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                                  EXHIBIT 10.2
                              EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT

This agreement has been signed and executed in the current form and filed as
exhibit 10.2 of this document. Blank spaces will be replaced with budgetary
information when the Company finalizes its 2004 budget.

September 18, 2003

Dear Chris:

          I have enjoyed our discussions to date, and it is my pleasure to offer
you the position of Chief Operating Officer of U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (the
"Company"). The terms of your retention by the Company are outlined below:

     1.   Your position as stated above will be Chief Operating Officer of the
          Company, reporting to me as the President and CEO. This is a full-time
          position, and you shall not accept other responsibilities for
          compensation unless approved by me. The scope and duties of
          responsibility are all clinic operations. Details of your
          responsibilities are listed in the attached Chief Operating Officer
          position description.

     2.   Your base salary shall be $250,000 per annum, payable in accordance
          with normal Company payment schedules. Performance and compensation
          reviews will be performed at 90 days and quarterly thereafter. You
          will be eligible for the following bonuses while serving the Company,
          which shall be set by the Compensation Committee of the Board:

               i.   40% bonus of your base salary (based upon pre tax earnings
                    consolidated at the clinic level contributions inclusive of
                    all G & A direct reports) as determined by the Compensation
                    Committee of the Board;

               ii.  20% bonus will be discretionary as determined by the
                    Compensation Committee of the Board;

               iii. 20% bonus based upon ____ new store openings as determined
                    by the Compensation Committee of the Board;

               iv.  If earnings per share for 2004 is less than $____ (which is
                    pre taxed consolidated clinics before corporate, then no
                    bonus will be paid other than the discretionary bonus, if
                    approved;

               v.   If earnings per share for 2004 is $____ up to $____ then
                    ____% of the bonus will be paid for every penny of
                    additional earnings per share over $____, for a maximum of
                    45%, excluding the discretionary bonus;

               vi.  If earnings per share for 2004 is $____ up to $____, then
                    ____% of the bonus will be paid for every penny of
                    additional earnings per share over $____, for a maximum of
                    55%, excluding the discretionary bonus;

               vii. If earnings per share for 2004 equals or exceeds $____, then
                    100% of the bonus will be paid.

     3.   As an inducement for you to accept our offer of employment, you shall
          be awarded 50,000 non-qualified stock options to purchase Company
          common stock. The options will be issued by the Compensation Committee
          of the Board upon your reporting for duty, and exercisable at the fair
          market value of the common stock (i.e., the closing market price) on
          the date of issuance. These options will vest ratably each year on the
          anniversary date of your employment at 20% per annum, such that all
          shares will be vested after 5 years. However, the terms of the options
          shall provide that all options will become vested upon an event that
          constitutes a change of control (as defined in Attachment A hereto) in
          the Company. A copy of the 1992 Stock Option Plan is attached for your
          records.

     4.   Relocation expenses will be paid as follows:

               viii. Receipts must be submitted for reimbursement. The lowest
                     quote/bid to be awarded upon approval by the CEO. Under
                     Company policy, three quotes/bids are required prior to the
                     move process;

               ix.  Up to $5,000 for house hunting expenses. Receipts must be
                    submitted for reimbursement;

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               x.   Up to 5% for sales commission on the sale of your current
                    residence;

               xi.  Up to $10,000 for temporary living expenses. Receipts must
                    be submitted for reimbursement.

     5.   We expect that you will report for duty beginning November 3, 2003,
          and that your compensation will begin that date.

     6.   The initial term of your employment will be for a period of three (3)
          years. If you are terminated during that period without "Cause" (as
          defined in Attachment A hereto), the Company will continue to pay you
          for one (1) year following your termination in accordance with the
          normal payroll practices. After the initial term of your employment,
          you shall be an "at will" employee, but if you are terminated after
          the initial term, without Cause, you shall be paid 6 months salary as
          a severance payment. During the payout of these severance payments,
          the Company shall continue to provide you health insurance, but all
          other benefits shall cease and you shall not be eligible to receive
          any bonuses.

     7.   In the event that there is a Change of Control in the Company, as
          defined in Attachment A, and (a) you do not continue as the Chief
          Operating Officer of the Company after the Change of Control and for 6
          months thereafter or (b) you are required to change your work location
          by more than 30 miles, then you shall be entitled to terminate your
          employment for "good reason" for a period of up to 90 days following
          the event giving rise to your right to terminate. Your termination for
          good reason shall be considered a termination by the Company without
          Cause and you shall be entitled to the same benefits if that had
          occurred during your first three years of employment (that is, you
          shall be entitled to a one year severance payment).

     8.   You will be entitled to the same fringe benefits as are accorded to
          all senior management of the Company, which benefits I have described
          generally to you. You shall be eligible to take up to four (4) weeks
          of vacation each year. Your vacations should be coordinated with me to
          insure that the executive offices of the Company are staffed during
          normal vacation times.

          We hope that you will join us. This offer will remain open for
acceptance until September 22, 2003. Should you choose to accept and the terms
of employment stated above are acceptable to you, please sign in the space
provided below.

                                       Cordially,

                                       /s/ Roy Spradlin
                                       --------------------------

                                       Roy Spradlin, President and CEO

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED
This 22th day of September, 2003

/s/ Chris Reading
-----------------------
Chris Reading

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                                  ATTACHMENT A

For purposes of this Agreement:

"Cause" shall mean (i) the willful and material failure of Reading to perform or
observe (other than by reason of disability as contemplated in paragraph 9(a))
any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement, including the failure of
Reading to follow the reasonable written directions of the Company's Board of
Directors, (ii) dishonesty or misconduct on the part of Reading that is or is
reasonably likely to be damaging or detrimental to the business of the Company,
(iii) conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude, (iv) habitual insobriety
or failure to perform duties due to abuse of alcohol or drugs, or (v)
misappropriation of funds.

"Change in Control" shall mean:

               (a)  The transfer or sale by the Company of all or substantially
     all of the assets of the Company whether or not this Agreement is assigned
     or transferred as a part of such sale;

               (b)  The transfer or sale of more than fifty percent (50%) of the
     outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company;

               (c)  A merger or consolidation involving the Company in a
     transaction in which the shareholders of the Company immediately prior to
     the merger or consolidation own less than fifty percent (50%) of the
     company surviving the merger or consolidation; or

               (d)  The voluntary or involuntary dissolution of the Company.

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