I’ve had quite the journey to get to where I am today. Sports have definitely shaped my life and brought me to this point.
Being an athlete has brought so many different opportunities while also teaching me important lessons in self-discipline, team work, leadership, and grit.
One of the most challenging things an athlete can face is an injury. Unfortunately, I suffered from many during my athletic career, but they were defining moments in my life and ultimately led me to pursuing the career I have today. (For a more formal resume, you can click here.)
WHERE IT ALL BEGAN
I was sitting on an exam table in a very prominent sports medicine doctor’s office. I was 12 and had not been able to play competitive tennis for the past few months without experiencing knee pain. I honestly cannot remember much of what was said in this appointment except this very loud and clear statement, “your competitive playing days are over.” I think I blacked out after that, tears streaming down my face.
Imagine a 12 year old who was just starting to really love and enjoy playing her favorite sport being told that she will never be able to play again. My parents were just as struck as I was, but thankfully they continued to advocate for me and seek out a second, third, and fourth opinion until we found a doctor who was going to treat me as the athlete sitting in front of him rather than the diagnostic image he had on his computer. He had a much more promising prognosis and reason for my knee pain. After an exploratory surgery to see what was actually going on, he found that my imaging was misleading and he recommended I start physical therapy. Enter my first experience with PT.
My physical therapists were wonderful. They were so positive and encouraging and they also took the time to incorporate different aspects of tennis into my rehab so I didn’t feel so lost without it. A year after being away from competitive tennis, I finally returned. It was then that I wrote my 7th grade career report on physical therapy and decided that I wanted to become a physical therapist.
FAST FORWARD
Competitive tennis brought me to Indiana University where I received a full athletic scholarship to compete as an NCAA D1 Big Ten student athlete. It was there that I continued to pursue my dream of becoming a physical therapist. Everything just clicked when I arrived on campus and my tennis game was only improving with time.
Then came the bump in the road…a series of overuse injuries and two surgeries during my junior year changed everything. Looking back and knowing what I know now, I wish I tried more physical therapy and rehab before deciding to have surgery.
While I did return for my senior season, I was not 100%. Undergoing surgery was definitely not the quick fix I had hoped for, but it fueled my desire to continue to pursue sports physical therapy so I could help other athletes NOT experience what I went through.
This is how I know that sports-specific rehab can be a game changer and in some cases the difference between going back to sports or having surgery.
THE DREAM WORK
While pursuing my Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) I jumped at any extra opportunity to learn more and be involved in sports rehab. My final clinical internship brought me to Atlanta, GA where I spent time with the Emory Sports Medicine team and Dr. Neeru Jayanthi of the Emory Tennis Medicine Program.
Following graduation, I became heavily involved in the Society for Tennis Medicine and Science, where I now serve on the Board of Directors and have been an invited speaker to national and international sports medicine conferences.
I am also passionate about access to youth sports so kids can have lifelong, positive and healthy experiences with sports participation. I truly believe that the more opportunities we can give kids to just play and have fun, the less likely they are to experience burnout or overuse injuries early in life. Through this passion, I serve as a volunteer to the Medical Advisory Board for Pick Up Sports, a foundation that provides access to sports so kids can have fun and be physically active.
After starting my career in corporate PT, I was left with the feeling that something was missing. I had this gut instinct that I was made for more and I desired the freedom to treat my patients the way that I wanted to and with the one-on-one attention that my corporate schedule didn’t allow for. I also desired the flexibility of being able to go to one of my athlete’s practices or games so I could see them in their element.
It was then that I decided it was time to forge my own path and start doing things my way, because I know there is value in doing it differently and not all PT is the same, especially for elite athletes and motivated adults. It’s why I started The Athlete Connection.
Team work makes the dream work.
Outside of the clinic, I enjoy spending time with my husband, Branden, and our fur baby, Emory. We like to travel and explore new cities while also seeking out the best local ice cream shops. Together we volunteer for Leader Dogs for the Blind, a non-profit organization that trains guide dogs for the blind. I also enjoy mentoring physical therapy students and new graduates who are interested in pursuing careers in sports physical therapy.
LET’S CONNECT
I would love to connect with you and hear your story. If you’re at your bump in the road, I’d love to team up and work through it together.
The athlete in me will always honor and empower the athlete in you.
-Kayla
