Built Different | 10 Years of KIME

Ten 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 KIME

• Why KIME was built to do physical therapy differently

• The challenges, sacrifices, and lessons of the first ten years

• How adversity became an opportunity for innovation and growth

• The importance of investing in people and creating lifelong career opportunities

• Tony and Russ's partnership and the leadership philosophy behind KIME

• Why growth should never come at the expense of purpose

• What's next as KIME pursues its vision to Upgrade 100,000 Lives by 2030

At 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 education

• What effective mentorship and clinical development should look like

• The importance of mastering movement, kinetic linking, and progressive loading

• Why force plates and objective testing should support—not replace—clinical reasoning

• The gap between rehabilitation in the clinic and performance on the field

• How communication with coaches strengthens the return-to-sport process

• Why KIME is expanding its educational model toward a sports residency program

At 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 necessary

• The role of strength, movement, nutrition, and tissue health in shoulder function

• How modern surgical techniques have changed recovery

• Why physical therapy is critical before and after surgery

• The differences between partial and full-thickness tears

• How biceps pathology and shoulder mechanics influence treatment decisions

• Why patient engagement, communication, and individualized rehabilitation matter

Throughout 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.