Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kelli Kirkland. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Kelli , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’re complete cheeseballs and so we love asking folks to share the most heartwarming moment from their career – do you have a touching moment you can share with us?

“Heaven sent you to me”.
“God brought you here”.
“I never share this with anyone, I don’t know why I shared with you.”
“You are a gift to us.”
Not a week passed without a patient being grateful for the physiotherapy services I provided. For 17 years, I believe every patient I’ve touched is not coincidence. From students, peers, families, and physicians, my career has been laden with stories of success and smiles, even with the “hard cases.” I read a patient tattoo which stated, “my scars remind me, they don’t define me’. She later shared her story about surviving a gunshot wound to the back of her head. She survived a traumatic brain injury and living to tell her story of surviving domestic violence. She told me “Ms. Kelli, I don’t let many people touch my scars, but you can.” It is moments like these that encourage me to strive to do my best for these patients.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

As a child, I always valued nature and the outdoors. Being active was fun and invigorating! My first sport was drag racing at the local quarter mile track. Post high school graduation, I wanted a career of helping others which included body movement.

In graduate school, I held the graduate assistant role of Human Performance Laboratory manager performing tests and measures including VO2max and underwater weighing. I began my career in health and wellness as an adjunct professor and interpreter at Louisiana Delta Community College. I have 17 years experience as a physiotherapist assistant in home health, inpatient rehab, skilled nursing facilities, acute, outpatient adult/pediatric orthopedic and neurological clinics.

I noticed there was a great disconnect with patients who discharged from physiotherapy and trying to enter the fitness world. I began my company, Exercise Prescriptions -Bridging the gap between Medical and Fitness, LLC in 2018. I work with community centers and contract with physiotherapy clinics developing programs post physiotherapy discharge both in land and aquatic programs.

I am an IRONMAN who did not know I had developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) until 2020. In April 2021, I had my first hip arthroscopic surgery. In October 2021, I had a LLE periacetabular osteotomy (PAO) , labral repair and femoral osteoplasty. I completed a Tough Mudder 9 months post op periacetabular osteotomy , then finished Rocketchix Triathlon, River Roux Olympic Triathlon, a 15K Tough Mudder in the United Kingdom, 🇬🇧 a quarter marathon at The Louisiana Marathon and in 2025, the half at Little Rock Marathon.

My therapeutic gifts are focused on PAO prehab/rehab education/physiotherapy and return to sport performance coaching post PAO.

Together with my surgeons, we began an advocacy group called the Hippies Club of Louisiana in 2022. We host every second Saturday in October an Annual Hippies Hike to celebrate the Miles4Hips National Day of Awareness for Hip Dysplasia.

As a Body Movement Mechanic, it is my company mission to created spaces for healing and movement for a lifetime.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Yes, I learned working in the volume driven (productivity) therapy companies was not what patients deserved! I experience much burn out and stress working as a therapist with companies who did not care about quality services. It was the best decision to leave that business model and focus on quality. Concierge physiotherapy and coaching helps people achieve their goals with long lasting results.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As a healthcare provider who became a patient was challenging and rewarding! My experience with pain, surgeries, therapy and return to sports and fitness changed the way I treat patients and clients. Nothing happens without a purpose. I have gained valued lessons as a patient to now share with patients!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://miles4hips.org/kellis-story-2
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hippiesclubla/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelli-kirkland-pta-ci-ms-mfdc-2bb662281/
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@hippiesclubofla?si=ve9THlCENbaEdDpJ

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