We recently had the chance to connect with Dr. Katherine Mullen and have shared our conversation below.
Katherine, we’re thrilled to have you with us today. Before we jump into your intro and the heart of the interview, let’s start with a bit of an ice breaker: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
One of the biggest misconceptions about what I do is that people assume a “sports chiropractor” spends all day adjusting spines and chasing pain. Don’t get me wrong, manual work has its place, but that’s just the surface level. Pain is actually the easiest part to treat; it’s the first thing that shows up and the last thing to leave. What really matters is uncovering why that pain is there in the first place and building a long-term plan so the athlete in front of me can perform at their best.
At Action Potential, adjustments, dry needling, and tissue work are just tools in the kit. The real heartbeat of our care is bridging the gap between rehab and performance. For athletes, that means testing movement patterns, uncovering weak links, and using strength as a cornerstone of recovery. Most people are surprised to learn that on day one, I’m running movement and rehab-based tests to see if improving control and stability can immediately shift their pain. And often, the “aha moment” comes when we change something far from where the pain is showing up. That’s when athletes realize their body isn’t failing them; it just needs to be re-trained and re-loaded the right way.
So while the general public might picture me as a traditional chiropractor, we do so much more. What we do is much closer to performance coaching with a clinical backbone. My goal is never just to get an athlete out of pain, but to help them understand their body, build resilience, and ultimately return to training stronger and more capable than before.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve been an athlete my whole life, but it was actually an injury that led me to sports chiropractic. In high school, I had a stubborn knee issue that no surgeon could figure out. I was even told at one point “it’s all in your head.” A sports chiropractor was the one who finally uncovered the real problem and got me back onto the court. That experience not only changed my life but inspired me to pursue this career. My passion for sports and my desire to treat athletes drove me to earn a Masters in Sports mMedicine while completing my Doctorate of Chiropractic at the same time.
If you have a lower body injury, I’m your girl. I like to say that I specialize in lower body injuries. I treat a lot of late stage ACLs, ankle issues in runners, and field sports athletes. I have a huge focus on rehab and performance through strength training, and plyometrics.
I joined Action Potential a little over a year ago and I love being able to work alongside my husband, Chase. It is incredible to work both in and on the business together and watch our dream come to life. I have also loved being able to find myself as an athlete again. I grew up running track and playing volleyball, both on the high school team and in club. In my adult age, I have found the love of competing again through crossfit and it has been so rewarding and fun.
We have a few upcoming projects we are working on, such as creating courses for expecting mamas and former athletes who are balancing careers and family but still want to train like athletes again. More to come on those courses soon 🙂
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
The relationship that has shaped me the most is my relationship with my husband, Chase. We met in our very first month of chiropractic school at 23 years old, and from that moment on we’ve been side by side through everything: graduate school, getting our first dog together, multiple moves, becoming adults and all the ups and downs that comes with, and eventually building a business together. The very first sketch of Action Potential was drawn on a whiteboard in his living room during grad school, and years later it came to life when we moved back to Austin in 2020.
Chase has supported me in every role: doctor, business owner, wife, and athlete. At first, I wasn’t ready to step into the title of “business owner,” so Chase made the initial leap. He always believed in me, encouraging me to see what I was capable of before I fully believed it myself. In 2023, I started to feel ready, but it wasn’t until early 2024, when I hit a breaking point from burnout at my job, that he looked at me, hugged me, and said, “It’s time.” That moment gave me the courage to finally take the leap, and I haven’t looked back since. It has been the best decision I have made for myself. It gave me confidence as a doctor and entrepreneur.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Oh, absolutely. A few years ago I hit major burnout. Work-life balance felt non-existent. I’d work long days and then try to squeeze in a workout starting at 7pm. When weekends came, I didn’t feel like I could get enough recovery. Weekends were just me trying to catch up on exhaustion while also attempting to stay social. I was burning the candle at both ends, and it made me question if I even wanted to stay in this profession.I worked hard on updating my resume, making it applicable to jobs outside of healthcare, and even applied to a few just to see if I could make the jump.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
One person whose ideas I rely on is Daid Grey, a well known PT from Ireland. His approach to rehab and performance lines up closely with how I practice. His Interactive Course has become a continual source of continuing education for me. I’m always looking for ways to sharpen my skills and knowledge and his thought processes help me keep learning and keep raising the standard for the athletes I work with. I guess I’m always wanting to learn more and I’m constantly listening to podcasts and grabbing courses from the best in the field. It just helps me help my athletes more and grow even more in my own profession and practice.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When do you feel most at peace?
With a great book and near some water. Whether it’s the pool, the lake or even sitting in the bathtub, nothing makes me happier.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.actionpotentialcenter.com/
- Instagram: @drkatherinemullen
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katherine-mullen-0b56331a1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@That_Performance_Nerd
