Organization, Nature of Operations and Basis of Presentation, Restatement of Prior Year Financial Statements (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 9 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
Sep. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2016
Mar. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Sep. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2015
Mar. 31, 2015
Jun. 30, 2016
Jun. 30, 2015
Sep. 30, 2016
Sep. 30, 2015
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Consolidated Balance Sheet [Abstract]                              
Goodwill $ 226,806 $ 215,057 [1] $ 215,094 [1] $ 214,877 [1] $ 195,373 [1] $ 194,675 [1] $ 194,740 [1] $ 183,002 [1] $ 215,094 [1] $ 194,740 [1] $ 215,057 [1] $ 194,675 [1] $ 226,806 $ 195,373 [1] $ 171,740 [1]
Total assets 351,231 334,543 [1] 337,998 [1] 335,743 [1] 303,757 [1] 299,971 [1] 292,146 [1] 281,249 [1] 337,998 [1] 292,146 [1] 334,543 [1] 299,971 [1] 351,231 303,757 [1]  
MRNCI 69,190 61,276 [1] 59,932 [1] 58,481 [1] 45,974 [1],[2] 45,323 [1] 49,166 [1] 45,578 [1] 59,932 [1] 49,166 [1] 61,276 [1] 45,323 [1] 69,190 45,974 [1],[2] 40,365 [1]
Deferred taxes (liability) 15,736 18,736 [1] 18,153 [1] 17,362 [1] 15,508 [1] 13,276 [1] 12,027 [1] 12,009 [1] 18,153 [1] 12,027 [1] 18,736 [1] 13,276 [1] 15,736 15,508 [1]  
Total liabilities 162,543 149,168 [1] 156,325 [1] 159,504 [1] 131,447 [1] 131,605 [1] 128,919 [1] 123,441 [1] 156,325 [1] 128,919 [1] 149,168 [1] 131,605 [1] 162,543 131,447 [1]  
RNCI   0 [1] 0 [1] 0 [1] 0 [3] 0 [1] 0 [1] 0 [1] 0 [1] 0 [1] 0 [1] 0 [1]   0 [3]  
Additional paid-in capital 68,687 68,493 [1] 67,223 [1] 65,550 [1] 64,238 [1] 62,918 [1] 61,051 [1] 60,302 [1] 67,223 [1] 61,051 [1] 68,493 [1] 62,918 [1] 68,687 64,238 [1]  
Retained earnings 150,342 147,223 [1] 144,547 [1] 140,664 [1] 138,301 [1] 135,403 [1] 131,760 [1] 127,288 [1] 144,547 [1] 131,760 [1] 147,223 [1] 135,403 [1] 150,342 138,301 [1]  
Total liabilities and equity $ 351,231 334,543 [1] 337,998 [1] 335,743 [1] $ 303,757 [1] 299,971 [1] 292,146 [1] 281,249 [1] 337,998 [1] 292,146 [1] 334,543 [1] 299,971 [1] 351,231 303,757 [1]  
Interest expense [Abstract]                              
MRNCI (1) - change in redemption value   1,934 [1] 1,931 [1] 2,191 [1]   501 [1] (48) [1] 244 [1] 4,122 [1] 196 [1] 6,056 [1] 697 [1] 6,169 2,670 [1],[2] 2,978 [1],[2]
MRNCI (1) - earnings allocable   929 [1] 1,330 [1] 887 [1]   778 [1] 1,190 [1] 706 [1] 2,217 [1] 1,896 [1] 3,146 [1] 2,674 [1] 4,057 3,538 [1],[2] 3,388 [1],[2]
Total interest expense   3,189 [1] 3,581 [1] 3,386 [1]   1,534 [1] 1,387 [1] 1,215 [1] 6,967 [1] 2,602 [1] 10,156 [1] 4,136 [1] 11,478 7,239 [1] 7,454 [1]
Net income before taxes   8,887 [1] 11,473 [1] 8,125 [1]   10,439 [1] 12,178 [1] 7,978 [1] 19,598 [1] 20,156 [1] 28,485 [1] 30,595 [1] 38,148 40,136 [1] 38,332 [1]
Provision for income taxes   2,753 [1] 3,802 [1] 2,172 [1]   3,465 [1] 4,221 [1] 2,685 [1] 5,974 [1] 6,906 [1] 8,727 [1] 10,371 [1] 11,880 13,647 [1] 13,018 [1]
Net income   6,134 [1] 7,671 [1] 5,953 [1]   6,974 [1] 7,957 [1] 5,293 [1] 13,624 [1] 13,250 [1] 19,758 [1] 20,224 [1] 26,268 26,489 [1] 25,314 [1]
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests   1,330 [1] 1,659 [1] 1,465 [1]   1,468 [1] 1,623 [1] 1,279 [1] 3,124 [1] 2,902 [1] 4,454 [1] 4,370 [1] 5,717 5,874 [1] 6,183 [1]
Net income attributable to USPH shareholders   $ 4,804 [1] $ 6,012 [1] $ 4,488 [1]   $ 5,506 [1] $ 6,334 [1] $ 4,014 [1] $ 10,500 [1] $ 10,348 [1] $ 15,304 [1] $ 15,854 [1] $ 20,551 $ 20,615 [1] $ 19,131 [1]
Earnings per share (in dollars per share) $ 0.42 $ 0.38 [1] $ 0.48 [1] $ 0.36 [1] $ 0.38 [1] $ 0.44 [1] $ 0.51 [1] $ 0.33 [1] $ 0.84 [1] $ 0.84 [1] $ 1.22 [1] $ 1.28 [1] $ 1.64 $ 1.66 [1] $ 1.57 [1]
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]                              
Net income   $ 6,134 [1] $ 7,671 [1] $ 5,953 [1]   $ 6,974 [1] $ 7,957 [1] $ 5,293 [1] $ 13,624 [1] $ 13,250 [1] $ 19,758 [1] $ 20,224 [1] $ 26,268 $ 26,489 [1] $ 25,314 [1]
Deferred taxes       1,823 [1]       473 [1] 2,503 [1] 2,056 [1] 3,238 [1] 2,918 [1] 2,979 5,953 [1] 5,106 [1]
(Increase) decrease in other assets       (2,282) [1]       106 [1] (2,443) [1] (13) [1] (4,979) [1] (1,485) [1] (1,399) (1,375) [1] 1,155 [1]
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses       3,392 [1]       (5,976) [1] 6,603 [1] (3,958) [1] 3,582 [1] (3,766) [1] 2,994 (7,011) [1] 1,868 [1]
Increase in mandatorily redeemable non-controlling interests       2,578 [1]       406 [1] 4,028 [1] 90 [1] 5,372 [1] 683 [1] 5,598 2,509 [1] 2,936 [1]
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities       365 [1]       665 [1] 447 [1] 927 [1] 708 [1] 380 [1] 352 1,396 [1] (3,378) [1]
Net cash provided by operating activities       14,211 [1]       2,475 [1] 31,053 [1] 17,237 [1] 38,198 [1] 26,171 [1] 51,050 37,520 [1] 41,391 [1]
Acquisitions of non-controlling interests                           (968) (227)
Net cash used in investing activities       (14,983) [1]       (8,215) [1] (16,619) [1] (18,236) [1] (19,200) [1] (19,995) [1] (32,492) (26,125) [1] (17,617) [1]
Distributions to non-controlling interests (including redeemable non-controlling interests)                           0 0
Distributions to non-controlling interests       (1,113) [1]       (1,045) [1] (2,893) [1] (2,904) [1] (4,441) [1] (4,148) [1] (5,718) (5,892) [1] (5,963) [1]
Payments to settle mandatorily redeemable non-controlling interests       (1,136) [1]         (1,136) [1]   (1,136) [1] (1,860) [1] (1,262) (6,115) [1] (5,233) [1]
Other       1 [1]         1 [1] 5 [1] 1 [1] 5 [1] 1 5 [1] 45 [1]
Net cash used in financing activities       4,200 [1]       6,026 [1] (9,759) [1] (300) [1] (19,752) [1] 111 [1] $ (14,289) (9,888) [1] (22,401) [1]
As Reported [Member]                              
Consolidated Balance Sheet [Abstract]                              
Goodwill   191,231 191,268 191,051 $ 171,457 170,849 170,914 159,176 191,268 170,914 191,231 170,849   171,457  
Total assets   309,901 313,598 311,434 279,913 276,145 268,320 257,423 313,598 268,320 309,901 276,145   279,913  
MRNCI   0 0 0 0 [2] 0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0 [2]  
Deferred taxes (liability)   13,727 12,361 10,789 8,355 0 0 0 12,361 0 13,727 0   8,355  
Total liabilities   82,829 90,547 94,396 77,960 81,001 75,721 73,849 90,547 75,721 82,829 81,001   77,960  
RNCI   8,334 8,641 7,591 8,843 [3] 9,024 10,585 7,373 8,641 10,585 8,334 9,024   8,843 [3]  
Additional paid-in capital   49,506 48,236 46,563 45,251 45,536 45,829 45,080 48,236 45,829 49,506 45,536   45,251  
Retained earnings   160,746 157,161 152,219 149,016 144,888 140,933 136,491 157,161 140,933 160,746 144,888   149,016  
Total liabilities and equity   309,901 313,598 311,434 279,913 276,145 268,320 257,423 313,598 268,320 309,901 276,145   279,913  
Interest expense [Abstract]                              
MRNCI (1) - change in redemption value   0 0 0   0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0 [2] 0 [2]
MRNCI (1) - earnings allocable   0 0 0   0 0 0 0 0 0 0   0 [2] 0 [2]
Total interest expense   326 320 308   255 245 265 628 510 954 765   1,031 1,088
Net income before taxes   11,750 14,734 11,203   11,718 13,320 8,928 25,937 22,248 37,687 33,966   46,344 44,698
Provision for income taxes   3,778 4,674 3,523   3,654 4,203 2,777 8,197 6,980 11,975 10,634   14,653 14,274
Net income   7,972 10,060 7,680   8,064 9,117 6,151 17,740 15,268 25,712 23,332   31,691 30,424
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests   2,259 2,989 2,352   2,246 2,813 1,985 5,341 4,798 7,600 7,044   9,412 9,571
Net income attributable to USPH shareholders   $ 5,713 $ 7,071 $ 5,328   $ 5,818 $ 6,304 $ 4,166 $ 12,399 $ 10,470 $ 18,112 $ 16,288   $ 22,279 $ 20,853
Earnings per share (in dollars per share)   $ 0.46 $ 0.57 $ 0.43   $ 0.47 $ 0.48 $ 0.34 $ 0.99 $ 0.82 $ 1.45 $ 1.29   $ 1.77 $ 1.62
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]                              
Net income   $ 7,972 $ 10,060 $ 7,680   $ 8,064 $ 9,117 $ 6,151 $ 17,740 $ 15,268 $ 25,712 $ 23,332   $ 31,691 $ 30,424
Deferred taxes       2,709       565 4,170 2,130 5,688 3,181   7,001 6,275
(Increase) decrease in other assets       (2,282)       106 (2,443) (13) (4,979) (1,485)   (1,477) (2,493)
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses       4,322       (5,976) 7,715 (3,958) 5,178 (3,766)   (7,013)  
Increase in mandatorily redeemable non-controlling interests       0       0 0 0 0 0   0 0
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities       365       665 447 927 708 380   1,482 730
Net cash provided by operating activities       14,711       3,019 33,364 19,239 42,028 28,859   41,243 45,194
Acquisitions of non-controlling interests                           (7,083) (5,490)
Net cash used in investing activities       (16,119)       (8,215) (17,755) (18,236) (20,336) (21,855)   (32,240) (22,880)
Distributions to non-controlling interests (including redeemable non-controlling interests)                           (9,632) (9,913)
Distributions to non-controlling interests       (1,613)       (1,589) (5,204) (4,906) (8,271) (6,836)   0 0
Payments to settle mandatorily redeemable non-controlling interests       0         0   0 0   0 0
Other       1         1 5 1 5   22 222
Net cash used in financing activities       4,836       5,482 (10,934) (2,302) (22,446) (717)   (7,496) (20,941)
Adjustment [Member]                              
Consolidated Balance Sheet [Abstract]                              
Goodwill   23,826 23,826 23,826 23,916 23,826 23,826 23,826 23,826 23,826 23,826 23,826   23,916  
Total assets   24,642 24,400 24,309 23,844 23,826 23,826 23,826 24,400 23,826 24,642 23,826   23,844  
MRNCI   61,276 59,932 58,481 45,974 [2] 45,323 49,166 45,578 59,932 49,166 61,276 45,323   45,974 [2]  
Deferred taxes (liability)   5,009 5,792 6,573 7,153 13,276 12,027 12,009 5,792 12,027 5,009 13,276   7,153  
Total liabilities   66,339 65,778 65,108 53,487 50,604 53,198 49,592 65,778 53,198 66,339 50,604   53,487  
RNCI   (8,334) (8,641) (7,591) (8,843) [3] (9,024) (10,585) (7,373) (8,641) (10,585) (8,334) (9,024)   (8,843) [3]  
Additional paid-in capital   18,987 18,987 18,987 18,987 17,382 15,222 15,222 18,987 15,222 18,987 17,382   18,987  
Retained earnings   (13,523) (12,614) (11,555) (10,715) (9,485) (9,173) (9,203) (12,614) (9,173) (13,523) (9,485)   (10,715)  
Total liabilities and equity   24,642 24,400 24,309 $ 23,844 23,826 23,826 23,826 24,400 23,826 24,642 23,826   23,844  
Interest expense [Abstract]                              
MRNCI (1) - change in redemption value   1,934 1,931 2,191   501 (48) 244 4,122 196 6,056 697   2,670 [2] 2,978 [2]
MRNCI (1) - earnings allocable   929 1,330 887   778 1,190 706 2,217 1,896 3,146 2,674   3,538 [2] 3,388 [2]
Total interest expense   2,863 3,261 3,078   1,279 1,142 950 6,339 2,092 9,202 3,371   6,208 6,366
Net income before taxes   (2,863) (3,261) (3,078)   (1,279) (1,142) (950) (6,339) (2,092) (9,202) (3,371)   (6,208) (6,366)
Provision for income taxes   (1,025) (872) (1,351)   (189) 18 (92) (2,223) (74) (3,248) (263)   (1,006) (1,256)
Net income   (1,838) (2,389) (1,727)   (1,090) (1,160) (858) (4,116) (2,018) (5,954) (3,108)   (5,202) (5,110)
Less: net income attributable to non-controlling interests   (929) (1,330) (887)   (778) (1,190) (706) (2,217) (1,896) (3,146) (2,674)   (3,538) (3,388)
Net income attributable to USPH shareholders   $ (909) $ (1,059) $ (840)   $ (312) $ 30 $ (152) $ (1,899) $ (122) $ (2,808) $ (434)   $ (1,664) $ (1,722)
Earnings per share (in dollars per share)   $ (0.08) $ (0.09) $ (0.07)   $ (0.03) $ 0.03 $ (0.01) $ (0.15) $ 0.02 $ (0.23) $ (0.01)   $ (0.11) $ (0.05)
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]                              
Net income   $ (1,838) $ (2,389) $ (1,727)   $ (1,090) $ (1,160) $ (858) $ (4,116) $ (2,018) $ (5,954) $ (3,108)   $ (5,202) $ (5,110)
Deferred taxes       (886)       (92) (1,667) (74) (2,450) (263)   (1,048) (1,169)
(Increase) decrease in other assets       0       0 0 0 0 0   102 3,648
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses       (930)       0 (1,112) 0 (1,596) 0   2  
Increase in mandatorily redeemable non-controlling interests       2,578       406 4,028 90 5,372 683   2,509 2,936
(Decrease) increase in other liabilities       0       0 0 0 0 0   (86) (4,108)
Net cash provided by operating activities       (500)       (544) (2,311) (2,002) (3,830) (2,688)   (3,723) (3,803)
Acquisitions of non-controlling interests                           6,115 5,263
Net cash used in investing activities       1,136       0 1,136 0 1,136 1,860   6,115 5,263
Distributions to non-controlling interests (including redeemable non-controlling interests)                           9,632 9,913
Distributions to non-controlling interests       500       544 2,311 2,002 3,830 2,688   (5,892) (5,963)
Payments to settle mandatorily redeemable non-controlling interests       (1,136)         (1,136)   (1,136) (1,860)   (6,115) (5,233)
Other       0         0 0 0 0   (17) (177)
Net cash used in financing activities       $ (636)       $ 544 $ 1,175 $ 2,002 $ 2,694 $ 828   $ (2,392) $ (1,460)
[1] as restated
[2] Mandatorily redeemable non-controlling interests
[3] Redeemable non-controlling interests