.
On March 31st, 2023, Dr. Carman became the new owner of Altamont Physical Therapy.
A New Chapter, Same Heart
Dr. Carman brings fresh energy to the practice, but the mission remains unchanged:
✅ Individualized care
✅ A friendly, welcoming atmosphere
✅ Real relationships — not rushed appointments
Altamont PT continues to be a place where you’re known by name, not by a number. A place to feel better, laugh a little, and connect with your neighbors.
Local. Independent. Personal.
That’s how we’ve done it since 1999 — and that’s how we’ll keep doing it.
📍 Proudly serving Altamont, NY and surrounding communities with expert, personalized physical therapy.