Today we’d like to introduce you to Zanobia Rababeh.
Hi Zanobia, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story begins as a person that found joy in helping others feel better by restoring and improving their physical wellbeing. My name is Zanobia, and I have been a PT for 23 years. I received my Masters in Physical Therapy in 2002 , then my Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2012 , both from Wayne State University . Early in my career, I worked at the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan specializing in the treatment of TBI, stroke and SCI. At RIM, I was able to be part of cutting edge treatment approaches that facilitated recovery via neuroplasticity. Later in my career, until the present I shifted to an outpt setting to provide care for patients with orthopedic pathologies, spine surgeries, joint replacements, back /neck pain , sports injuries, unsteady balance, and chronic pain syndromes. I feel very blessed to have provided care for all my patients because I was part of their recovery journey. I was there to help them regain their ability to walk , to climb stairs, to get back to their sport, to be able to sleep the night without pain, to be able to kneel for prayer, or to be able to run their first marathon. In the last 2-3 years, insurance companies and 3rd party payers have made it more and more difficult for clinicians like myself to stay focused on the patient’s journey of optimizing functional recovery. Instead, insurance companies have slashed reimbursement causing a rift in quality care and an explosion in puppy-mill clinics obsessed with maximizing patient visits at the expense of reduced quality of care. Great quality is what I stand for and despite the industry changing , I was not . I even started a company for teaching fitness classes at the Northville Parks and Rec in order to reclaim what I love doing : Being a PT. In this scenario I used my skills as a Physical Therapist to improve the fitness, health and athleticism of women who had injuries in the past that may have hindered their progressive fitness journey. After my son graduated highschool, I felt it was time to open a clinic so that I can provide the care that my patients deserve . My Husband Yasseen and I opened our first outpatient clinic to serve patients with quality and result driven care : Performance Curve Physical Therapy. Our mission stems from the name : Performance Curve , which is based on the Adaptation-stress-recovery curve . A linear curve that captures a person’s improvement in strength / ROM/ endurance/ power and functional mobility only after that person goes through stress and setbacks which when the line dips. Then after recovery , the line rises up again reflecting progress, success, and a new baseline.
Performance curve is a physical therapy clinic with a gym feel, so that when you come in you can feel the energy to get to work! Movement is medicine , and movement happens when the vibe is there . Performance Curve Physical Therapy has THAT vibe!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Not at all!. Many struggles such as time, money and more money. My husband and I have two children , son is in college and my daughter plans to start grad school, hence transitioning to my own business while my children are transitioning to their own academic journeys posed a challenge as well.
Another obstacle was and still is becoming a recognized entity with insurance companies. This involves a lot of online form filling, responding to emails, and waiting to be approved.
The biggest obstacle was the construction of the clinic, however my husband and Ilearned so much from this. I am proud to say that Yasseen built out the clinic, while I took the task of designing the clinic. We both experienced many sleepless nights of removing old floors, building walls, and doors , hanging drop ceiling tiles, light fixtures, and breaking concrete for plumbing! Looking back, I am so grateful for the obstacles and struggles we experienced because the lessons and results we gained were SO worth it!!
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
My business is an Outpatient Physical Therapy practice. My website will have all this info: www.performancecurvept.com
Our approach is client centered. We take into account your prior medical/ surgical history, injury history, and fitness history in order to create your unique personal performance profile. Your performance profile will include baseline objective data collected the first day of your physical therapy journey in order to understand your current performance level so that we can provide to you an outcome oriented performance plan designed to reach your performance potential. We can’t wait for you to become excited about this!
We also offer cash based services:
cupping
dry needling
vasocompression/recovery for legs/ shoulders/ hips with Normatec manual lymphatic drainage
IASTM, scraping and scar tissue remodeling
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
Networking is important, however word of mouth is key . When you are good at your craft , you get busy fast.
I did not have to look far or hard to find my mentors, because my mentors are my family. As a physical therapist, I took a leap of faith by opening my own practice. Starting a business meant stepping into uncertainty, taking financial and professional risks, and believing in myself even when the outcome was not guaranteed. While this was a brave decision, I recognize that my courage was shaped by the example set long before me—by my mom and dad.
My parents demonstrated true bravery and resilience when they left everything familiar behind in Lebanon almost 50 years ago and came to this country in pursuit of the American Dream. They faced an entirely new language, culture, and system, often with limited resources, yet they persevered with courage, determination, and an unwavering belief in a better future. Their sacrifices laid the foundation for the opportunities I have today.
Opening my own physical therapy business is my way of honoring their journey. The risks I took echo the risks they once took—trusting hard work, integrity, and perseverance to carry them forward. Every challenge I face as a business owner reminds me that courage is not the absence of fear, but the willingness to move forward despite it. I stand where I am today because my parents were brave enough to take the first step.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://performancecurvept.com
- Instagram: @performance_curve_dpt and @dr_zuzu_pt
