<PAGE>
    As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2002
                                                  Registration No.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.
            ---------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                     Nevada
       ------------------------------------------------------------------
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                                   76-0364866
                ------------------------------------------------
                      (I.R.S. employer identification no.)

              3040 Post Oak, Blvd., Suite 222, Houston, Texas 77056
              -----------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

                           U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.
                       Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement
                       -----------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

                   J. Michael Mullin, Chief Financial Officer
                           U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.
                         3040 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 222
                              Houston, Texas 77056
                ------------------------------------------------
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (713) 297-7000
       ------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:

                               Eddy J. Rogers, Jr.
             Andrews & Kurth, Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton, L.L.P.
                            700 Louisiana, Suite 1900
                            Houston, Texas 77002-2778
                                 (713) 225-7000

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE

<Table>
<Caption>
Title of securities              Amount to be         Proposed maximum           Proposed maximum           Amount of
  to be registered                registered      offering price per share   aggregate offering price   registration fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------
<S>                              <C>              <C>                        <C>
Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share            30,000               $15.61 (1)                $468,300 (1)              $43.08
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------
</Table>

         (1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee,
in accordance with Rule 457(h), on the basis of the price of the securities of
the same class, as determined in accordance with Rule 457 (c) , using the
average of the high and low prices reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the
Common Stock on February 11, 2002.





<PAGE>


                                     PART I


              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

         The document containing the information specified in Part I will be
sent or given to the employee as specified by Rule 428(b)(1). In accordance with
the instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such document will not be filed with the
Commission either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or
prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424.


                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by
reference into this registration statement the following documents:

         (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended
              December 31, 2000;

         (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
              ended March 31, 2001;

         (c)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
              ended June 30, 2001;

         (d)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
              ended September 30, 2001;

         (e)  The description of the Registrant's common stock contained in the
              Registrant's Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange
              Commission on May 7, 1992; and

         (f)  All documents filed by the Registrant subsequent to the date
              hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the
              Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a
              post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
              offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities
              remaining unsold.



                                      -2-
<PAGE>


ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         A description of the Registrant's common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, is incorporated by reference under Item 3.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         The legality of the common stock offered herein is being passed upon by
Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         (a) Article EIGHT of the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation is set
forth as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 14, 2001 and is incorporated herein by reference.

         (b) Sections 78.751 and 78.752 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Nevada, entitled "Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and
agents; advancement of expenses" and "Insurance and other financial arrangements
against liability of directors, officers, employees and agents", respectively,
are set forth as Exhibit 28.2 to the Registrant's Form S-8 Registration
Statement (Registration No. 33-63446) filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on May 27, 1993 and are incorporated herein by reference.

         (c) The Registrant has in effect a policy of liability insurance
covering its directors and officers.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of the expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.


                                      -3-
<PAGE>


ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

           Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

Exhibit
Number                     Description
-------                    -----------
   4                    U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. Nonstatutory Stock Option
                        Agreement dated February 17, 2000 (filed as an exhibit
                        to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
                        30, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference)

   5                    Opinion of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw

  23.1                  Consent of KPMG LLP

  23.2                  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

  23.3                  Consent of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw (See
                        Exhibit 5)

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

             (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
                 made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                 statement:

                 (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
                     the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
                        after the effective date of the registration statement
                        (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof)
                        which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
                        fundamental change in the information set forth in the
                        registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
                        any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
                        (if the total dollar value of securities offered would
                        not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation
                        from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
                        offering range may be reflected in the form of



                                      -4-
<PAGE>

                        prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
                        424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
                        price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
                        aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation
                        of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
                        statement;

                 (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the
                        plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
                        registration statement or any material change to such
                        information in the registration statement.

             (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
                 Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment
                 shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
                 the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
                 securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
                 fide offering thereof.

             (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
                 amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
                 unsold at the termination of the offering.

         (b)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
              determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
              filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a)
              or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where
              applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
              report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
              1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration
              statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
              relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
              such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
              bona fide offering thereof. ---- ----

         (c)  The undertaking concerning indemnification is set forth under the
              response to Item 6.


                                      -5-
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on this 15th day of
February, 2002.

                                       U.S. PHYSICAL THERAPY, INC.



                                       By: /s/ Roy W. Spradlin
                                          ----------------------------------
                                       Roy W. Spradlin
                                       Chairman of the Board, President and
                                       Chief Executive Officer
                                       (Principal Executive Officer)

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE                                        TITLE                              DATE
---------                                        -----                              -----
<S>                                    <C>                                         <C>
/s/ Roy W. Spradlin                    Chairman of the Board,                      February 15, 2002
-----------------------------------    President, Chief Executive Officer
Roy W. Spradlin                        (Principal Executive Officer)



/s/ J. Michael Mullin                  Chief Financial Officer                     February 15, 2002
------------------------------------   (Principal Financial and
J. Michael Mullin                      Accounting Officer)
</TABLE>




                                      -6-
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
SIGNATURE                                        TITLE                              DATE
---------                                        -----                              -----
<S>                                    <C>                                         <C>
/s/ Daniel C. Arnold                   Director                                    February 14, 2002
------------------------------------
Daniel C. Arnold


/s/ Mark J. Brookner                   Vice Chairman of the Board                  February 12, 2002
------------------------------------
Mark J. Brookner


------------------------------------   Director                                    ------------------
Bruce D. Broussard


 /s/ James B. Hoover                   Director                                    February 12, 2002
------------------------------------
James B. Hoover


------------------------------------   Director                                    ------------------
Marlin W. Johnston


 /s/ J. Livingston Kosberg             Director                                    February 14, 2002
------------------------------------
J. Livingston Kosberg


------------------------------------   Director                                    -------------------
Eddy J. Rogers, Jr.


/s/ Albert L. Rosen                    Director                                    February 12, 2002
------------------------------------
Albert L. Rosen
</TABLE>


                                      -7-
<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit
Number                     Description                                                           Page
-------                    -----------                                                           ----
<S>                        <C>                                                                  <C>

    4                      U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. Nonstatutory Stock Option
                           Agreement dated February 17, 2000 (filed as an exhibit
                           to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                           June 30, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference)

    5                      Opinion of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw                             9

   23.1                    Consent of KPMG LLP                                                    10

   23.2                    Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP                                          11

   23.3                    Consent of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw
                           (See Exhibit 5)                                                        --
</TABLE>




                                      -8-
[{"type": "S-8", "sequence": "1", "filename": "h94329s-8.txt", "description": "U.S. PHYSICAL THERAPY, INC.", "secsgml_size_bytes": 17006}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "U S PHYSICAL THERAPY INC /NV", "cik": "0000885978", "assigned-sic": "8000", "irs-number": "760364866", "state-of-incorporation": "NV", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "S-8", "act": "33", "file-number": "333-82932", "film-number": "02552220"}, "business-address": {"street1": "3040 POST OAK BLVD STE 222", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77056", "phone": "7132977000"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "3040 POST OAK BLVD", "street2": "SUITE 222", "city": "HOUSTON", "state": "TX", "zip": "77056"}}
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2002
                                                  Registration No.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM S-8
                          REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

                           U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.
            ---------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                     Nevada
       ------------------------------------------------------------------
         (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

                                   76-0364866
                ------------------------------------------------
                      (I.R.S. employer identification no.)

              3040 Post Oak, Blvd., Suite 222, Houston, Texas 77056
              -----------------------------------------------------
               (Address of principal executive offices) (Zip code)

                           U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.
                       Nonstatutory Stock Option Agreement
                       -----------------------------------
                            (Full title of the plan)

                   J. Michael Mullin, Chief Financial Officer
                           U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc.
                         3040 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 222
                              Houston, Texas 77056
                ------------------------------------------------
                     (Name and address of agent for service)

                                 (713) 297-7000
       ------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

                                    Copy to:

                               Eddy J. Rogers, Jr.
             Andrews & Kurth, Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton, L.L.P.
                            700 Louisiana, Suite 1900
                            Houston, Texas 77002-2778
                                 (713) 225-7000

                         CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of securities              Amount to be         Proposed maximum           Proposed maximum           Amount of
  to be registered                registered      offering price per share   aggregate offering price   registration fee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------
Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share            30,000               $15.61 (1)                $468,300 (1)              $43.08
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------------
(1) Estimated solely for purposes of calculating the registration fee,
in accordance with Rule 457(h), on the basis of the price of the securities of
the same class, as determined in accordance with Rule 457 (c) , using the
average of the high and low prices reported on the Nasdaq Stock Market for the
Common Stock on February 11, 2002.
PART I

              INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

         The document containing the information specified in Part I will be
sent or given to the employee as specified by Rule 428(b)(1). In accordance with
the instructions to Part I of Form S-8, such document will not be filed with the
Commission either as part of this registration statement or as prospectuses or
prospectus supplements pursuant to Rule 424.

                                     PART II

               INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

ITEM 3.  INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.

         U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. (the "Registrant") hereby incorporates by
reference into this registration statement the following documents:

         (a)  The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended
              December 31, 2000;

         (b)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
              ended March 31, 2001;

         (c)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
              ended June 30, 2001;

         (d)  The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
              ended September 30, 2001;

         (e)  The description of the Registrant's common stock contained in the
              Registrant's Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange
              Commission on May 7, 1992; and

         (f)  All documents filed by the Registrant subsequent to the date
              hereof pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, and 15(d) of the
              Securities Exchange Act of 1934, prior to the filing of a
              post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities
              offered have been sold or which deregisters all securities
              remaining unsold.

                                      -2-
ITEM 4.  DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES.

         A description of the Registrant's common stock, par value $0.01 per
share, is incorporated by reference under Item 3.

ITEM 5.  INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.

         The legality of the common stock offered herein is being passed upon by
Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw.

ITEM 6.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.

         (a) Article EIGHT of the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation is set
forth as Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarter ended June 30, 2001 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 14, 2001 and is incorporated herein by reference.

         (b) Sections 78.751 and 78.752 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Nevada, entitled "Indemnification of officers, directors, employees and
agents; advancement of expenses" and "Insurance and other financial arrangements
against liability of directors, officers, employees and agents", respectively,
are set forth as Exhibit 28.2 to the Registrant's Form S-8 Registration
Statement (Registration No. 33-63446) filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on May 27, 1993 and are incorporated herein by reference.

         (c) The Registrant has in effect a policy of liability insurance
covering its directors and officers.

         Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers, and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the
Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
Registrant of the expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.

                                      -3-
ITEM 7.  EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION CLAIMED.

           Not applicable.

ITEM 8.  EXHIBITS.

Exhibit
Number                     Description
-------                    -----------
   4                    U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. Nonstatutory Stock Option
                        Agreement dated February 17, 2000 (filed as an exhibit
                        to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
                        30, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference)

   5                    Opinion of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw

  23.1                  Consent of KPMG LLP

  23.2                  Consent of Ernst & Young LLP

  23.3                  Consent of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw (See
                        Exhibit 5)

ITEM 9.  UNDERTAKINGS.

         (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:

             (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
                 made, a post-effective amendment to this registration
                 statement:

                 (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
                     the Securities Act of 1933;

                 (ii)   To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising
                        after the effective date of the registration statement
                        (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof)
                        which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a
                        fundamental change in the information set forth in the
                        registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
                        any increase or decrease in volume of securities offered
                        (if the total dollar value of securities offered would
                        not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation
                        from the low or high end of the estimated maximum
                        offering range may be reflected in the form of

                                      -4-
prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
                        424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
                        price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum
                        aggregate offering price set forth in the "Calculation
                        of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
                        statement;

                 (iii)  To include any material information with respect to the
                        plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
                        registration statement or any material change to such
                        information in the registration statement.

             (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
                 Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment
                 shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
                 the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
                 securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
                 fide offering thereof.

             (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
                 amendment any of the securities being registered which remain
                 unsold at the termination of the offering.

         (b)  The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
              determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each
              filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a)
              or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where
              applicable, each filing of an employee benefit plan's annual
              report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
              1934) that is incorporated by reference in the registration
              statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
              relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of
              such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial
              bona fide offering thereof. ---- ----

         (c)  The undertaking concerning indemnification is set forth under the
              response to Item 6.

                                      -5-
SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on this 15th day of
February, 2002.

                                       U.S. PHYSICAL THERAPY, INC.

                                       By: /s/ Roy W. Spradlin
                                          ----------------------------------
                                       Roy W. Spradlin
                                       Chairman of the Board, President and
                                       Chief Executive Officer
                                       (Principal Executive Officer)

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
SIGNATURE                                        TITLE                              DATE
---------                                        -----                              -----
/s/ Roy W. Spradlin                    Chairman of the Board,                      February 15, 2002
-----------------------------------    President, Chief Executive Officer
Roy W. Spradlin                        (Principal Executive Officer)

/s/ J. Michael Mullin                  Chief Financial Officer                     February 15, 2002
------------------------------------   (Principal Financial and
J. Michael Mullin                      Accounting Officer)
-6-
SIGNATURE                                        TITLE                              DATE
---------                                        -----                              -----
/s/ Daniel C. Arnold                   Director                                    February 14, 2002
------------------------------------
Daniel C. Arnold

/s/ Mark J. Brookner                   Vice Chairman of the Board                  February 12, 2002
------------------------------------
Mark J. Brookner

------------------------------------   Director                                    ------------------
Bruce D. Broussard

 /s/ James B. Hoover                   Director                                    February 12, 2002
------------------------------------
James B. Hoover

------------------------------------   Director                                    ------------------
Marlin W. Johnston

 /s/ J. Livingston Kosberg             Director                                    February 14, 2002
------------------------------------
J. Livingston Kosberg

------------------------------------   Director                                    -------------------
Eddy J. Rogers, Jr.

/s/ Albert L. Rosen                    Director                                    February 12, 2002
------------------------------------
Albert L. Rosen
-7-
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
Number                     Description                                                           Page
-------                    -----------                                                           ----
4                      U.S. Physical Therapy, Inc. Nonstatutory Stock Option
                           Agreement dated February 17, 2000 (filed as an exhibit
                           to the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
                           June 30, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference)

    5                      Opinion of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw                             9

   23.1                    Consent of KPMG LLP                                                    10

   23.2                    Consent of Ernst & Young, LLP                                          11

   23.3                    Consent of Kummer Kaempfer Bonner & Renshaw
                           (See Exhibit 5)                                                        --
-8-