About

Our Story

Located in Northern Virginia, Chiron Diagnostics was born from Chiron Physical Therapy of Virginia, a South Riding-based physical therapy practice established in 2014 and boasting close to 100 years of combined physical therapy experience.

The roots of the physical therapy profession began thousands of years ago when the Greek philosopher Hippocrates began using techniques that birthed physical therapy in year 435 B.C. Fast forward to the 1800s when various epidemics raged throughout the United States and physical therapy was seen as a need by the American orthopedic surgeons. 

Physical therapy was officially recognized as a profession during World War I when female civilian employees of the US Army were tasked with rehabilitating injured soldiers using primarily massage techniques.

Back then, they were called reconstruction aides or re-aides and were assistants to physicians rather than today’s autonomous profession. The first school of physical therapy was established at Walter Reed Hospital in Washington D.C. after World War I.

What does the history of physical therapy have to do with Diagnostic testing? EVERYTHING! . . . Or at least EVERYTHING in our company’s specific history because it shows that the ability of physical therapists to perform diagnostic testing is not a new idea.

In the United States military, physical therapists have a long history of performing tests and, in fact, studies show a higher level of patient satisfaction associated with physical therapist performed diagnostic testing. 

The Chiron Diagnostics specific story truly begins with one patient. A gentleman who was diligent in his physical therapy care at Chiron Physical Therapy. Who came for his full course of treatment, followed his home exercise program, was committed to the process and, quite frankly didn’t get better. The Chiron team was more frustrated than he was as they were unable to help him yet, the situation didn’t make sense.

Finally, the Chiron team convinced him to seek a second opinion and the new physician did diagnostic testing which revealed an issue that no amount of physical therapy would have cured. He got his answer, had surgery, did some post surgery rehab and was “healed.”

From that moment, Chiron Physical Therapy was committed to pursuing cutting-edge technology to have a greater impact on the community they served. Technology that would save patients’ money in the long run by getting answers sooner, which in turn would lead to better treatment plans.

And, among the various tools in the toolbox, Chiron found MSKUS and EMG, diagnostic tools that essentially interpret the “whispers” the body speaks in attempting to convey its pain. At that moment, Chiron Diagnostics was born.

As of June 2024, there are less than 250 physical therapists who have completed the rigorous training and education associated with Board Certification in the area of Clinical Electrophysiology (ability to perform EMG tests). Training and education that studies have shown EXCEEDS by at least three times the amount of time that which is required by neurology residents. 

Combining EMG and MSKUS technologies can greatly enhance the accuracy and speed of pain diagnosis. These methods can complement each other, providing a comprehensive overview of the patient’s condition. For instance, while EMG can identify nerve dysfunction, MSKUS can reveal the associated structural abnormalities such as muscle tears or tendon inflammation, which might be contributing to the pain. 

Chiron Diagnostics … combining the compassion and warmth of old school healthcare providers with the precision of technology to create a holistic understanding of the root cause of pain, leading to more accurate diagnoses and targeted treatments.

Chiron Diagnostics . . . Where You’re Family, Not a Condition

Serving our Loudoun County, Prince William and Fairfax Neighbors