Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Phillips
Hi Rachel, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
From an early age I knew I wanted to be a physical therapist. I have a background in dance, specifically ballet. This led me to love exploring movement and created a desire to understand how the body works. I graduated from Maryville University in December 2012 with a Bachelors in Health Sciences and a Clinical Doctorate in Physical Therapy. My first job was in an outpatient setting that specialized in back pain and chronic pain in general. It was in this setting that I discovered the power of manual therapy coupled with therapeutic exercise. I became confident in identifying compensatory patterns that were often overlooked and responded wonderfully to a hands on approach. For the first 8 years of my career, I dived into various continuing education opportunities that allowed me to build my skill set to best serve this population.
In 2020, after having 2 children, I decided to explore the world of pelvic floor therapy. I wanted to be able to better serve the women I was seeing in hopes I could help them navigate pregnancy and postpartum with more support than I had. After completing all the necessary course work, I was amazed at all the things pelvic floor therapy could help with! I approached all my patients with a new lens and found I was able to offer a more holistic, whole body approach than ever before. Even better, my patients were experiencing better outcomes and achieving goals they thought weren’t possible.
In Spring 2024, an opportunity presented itself that allowed me to open my own clinic which was something I never considered doing. However, I was at a transition in life and was looking for a way to work closer to home with a flexible schedule that allowed me to treat in the way I was passionate about. So with much trepidation, I decided to open Kinetic Physical Therapy, LLC in Lake St. Louis and am so happy I took the leap of faith!
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
In many ways, yes, it has been a smooth road and I am so thankful for the opportunities that have presented themselves and the support I have from my family and friends. However, at many times this past year I have struggled with trying to juggle all the things that go into starting a business while being a mom and keeping a house hold running. I finally got to a point in August where I felt settled only to have the office flood from a burst pipe. The water damage resulted in me having to change locations and set up a new space which was a ton of work. The other hurdle is marketing to let others know I am here and my approach is different!
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Kinetic Physical Therapy, we resolve persistent pain and annoying symptoms to allow you to live life symptom free and worry free. We offer individualized assessment that looks at the whole body to identify postural faults, muscle imbalances, and movement patterns that are contributing to symptoms, not just chase pain, to truly resolve what is bothering you. I specialize in manual therapy, pelvic floor rehab, posture assessment, dry needling, kinesiotaping, and pain neuroscience education. This skill set gained over a decade in the field allows me to effectively treat persistent symptoms and complex pain presentations that may not have responded to traditional physical therapy approaches in the past.
If you are struggling with chronic pain, an injury that isn’t 100% better, or symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction, I can help! A lot of women assume their symptoms are a “normal” part of having a baby, aging, or menopause but this is not the case. If you are experiencing any concerns such as leaking with laughing, coughing, jumping, or lifting, difficulty getting to the bathroom in time and not always making it (urgency), pressure or heaviness with activity (prolapse), pain with intimacy, pain during pregnancy and/or postpartum, don’t suffer any longer – I can help you move and feel better! At Kinetic Physical Therapy, you will always receive one-on-one care in a private treatment room for a full hour utilizing a combination of treatment approaches to best address your issue. You will walk away not only feeling better but also with an understanding of what is driving your symptoms.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
I loved dancing from an early age and took advantage of taking as many classes as I possibly could. By the time I was in high school, I especially loved ballet and was dancing 5 nights a week plus Saturday mornings. Despite my love for ballet, I was a practical kid and knew dancing wasn’t a great career choice. A dance teacher actually suggested the field of physical therapy and I decided in Jr. High that is what I would do! I was a very serious student and was happy with getting good grades and going to dance class.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kineticptstl.com/
