Today we’d like to introduce you to Dennis Kihlberg.
Hi Dennis, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
When I was 16 years old, I suffered an ankle sprain while playing football. The doctor gave me 2 choices: surgery or Physical therapy. I had no idea what physical therapy was at the time, but it sounded better than surgery. Over the next 3 months, I rehabbed my ankle and made it back for spring track season. I had my best year as a track athlete, helped the team win the state championship, and gained my varsity letter along the way. From there, I was sold. Physical fitness was always something I loved, and here was a profession that brought together my 2 passions, sports and exercise. A job where I could help athletes get back into competition or recreational fitness sounded awesome. I declared my major in college at Rutgers University as Exercise Science and started building my resume for grad school. In 2015, I was accepted to the University of St. Augustine (Austin Campus) and graduated with honors in 2017. My wife and I decided to stay in Austin, and needing to network and get better at treating athletes, I completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the Institute for Athlete Regeneration and became board-certified in Orthopedics. Frustrated with insurance-based care and the lack of a sports presence at my job, I decided to go out on my own. I opened Austin Athletic in 2021, focusing on treating athletes at all levels, from recreational to professional.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Starting your first anything can come with mistakes, and that is especially true for business. The largest struggle we have had is wanting to finance something. The business holds no debt, but our growth could be faster. We started business as a side gig outside our normal jobs and gradually built up an athlete base until finally stepping off in 2023.
I appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Austin Athletic Performance and Recovery?
Our business aims to provide the best locations for athletes to get care in the larger Austin area. Our specialty is in sports rehab and performance. We serve mostly CrossFit, Baseball, and Endurance athletes, but we are always looking to add more sports. The baseball demographic is one that we have become well known for in the city due to knowing the complexities of the sport so well compared to other clinicians. The time we spend with each patient sets us apart from the average physical therapy clinic. Every session is 1 on 1 for 1 hour at least. And we are okay spending more if needed. We pride ourselves on getting results for the patients at all costs. We do not want anyone leaving without a positive outcome. Readers should know that when athletes sign on with us, we are dedicated to getting them better and will throw every resource the company has at its disposal toward their recovery. In addition, we are actively partnering with gyms in the local area to provide discounted services. We have 8 gyms currently partnered and are certainly up for adding more.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The physical therapy profession is going through a big industry shift. Insurance companies continue to lower reimbursement rates for PTs, MDs, Dentists, and all other medical professionals. This has caused more clinicians to refrain from taking insurance and offering more cash-based services. Over the next 5-10 years, insurance will be accepted less, and cash pay will become more of a regular thing in private practices.
Contact Info:
- Website: atxathletic.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/atxathletic/
Image Credits
Matt Block Photos
