Today we’d like to introduce you to Jill Thomson
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up on the outskirts of Toronto, Canada As a former competitive figure skater and rugby player, I battled my fair share of injuries. I spent countless hours in Athletic Training rooms, Physical therapy settings and Chiropractic clinics rehabbing, which was the secret to keeping me competitive. It was through those experiences that I developed a passion for wellness-based sports rehabilitation. I was fortunate to know at a young age what career path I wanted to take. I did my Bachelors of Science in Kinesiology, followed by a Masters in Exercise Physiology and my Doctorate of Chiropractic followed by a Certified Chiropractic Sports Medicine Post Doctorate program. After graduating from Chiropractic school, I worked with a doctor in the Bay Area who specialized in Active Release Technique (a soft tissue technique that I was very passionate about and became Master’s level certified). In 2009, my husband and I moved to Austin and opened Austin Sports Therapy (AST). We have a very active 10 year old daughter who keeps us on the run between soccer, volleyball and softball events and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
Today, AST is a wellness-based functional rehabilitation chiropractic clinic that encompasses a wide range of modalities including Active Release Techniques, Dry Needling, Functional Rehab, Shockwave Therapy, NXPro Neuromuscular Interactive Stimulation, Chiropractic Manipulative Therapies, Cox Flexion-Distraction, Gait Analysis, and Massage Therapy. We have an amazing team of skilled doctors who are all specialized in the same techniques. We are so honored and proud to serve this amazing Austin community.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Owing a small business comes with many obstacles/challenges. We bootstrapped the company from the get go, decided to start out as a cash practice (which is always a risk) and have been able to continue to grow over the years. We spent countless weekends volunteering our time at all of the local races and events that Austin had to offer so we could get some brand recognition and make a name for ourselves. It was a grind, but it worked.
It has absolutely not been a smooth road, but we have managed to overcome whatever has been thrown our way. Covid was challenging despite the fact that we never closed our office and continued to see patients during the chaos of uncertainty. We were fortunate to keep all of our staff which we were so grateful for.
Unfortunately insurance companies do not make it easy to work with, so we opted out which can be risky. When you go that route, you absolutely have to have a product that is above and beyond and stands out with respect to patient-centered care.
We’ve been impressed with Austin Sports Therapy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Austin Sports Therapy has been around since 2009. We are a wellness-based functional rehab chiropractic clinic specializing in a variety of techniques including but not limited to: Active Release Techniques, Chiropractic Manipulative Therapy, Cox flexion-distraction therapy, Dry Needling, Shock-wave therapy, NXPro Interactive Neuromuscular stimulation, rehab exercise prescription, massage therapy.
We have a very multidisciplinary approach and work closely with local orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, dentists, neurologists, acupuncturists, nutritionists, strength and conditioning coaches to enhance best outcomes for our patients. We see all walks of life including professional athletes, collegiate athletes, high school athletes, weekend warriors, pickleball enthusiasts, tennis players, runners, cyclists, golfers, hobbyists, and my personal favorite…folks who are training for this game we call “life”.
We treat a variety of musculoskeletal conditions related to posture and spinal health, but we also see a lot of extremity problems related to hips/knees/ankles as well as shoulders/elbows/wrists. An interesting tidbit is that over the past 4 years I personally have seen an increase in TJM (Temporomandibular Joint)/jaw pain cases by approximately 40%. This has become a niche portion on my practice and therefore, I work very closely with dentists to help manage these patients and provide relief.
We do not have a one-sized fits all approach to care.. Each individual comes with a unique set of issues and therefore gets a unique treatment plan. We take time with our patients. We are passionate about getting you well and keeping you that way.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
It’s not news that Chiropractic profession has left many folks skeptical over the years. Thankfully, our generation of Chiropractors have worked to really change that mindset and push the envelope of what we can really offer patients to help them improve quality of life. Our industry has already changed so much and will continue to do so over the next 5-10 years. In my opinion, if you are not offering a well-rounded wellness-based, functional training/rehab component to your chiropractic practice, you are missing an imperative part of patient-centered care. If you are not collaborating with other healthcare providers and working together you are also doing your patients a disservice.
Apart from our private practice, we work with technology companies within their onsite corporate wellness clinics. These clinics have several domains of medicine under one roof and have a very collaborative approach to care. This is the future of healthcare amongst large corporations and we are very grateful to be a part of this positive movement.
The 5-7 minute treatment of “snap, crackle, pop” and off you go, will hopefully be a thing of the past.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.austinsportstherapy.com
- Instagram: austinsportstherapy
- Facebook: Austin Sports Therapy
