Payton Azbell, PT, DPT, ATC

Originally from Georgia, Payton grew up in Middle Tennessee and is a second-generation physical therapist, following in his mother’s footsteps in the profession. His passion for health, fitness, and rehabilitation began as a former baseball player who personally battled shoulder pain and experienced firsthand the impact that expert physical therapy can have on athletic performance and recovery.

Payton earned his Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from Northern Kentucky University before gaining valuable experience as an industrial Athletic Trainer in occupational health, where he focused on injury prevention, ergonomic efficiency, and movement optimization in high-demand work environments. He later received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga before moving to the Nashville area to continue pursuing his passion for helping active individuals perform at their highest level.

At Elevate615, Payton specializes in treating orthopedic injuries, sports-related conditions, and performance limitations for both adult and youth athletes in Franklin, TN. He works with athletes recovering from post-operative procedures, shoulder and knee injuries, overuse conditions, and return-to-sport rehabilitation. His treatment style blends evidence-based physical therapy, strength and conditioning principles, movement analysis, and hands-on care to help patients recover faster, move better, and reduce future injury risk.

Payton also helps runners overcome common nagging injuries through Elevate615’s Running Fitness Assessment program. Using gait analysis, mobility testing, strength assessment, and training review, he works with runners dealing with issues like Achilles pain, runner’s knee, shin splints, calf tightness, and poor running endurance to help them return to pain-free running and improve long-term performance.

He especially enjoys helping active adults maintain an athletic lifestyle and guiding youth athletes safely back to competition with confidence. Whether you are a high school athlete recovering from an injury, a weekend warrior dealing with nagging pain, or someone looking to improve overall fitness and longevity, Payton is passionate about helping you achieve your goals. He is also certified in Level I Trigger Point Dry Needling.

Outside the clinic, Payton enjoys weight training, running, spending time with his wife and their golden retriever, and cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs football team.