We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Alina Mille a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alina, appreciate you joining us today. What was the most important lesson/experience you had in a job that has helped you as a business owner?

One lesson I learned from a previous job which has been invaluable in my role as a business owner, is the importance of allocating adequate time, providing quality care, and offering genuine listening ear to patients. One of the aspects I found most challenging in my previous position in physical therapy was the sense of being unable to deliver the level of care my patients deserved due to the time constraints imposed by traditional healthcare system. During my time there, I found myself seeing what I considered an excessive number of patients per day, which restricted the amount of hands-on care I could provide, limited the progression of exercise programs, and impeded my ability to truly listen to their concerns. I felt that there had to be a better approach to being a physical therapist. This realization was a driving force behind my decision to start my own business. I firmly believe that patients deserve our undivided time, a receptive ear, and the highest quality of care.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

At Gait Keeper Physical Therapy, we break away from the traditional mold of physical therapy clinics. Our focus is on delivering top-quality physical therapy to individuals striving to resume the activities they love, free from pain or restrictions. Specializing in active adults and athletes, we are dedicated to aiding them in injury rehabilitation, injury prevention, and overall wellness maintenance. Our approach is always one-on-one, ensuring our clients receive undivided attention without ever double booking. At Gait Keeper Physical Therapy, we prioritize individualized care, ensuring that our patients are never just a number and are never left to perform exercises independently. Each new patient undergoes a thorough initial evaluation, leading to a personalized treatment plan tailored to their specific needs. We take pride in devoting ample time to every patient and crafting plans that precisely address their limitations. We have a wide range of services, including manual therapy techniques such as dry needling, massage, cupping, IASTM, and trigger point release, along with customized exercise programming, rehabilitation, and return-to-sport training, among others.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Being personable, attentive, and networking are crucial aspects of my role as a physical therapist. Building rapport with my clients by being personable and genuinely listening to their concerns is top priority. Many of the individuals I treat haven’t felt truly heard by other healthcare providers. I firmly believe that patients have valuable insights into their own bodies, so I never dismiss their pain or symptoms. When was the last time you had a doctor’s undivided attention for a full hour? At Gait Keeper Physical Therapy, we prioritize giving each patient a full hour of one-on-one attention during every session.
In addition to personalized care, networking and hosting educational events at gyms or within other community groups are excellent ways to enhance the reputation of our brand. I organize workshops at gyms or offer other free community services at least once a month, often more (typically 2-3 times). You can check out our social media to stay updated on our whereabouts. I believe that fostering connections within the community, networking, and educating the public are among the most effective strategies for business growth.
I’m constantly considering how I can make a positive impact in my community by helping individuals reduce pain, improve mobility, excel in their sports or activities, and maintain overall wellness. When I can achieve these goals for people, it’s a win-win situation for everyone involved.

Can you talk to us about how your side-hustle turned into something more.

Yes! I began my journey by working very part-time in my business while simultaneously holding a full-time position at another company. Initially, I worked as a mobile physical therapist, providing treatments both at clients’ homes and at my own residence. This approach helped me minimize costs and gain insight into how to expand. However, over time, I realized that I didn’t enjoy traveling to my clients’ locations, prompting me to establish a fixed office space where clients could come to me. Gradually, I accumulated more patients and eventually made the decision to transition from my full-time job to dedicating myself entirely to my business. This allowed me to focus on community, marketing, learning about the business and helped me grow my patient base. However, during this period, I became pregnant with my son, Jackson. While a significant blessing for our family, taking time off at the end of my pregnancy and for maternity leave temporarily slowed down the growth of my business. Upon returning, I gradually rebuilt my patient base, thankful for the few steady clients who eagerly returned. Now, after approximately 1.5 years at my current office space, I remain hopeful for continued steady growth.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://gaitkeeperphysicaltherapy.com
• Instagram: @gaitkeeperpt
• Facebook: @gaitkeeperpt
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/gaitkeeperpt
• Other: I do have blog posts on my website as well.

Image Credits

Bobbi Jo Victor, BJV photography.