JJ Thomas

At a glance

• American physical therapist with a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree (DPT), founder and CEO of Primal Physical Therapy in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.
• Has more than 25 years of clinical experience and teaches dry needling to other therapists.
• Has worked with professional athletes and teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers and Eagles, UFC fighters and Olympians.
• Is physician Gabrielle Lyon’s physical therapist; on her podcast in 2026 he explained why pain is an ‘alarm’ rather than a diagnosis: silence the pain without fixing the cause and the injury often comes back.
• His approach combines manual therapy and targeted exercise with looking for the movement patterns behind a complaint.
• Relevant to longevity because persistent pain and recurring injuries are a major reason people stop moving; staying active keeps you independent for longer.