About
Matt Salinger
and
Next step training
I’m Matt Salinger, the founder and trainer behind Next Step Training, based right here in Wilmington, NC.
My path into fitness wasn’t the typical gym-floor route. I have a B.S. in Biology with an emphasis in Biomedical Sciences from the University of Arizona, and I’ve spent my career working in medically integrated training environments, not commercial gyms. Since 2023, I’ve worked inside a hospital-affiliated fitness center, training clients recovering from orthopedic surgery, joint replacements, Parkinson’s, and other complex medical conditions, often collaborating directly with physical therapists and physicians to make sure every program was safe, appropriate, and actually moving people forward.
Over the years, I’ve noticed a pattern: a lot of people go into orthopedic surgery or joint replacements already dealing with poor movement patterns, weakness, and instability, which makes recovery harder than it needs to be. I worked with one client for two years, helping her lose weight, build muscle, and improve stability ahead of a double knee replacement, and watching that kind of preparation change her outcome was a turning point for me. I’ve also worked with clients whose pain showed up in one place but actually originated somewhere else entirely, which reinforced how much movement quality and stability matter, not just symptom relief.
I’ve also seen this play out on the other end of recovery: clients who finish physical therapy and are told they’re “done,” even though they’re nowhere near strong enough, or moving correctly enough, to call themselves fully healed. Being cleared from PT doesn’t mean you’ve rebuilt the strength, stability, or movement patterns to support your life the way you did before. That gap, between finishing rehab and actually being ready, is exactly where Next Step Training comes in.
Why Next Step Training exists
Too often, people finish physical therapy and are simply told they’re “done,” left to figure out the rest on their own. Or they’re managing a condition like arthritis, a joint replacement, or Parkinson’s, and don’t know where to safely start. I started Next Step Training to be that missing piece, the bridge between finishing rehab or managing a diagnosis, and building real, lasting strength and independence.
How I train
Every program starts with your history, not a template. Before we ever start moving, I want to understand your injuries, your surgeries, your medications, and your goals, so your program is built around your body, not a generic plan. This is corrective exercise and post-rehabilitation informed training: patient, progressive, and designed to meet you exactly where you are, whether that’s your first week back on your feet after surgery, or your hundredth session working toward long-term strength and mobility.
Credentials
• NASM Certified Personal Trainer
• CPR/AED Certified
• B.S. Biology, Biomedical Sciences Emphasis, University of Arizona
• Experience training orthopedic, neurological, and post-rehabilitation clients in a hospital-affiliated fitness setting
Ready to take the next step?
Book your free 30-minute consultation and let’s talk about where you are, and where you want to go.