Today we’d like to introduce you to Andrew Gillihan.
Hi Andrew, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I’ve been in some form or fashion of fitness or physical therapy since 2011. I initially started my career as a physical therapy aid just out of high school in Olympia, WA, while I was completing my Associate Degree at a local community college. In 2014, I moved back to my hometown of Boise, Idaho to complete my undergraduate degree in Kinesiology with an Exercise Science emphasis as a student at Boise State University.
During my time there, I became credentialed as a National Strength & Conditioning Association Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and American College of Sports Medicine Certified Exercise Physiologist. Being deeply interested in how I can better help my patients and clients, communication and psychology became regular areas of study. As you would expect, I returned to Boise State University to complete my Masters of Kinesiology Degree focusing on Sports & Exercise Psychology while also working as a graduate assistant, teaching labs, and conducting research for the department faculty.
From there I continued my education by pursuing a Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Arkansas. While there, I assisted faculty in research targeting population health, social determinants of health, and myofascial release (MFR) techniques with police officers with chronic pain. I also sought to find increasing clinical experience in outpatient sports, orthopedics, and male pelvic health. This is really where these passions culminated in my love of working and treating the everyday gym-goers, weight lifters, runners, youth athletes, combat athletes, and tactical professionals such as service members, veterans, law enforcement, firefighters, and EMTs.
That time period is when my drive to open my own physical therapy practice began. So, in May of 2022, I moved to Cincinnati (where my wife is from) and opened the doors to my practice on June 1st, 2022.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I don’t believe there is ever a smooth road, but it’s all in the stories we tell ourselves. Struggles can take so many different forms but utilizing different coping strategies are a huge factor in how I moved myself forward (see my psychology degree). We could say finishing my doctorate degree from 2019-2022 was a struggle. Being consistently away from family, doing long distance with my now wife, or just attempting to finish 5 years of graduate school could be a struggle.
Or we could say the road was paved with just the right amount of speed bumps to keep me attentive and on the right path. I think I’m going to choose the latter.
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?
We have a phenomenal team of people. Alinea Performance is made up of 4 different locations that simultaneously work together to create a more cohesive, integrated physical therapy system. We offer in-person, virtual, AND app-based rehab options. So, if you were to sign up to work with us – you actually get multiple clinicians working with you all at the same time, right in your pocket and on your phone.
As well as, all of our owners are male physical therapists treating within the specialty of men’s pelvic health or male pelvic floor physical therapy. Currently, I am one of the only (if not the only) male pelvic floor physical therapists in the tri-state area. Being a man myself, I’ve found that the current culture of medicine is leaving men behind in a multitude of areas. Prostate cancer is a huge area of need for more research and really good providers that are willing to help. We currently work with multiple urologists, oncologists, and neurology groups and our job is to assist male patients in regaining function after issues of pelvic pain, incontinence, and erectile dysfunction. This is all while still treating high-level sports and performance orthopedics injuries.
I’m really proud that our team is so multifaceted and great at what they do.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Anything Ryan Holiday.
I really got into Stoicism going through my graduate degree as a way to control my emotions and expectations of life and other people.
It’s helped a ton in allowing me to take things as they come, acknowledge what is in my control, think logically about my options, and proceed with the most intelligent decision moving forward.
I think that’s really helped my business thrive since opening my practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: alineaperformance.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alineaperformance/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alineaperformance
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/alinea-performance/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/alineaperformance
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/alinea-performance-no-title
