Meet Brian Burkhardt | Doctor of Physical Therapy & Hybrid Athlete

We had the good fortune of connecting with Brian Burkhardt and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Brian, what is the most important factor behind your success?
In the book ‘Range: why generalists triumph in a specialized world’, David Epstein relates early exploration and delayed specialization with long-term success. The name Range Physiotherapy is not just about range of motion and being located in the Colorado mountains. It’s about long-term success through patience, which applies both to my career as a physical therapist, as well as how I approach working with one of the most active populations in Colorado.

I’ve always approached my career like an ultramarathon – slow and steady, with relentless forward progress. Burnout is a major danger for healthcare providers and small business owners. Sadly, many of my peers are no longer practicing physical therapy clinically. Prioritizing my own health and maintaining a curious drive have been essential for my long-term success. Every client, everyday, anytime, deserves me at my best. That’s why sleep (and naps!), exercise, diet, and letting my brain rest at the hot springs every night are non-negotiables – no matter how long my to-do list.

Working with runners and athletes of all ages, I’ve adopted a treatment model that differs from most standard PT and aligns more with the timelines of how our bodies actually heal. Reprogramming new movement patterns takes time and repetition, so I typically see clients less frequently over a longer period of time. Helping clients have realistic expectations and guiding them remotely with check-ins between visits prevents frustration and improves outcomes. Patience and commitment to the details, even after pain has subsided, keeps injuries away and improves long-term health and performance.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Helping others live to their fullest potential while building community – through movement – is my purpose. Ask anyone from any phase of my life, and they’ll tell you – physical therapy, health, wellness, and fitness aren’t a career for me. They are values I live and embody every single day.

My first entrepreneurial project was in 2018 starting a line dance class in Paonia, CO, a town of 1,400 people. While I had no professional dance experience, keeping the community moving and engaged aligned with my overall vision as a PT in rural Colorado. I had a $5 suggested donation, and it quickly became successful socially and financially.

Starting my own practice, and all of the small projects along with that, has not come as easily, which has been frustrating at times. The transition from insurance-based healthcare to a cash-based entrepreneur involves new skills and ways of thinking and communicating that I wasn’t fully prepared for. I didn’t always believe I was good enough to independently achieve success somewhere like the Roaring Fork Valley, and still occasionally struggle with ‘imposter syndrome’. Believing in myself, the work I do as a physical therapist, and undoubtedly my gritty athletic nature, keeps me pushing up life’s mountains. Fortunately, spending my free-time learning to become a better clinician or helping fulfill the needs of my community have never felt like work. I find joy in my profession’s holistic approach to finding and addressing root-causes rather than temporarily relieving symptoms. Every case is unique and often has many layers. It’s purpose, curiosity, and challenge that keep me engaged. I’ve now been in physical therapy for over a decade, and I still have the same excitement and intrigue that I did 10 years ago – that’s what sets me apart.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
No trip to Glenwood Springs is complete without a visit to the Hot Springs pools. For adults, I recommend the more tranquil atmosphere at Iron Mountain Hot Springs. Watching the sun set over the Colorado River while soaking in the mineral pools is the perfect way to end any day. For those looking for a challenge, the steep Scout Trail, accessible right from downtown, offers some of the best panoramic views of the town, river, and canyon, and has very few visitors. For food, drinks and socializing, downtown Glenwood under the bridge has it all. Walk by the old-time saloons, and get a craft beer from Casey Brewing, dinner at Smoke barbecue, and finish it off with the delicious homemade ice cream at Sundae. Afterwards, take a walk over the bridge for views of the Colorado River, the large hot springs pool, and the historical Hotel Colorado.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
While there are numerous individuals in the Physical Therapy world that have been fundamental to my learning and success, the one individual who I most frequently have looked up to while starting my practice is Jon Busch. Jon has been the primary figure behind Aspen Film, Aspen Gay Ski Week/Aspen Out, and at 84, continues to play a major role in several music concert series in Aspen. For being in the Aspen Hall of Fame, he is the most humble and modest person I know. In a place notorious for opulence, Jon stands out as the figure who gave his time and resources to building community rather than material status symbols.

Whenever I feel anxiety about success and my practice, I think of Jon’s stories of adversity during the early 1970’s starting the first-ever gay ski event. Nearly 50 years later, Aspen Gay Ski Week has grown to roughly 5,000 attendees and raises thousands of dollars for various community-building programs through AspenOut. Meanwhile, the concept of gay ski events has spread across the world.

I aspire to carry on Jon’s legacy of community-building in the Roaring Fork Valley. His story of success through adversity eases my mind, and reminds me that I’m on the right track.

Website: https://www.range-physiotherapy.com/

Instagram: @RANGE_PHYSIOTHERAPY

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briangburkhardt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066995197067