KIMEcast

Ten years ago, KIME began with a simple commitment: If we're going to do this, it has to be different. It has to be better.In Episode 73 of KIMEcast, KIME founders Tony Mikla and Russ Dunning reflect on a decade of building KIME Performance—sharing the decisions, challenges, unexpected lessons, and defining moments that transformed their vision into a growing organization.What began with two clinicians determined to deliver a higher standard of physical therapy became something much bigger: a pursuit of clinical excellence, meaningful careers, and a system designed to create lasting impact.From working 70–80-hour weeks in the early days to navigating financial risks, building educational pathways, and making bold decisions during the uncertainty of 2020, Tony and Russ share what it really takes to build something different.In this episode, they explore:The original vision: Why they believed every patient deserved to be treated like a professional athlete.Building a better model: Balancing access, affordability, insurance, and exceptional patient care.Measuring what matters: How KIME's early scorecards evolved into a data-driven approach to clinical excellence.Developing world-class clinicians: The evolution of mentorship, KIMEU, and the pursuit of accelerating clinical expertise.Putting people first: The pivotal shift toward investing in team members as the foundation for exceptional patient outcomes.Taking calculated risks: The financial decisions, strategic investments, and challenges that shaped KIME's growth.The power of systems: Why sustainable growth requires more than great clinicians and good intentions.Lessons in leadership: How Tony's experience with legendary basketball coach Lute Olson influenced KIME's approach to culture, preparation, and execution.Throughout the conversation, one theme becomes clear: The principles that started KIME haven't changed. The systems, people, and possibilities have evolved.Ten years in, Tony and Russ aren't looking back at a finished accomplishment. They're looking ahead at what's possible when clinical excellence, innovation, and a commitment to people come together.This episode is for physical therapists, healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, and anyone who believes building something meaningful requires the courage to challenge what already exists.Ten years of KIME. And we're just getting started.

Your first physical therapy job can shape your entire career. Are you asking the right questions before accepting an offer?In Episode 72 of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla and Russ Dunning turn the tables on the traditional job interview. Instead of focusing on how to land a job, they explore the questions every physical therapist should ask to determine whether an organization is truly the right fit.From new graduates entering the profession to experienced clinicians feeling stuck or burned out, this conversation challenges PTs to look beyond salary, benefits, and work-life balance to understand what really drives long-term career satisfaction and professional growth.In this episode, we explore:Mentorship vs. development: What does a meaningful learning pathway actually look like?Performance vs. tenure: Are you rewarded for the value you create or simply the years you've worked?Compensation and incentives: How does your performance translate into earning potential?Caseload and patient population: Who will you actually treat, and will you have the opportunity to deliver exceptional care?Clinical autonomy: How much control will you have over your schedule, patients, and professional growth?Leadership and opportunity: Is there a pathway to expand your impact beyond the treatment table?Culture and transparency: Does the organization demonstrate the values it promotes?Throughout the conversation, Tony and Russ emphasize one essential piece of advice: Don't just ask the question. Ask the follow-up. Ask for examples. Ask them to show you.Because choosing where to work isn't simply about finding a position. It's about finding an environment that challenges you, invests in your development, rewards your contributions, and gives you the opportunity to make a meaningful impact.Whether you're preparing for your first PT interview or reconsidering the direction of your career, this episode offers a different perspective on what it means to build a fulfilling career in physical therapy.At KIME Performance, we believe physical therapy should be done differently.

Built Different | 10 Years of KIMETen years ago, Tony Mikla and Russ Dunning set out to build something different—a physical therapy organization that would challenge the traditional healthcare model by delivering world-class care to everyday people while creating meaningful, rewarding careers for clinicians.In this special 10th Anniversary episode of KIMEcast, KIME Co-Founder and CEO Tony Mikla sits down with Director of Talent & Culture Jessie Baratta to reflect on the first decade of KIME Performance.From the early vision to the challenges of building and growing a company, Tony shares the decisions, lessons, and defining moments that shaped KIME into what it is today.The conversation explores the importance of staying true to your purpose, building a culture of excellence, developing leaders, and knowing when to say no—even when an opportunity looks successful on paper.In this episode, we explore:The two founding principles that continue to guide every major decision at KIMEWhy KIME was built to do physical therapy differentlyThe challenges, sacrifices, and lessons of the first ten yearsHow adversity became an opportunity for innovation and growthThe importance of investing in people and creating lifelong career opportunitiesTony and Russ's partnership and the leadership philosophy behind KIMEWhy growth should never come at the expense of purposeWhat's next as KIME pursues its vision to Upgrade 100,000 Lives by 2030At its heart, the KIME story isn't simply about physical therapy. It's about people—people who believe in doing great work, challenging what's possible, and continuously striving to be better.Ten years later, KIME has grown, evolved, and expanded its impact. But the principles that started it all remain unchanged.Built Different. PT Done Differently. And we're just getting started.

Are we developing better physical therapists—or simply producing more credentials and collecting more data?In Episode 71 of KIMEcast, KIME founders Tony Mikla, DPT, and Russ Dunning, MPT, challenge conventional approaches to physical therapy education, mentorship, and sports medicine.From residency and fellowship training to force plate testing and return-to-sport programming, Tony and Russ explore what it actually takes to develop a confident, capable sports clinician.They discuss why technical knowledge alone isn't enough, why mentorship requires more than occasional case reviews, and why understanding the demands of an athlete's sport is essential to preparing them for competition.In this episode:Why traditional residency programs may be missing critical components of sports medicine educationWhat effective mentorship and clinical development should look likeThe importance of mastering movement, kinetic linking, and progressive loadingWhy force plates and objective testing should support—not replace—clinical reasoningThe gap between rehabilitation in the clinic and performance on the fieldHow communication with coaches strengthens the return-to-sport processWhy KIME is expanding its educational model toward a sports residency programAt KIME, we believe clinical excellence is developed through structured learning, practical application, mentorship, and a commitment to continuous improvement.Because being a great clinician isn't just about what you know. It's about what you can do with that knowledge—and the impact you make on the people you serve.KIMEcast | Real conversations about sports medicine, rehabilitation, performance, and doing physical therapy differently.#KIMEcast #SportsPhysicalTherapy #SportsMedicine #PhysicalTherapy #Mentorship #ReturnToSport #ClinicalDevelopment

Does a torn rotator cuff always require surgery? And if surgery is necessary, what really determines a successful recovery?In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla and Russ Dunning welcome back Dr. Sean Robinson of Revolution Orthopedics for an in-depth conversation about rotator cuff injuries, shoulder surgery, and the evolving science of rehabilitation.From understanding why rotator cuff tears develop to exploring the intricate decisions surgeons make in the operating room, Dr. Robinson offers a perspective on the complexity of shoulder injuries—and why no two repairs are exactly alike.The conversation explores:Why rotator cuff tears develop and when surgery may be necessaryThe role of strength, movement, nutrition, and tissue health in shoulder functionHow modern surgical techniques have changed recoveryWhy physical therapy is critical before and after surgeryThe differences between partial and full-thickness tearsHow biceps pathology and shoulder mechanics influence treatment decisionsWhy patient engagement, communication, and individualized rehabilitation matterThroughout the episode, the discussion reinforces an important principle: surgery can repair the tissue, but the body still has to heal—and the patient has to do the work.Dr. Robinson and the KIME team also discuss their collaborative approach to orthopedic care, connecting surgical expertise with progressive rehabilitation to help patients restore movement, rebuild strength, and return to the activities they love.Whether you're dealing with shoulder pain, considering rotator cuff surgery, recovering from a procedure, or working in sports medicine, this episode offers valuable insight into what it takes to achieve a successful outcome.KIMEcast | Breaking through the noise in sports medicine, rehabilitation, and human performance.

What does it really mean to perform better?In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony Mikla and Russ Dunning sit down with KIME Fit Lead Coach Jamal Albini to talk about training, competition, coaching, and the relentless pursuit of getting better.Jamal shares the experiences that shaped his approach to performance—from working with professional and youth athletes to discovering just how meaningful strength can be for someone simply trying to move better and live independently.The conversation explores why more training isn't always better, the problems with year-round specialization in youth sports, why recovery and adaptation matter, and how intelligent programming can build stronger, more resilient people without simply beating them into the ground.They also dive into Jamal's background as a high-level competitive martial artist and the mindset that continues to drive him today: Get better.Because performance isn't reserved for professional athletes. Whether the goal is running faster, getting stronger, moving without pain, staying healthy, or simply doing the things you love for as long as possible—everyone has something they are training for.This is the vision behind KIME Fit: bringing the principles of high-performance training to everyday people and creating a connected system where physical therapy, performance, fitness, and human development work together.Train with purpose. Find the limiting factor. Get better.

Police officers, firefighters, military personnel, and first responders are asked to perform at an incredibly high level—often without a warm-up, under fatigue, carrying significant load, and in unpredictable environments where their own safety and the safety of others may depend on their physical readiness.They are tactical athletes.In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony is joined by KIME Tactical Director Joseph Mielke, DPT to break down the unique physical demands placed on the tactical population and what years of testing and working with these professionals has taught the KIME team.They discuss the impact of sleep disruption, stress, heavy equipment, cardiovascular demand, strength endurance, mobility, and explosive movement—and why simply being strong isn't enough.The conversation also explores how objective testing using force plates, dynamometry, movement assessment, and performance measures can identify potential red flags before they become injuries. From the prevalence of low back problems among firefighters to the ballistic demands placed on police officers and the cumulative load experienced by military personnel, training has to reflect the realities of the job.The goal isn't to replace what tactical athletes are already doing well. It's to identify the missing pieces, improve operational readiness, reduce injury risk, and help these professionals stay capable throughout a long career.Tony and Joseph also preview the upcoming KIME Tactical Challenge on October 24 in El Dorado Hills—bringing police, fire, military, and tactical professionals together for performance testing, competition, camaraderie, and an individualized look at their own readiness.Because when the call comes, there is no warm-up.

What actually makes someone better — experience, repetition, or feedback?In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony and Russ break down the power of feedback loops and why the speed and quality of feedback can dramatically change how we learn, coach, rehabilitate, and perform.They explore how auditory, visual, and kinesthetic feedback influence movement; why external cues can be more effective than telling someone which muscles or body parts to move; and how creating the right environment can allow athletes and patients to discover better movement rather than simply being told what to do.The conversation expands into clinical practice and the importance of having repeatable systems. If every patient is treated completely differently, how do you know what actually worked? Tony and Russ discuss how consistency creates a feedback loop that allows clinicians to recognize patterns, identify exceptions, and ultimately develop better clinical judgment.They also take the concept beyond healthcare into sports, business, and life: fail fast, fail small, gather feedback, and iterate. Waiting for perfection can actually slow improvement. The goal is to create opportunities to test, learn, adjust, and keep moving forward.In this episode:Why faster feedback accelerates learningAuditory vs. visual vs. kinesthetic coachingInternal vs. external movement cuesCreating exercises that teach through constraintsWhy protocols can actually improve clinical reasoningThe difference between experience and wisdomUsing small failures to accelerate developmentWhy perfection can become the enemy of progressApplying feedback loops to business and performanceMeasuring what matters — and getting the information fast enough to act on itWhether you're a clinician, coach, athlete, leader, or simply trying to get better at what you do, the principle is the same:Do. Get feedback. Adjust. Repeat.

What does great rehab actually look like—and have we let the pendulum swing too far?In this episode of KIMEcast, Tony sits down with longtime friend and colleague Dr. Jess Elis of Rehab Code for a wide-ranging conversation about clinical decision-making, professional sports, manual therapy, exercise, technology, and the importance of understanding what is actually happening beneath the surface of an injury.Jess shares lessons from his career working in elite performance and professional sports, including his time with the Portland Trail Blazers and New York Knicks, and pulls back the curtain on some of the realities clinicians face inside professional sports organizations—from load management and return-to-play decisions to the politics and pressure surrounding athlete availability.The conversation then turns to a growing divide in physical therapy: manual therapy vs. exercise, research vs. clinical experience, and technology vs. the fundamentals of being a great clinician.Tony and Jess challenge the idea that clinicians need to choose a side. Instead, they make the case for understanding structure, pathology, biomechanics, load, and context—and using all of those tools to make better decisions for the individual in front of you.They also dive into:• Why working in professional sports isn't always what young clinicians imagine• The role of manual therapy in modern rehabilitation• Why “all roads lead to exercise”—but getting there matters• The danger of copying exercises and trends from social media• How pathology changes mechanics and should influence rehab• Meniscus tears, Baker's cysts, cartilage lesions, and tissue-specific loading• Building systems and progressions without becoming trapped by protocols• Why technology and data should support—not replace—clinical reasoning• Developing better return-to-run and return-to-sport progressions• Why the best clinicians learn to operate somewhere between the extremesAt its core, this episode is about learning how to think.Research matters. Experience matters. Technology matters. Manual therapy matters. Exercise matters.But none of them replace the ability to understand the person, understand the tissue, and make the right decision at the right point in the rehab process.Special Guest: Dr. Jess Ellis | Rehab Code

How do elite athletes actually improve?Former Major League pitcher Ryan Mattheus, founder of Optimum Athletes, joins Evan Hauger to explore what separates great coaching from great player development.Drawing from his MLB career and years of developing high school, collegiate, and professional baseball players, Ryan explains why objective assessment, biomechanics, movement capacity, and individualized programming have transformed the way athletes should train. Together, Ryan and Evan discuss why many so-called "mechanical" problems are actually capacity problems, how collaboration between rehabilitation and performance creates better outcomes, and why the best coaches know when to lean on experts instead of trying to have every answer.Whether you're a physical therapist, strength coach, coach, or athlete, this conversation offers practical insights into developing athletes through evidence-based coaching rather than guesswork.Why player development is a long-term processHow biomechanics and movement assessments improve performanceCapacity vs. mechanics: solving the real problemThe importance of collaboration between rehab and performanceUsing force plates and objective testing to guide programmingWhy individualized coaching outperforms generic training plansBuilding athletes who become self-sufficient, not coach-dependentThe relationship between performance and injury preventionIn this episode: