Adventure has a way of pushing us to our limits. Whether you’re chasing 14ers, climbing your first multi-pitch route, skiing fresh powder, or spending the season guiding, your body is constantly being tested.

As we continue pushing ourselves, there comes a point when our bodies need rest, recovery, or a little extra attention. Staying active for years to come isn’t just about training harder, it’s about taking care of yourself through proactive physical therapy, proper recovery, and consistent maintenance.

We recently spoke with Dr. Tessa Kothe, founder of Summit Physio & Performance in Colorado Springs, to talk about helping active people stay healthy and continue doing the activities they love. 

Originally from Wisconsin, Dr. Kothe earned her bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology before completing her Doctorate of Physical Therapy in 2020. After working in a traditional outpatient orthopedic clinic, she realized there had to be a better way to care for active people.

“I wanted the freedom to treat the whole person instead of just the diagnosis,” she explains.

That vision led her to open Summit Physio & Performance in Colorado Springs in 2023.

Unlike many traditional clinics where appointments can feel rushed and patients often rotate between providers, Summit Physio is built around one-on-one care. Every patient works directly with the same Doctor of Physical Therapy throughout their recovery, receiving personalized treatment designed around their lifestyle, goals, and the activities they love.

For Dr. Kothe, physical therapy isn’t just about helping someone recover from an injury. It’s about helping them confidently return to the adventures and activities that make life meaningful, and giving them the tools to continue enjoying those experiences for years to come.

Outside the clinic, Dr. Kothe practices what she teaches. She enjoys hiking, skiing, rock climbing, camping, traveling, and CrossFit. In fact, Summit Physio conveniently shares a space with a local CrossFit gym, allowing her to work closely with many athletes and active individuals. She understands what it feels like to miss out on an adventure, race, or competition because of pain or injury and her mission is to help people get back to doing what they love while changing the way they think about physical therapy and recovery.

“I love helping people who have had a negative experience with physical therapy,” she says. “When care is individualized and collaborative, physical therapy can look completely different.”

Many of her clients are runners, climbers, CrossFit athletes, hikers, skiers, and weekend warriors who don’t just want their pain to go away, they want to return stronger than before.

One of the biggest misconceptions Dr. Kothe hopes to change is that physical therapy only begins after an injury.

“Physical therapy can absolutely help prevent injuries,” she says. “By identifying movement patterns, strength deficits, and mobility limitations before they become bigger problems, we can help people move more efficiently and reduce their risk of injury.”

Recovery itself is something many active people overlook. Dr. Kothe believes the basics often make the biggest difference.

“Prioritize sleep, focus on good nutrition and hydration, and build recovery into your routine,” she says.

Those habits, combined with proper movement mechanics and strength training, help create a body that’s prepared for whatever adventure comes next.

At Summit Physio & Performance, treatment is never one-size-fits-all. Every plan is tailored to the individual and may include services such as dry needling, blood flow restriction therapy, myofascial release, cupping, joint mobilization, gait analysis, recovery sessions, movement retraining, and customized exercise programming.

Whether you’re recovering from an injury, preparing for your next race, or simply trying to stay active for years to come, the goal remains the same:

Help people move better, perform better, and continue doing what they love.