Exploring Life & Business with Katie Hillen of Kinetx Rehab & Performance

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Hillen.

Hi Katie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Dr. Katie Hillen, DPT

Growing up, soccer and basketball weren’t just sports to me— they were my identity. But two ACL tears, first in high school and again in college, left me labeled “the girl with the bad knees.” It wasn’t until physical therapy school that everything changed: I realized my body wasn’t broken, and that my past injuries didn’t define my future.

That realization became the foundation for Kinetx Rehab & Performance, the clinic I founded to give patients what the traditional insurance model couldn’t: one-on-one, individualized care from someone who treats the whole person, not the diagnosis. Today, I work with active adults and athletes both in person across the Chicagoland area and virtually as a rehab coach nationwide, helping clients rebuild not just their knees, but their belief in what their bodies can do.

My guiding philosophy, shared with every client: your diagnosis is not your identity.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not necessarily. I worked in corporate physical therapy for 10+ years and then shifted to a cash-based model and still felt like I wasn’t getting what I needed personally and professionally.

In corporate physical therapy, insurance dictates how many visits and what kinds of treatments are covered. I always had a “rushing river” of patients to see, seeing anywhere between 16-20+ a day depending on how long I was working that day. Not to mention all the documentation, marketing, and “extras” all done outside of your typical work hours because you had patients all day.

I have 2 young children ( 1 year old and 5 year old) and I missed alot of those first moments with my oldest because I was always working.

It is scary to quit a job where you have steady income and the unknowns are pretty much nonexistent, but it was worth the risk. I am able to be with my family when they need me and I feel like I am giving the best quality care I can.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Kinetx Rehab & Performance?
Kinetx offers in person physical therapy services to those located in the Chicagoland area and virtual rehab coaching nationwide.

I am a credentialed, board certified Doctor of Physical Therapy. I specialize in hip and knee pain and injuries, however I also have clients/patients with shoulder, ankle, and SI joint/back pain. I am known on social media for helping people with knee pain.

All appointments are 1:1 and programs/plans of care are created intentionally and customized to each individual’s goals.

I think what sets me most apart is that growing up as an athlete and still training as an athlete, I have felt everything that my patients and clients are feeling. I have had multiple knee surgeries myself–I know the mental, physical and emotional toll it takes on you and your body. That is what lead me to this profession in the first place.

I am proud of creating a business that allows me to keep helping people get back to doing what they love while also allowing me to be present with my young kids. I love that I have created a program that is patient-centered where no one or no other entity dictates their progress. My patients and clients have full control of their care with specialized guidance from a doctor of physical therapy.

You don’t have to be in the Chicago area to work with me! I am able to help people all over the United States. I also want people to know–don’t wait more than 2 weeks to get help or at the very least, advice on their pain and what to do. Not everyone is going to be appropriate to work with me or may need more testing or intervention, but I can absolutely help guide you on what to do and/or where to go. You are capable of so much more than you think, you just need some guidance on what to do. Let me help you maximize your body’s potential.

How can people work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
The best way is to reach out via email or through my instagram profile. The best way someone can support me is working with me or recommending me to a friend or family member. That is the greatest compliment–a referral.

Pricing:

• Pricing is completely dependent on what that individual has going on and what their needs and goals are. Pricing is something that we discuss together on our introductory/discovery call.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kinetxrp.com
• Instagram: kinetxrp