Learning From Athletes: What Industry Needs to Know
Kyle Sela, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS
Kyle Sela, PT, DPT, OCS, SCS is a physical therapist from Sun Valley, ID who practices at Zenergy Sports Rehab at Zenergy Health Club and Spa. Kyle is also co-owner of Movement Guides, Inc., the functional training program creator for Pivot by Kristin Armstrong in the Boise, ID area, and leading the charge for Work Right NW’s Tactical Athlete Platform.
Kyle is an Army/Baylor DPT Program graduate and has served on Active Duty for 7 years as a physical therapist in the US Army. Following the Army, he completed a sports medicine fellowship in the Management of Division I Athletes at Duke University. After completing his fellowship Kyle moved to Boise where he was clinic manager and director of St. Luke’s sports physical therapy residency program and the sports medicine program in general.
While in Boise, Kyle co-founded Movement Guides, Inc which aims to help improve people move and feel through unique pieces of equipment and education. He was also the strength coach and physical therapist for Kristin Armstrong in the 14 months leading up to the 2016 Rio Olympic games as she trained for and eventually won her 3rd straight gold medal in the cycling time trial.
We talk with Kyle about his experience within the sports setting and how this has shaped his passion for helping the “tactical athlete”, what he has learned from professional athletes about injury prevention for everybody, and why he doesn’t like a traditional stretching program. During the conversation, we also dive into how all of this plays into prevention for the industrial athlete and the tactical athlete.
Topics Addressed:
Common myths of a tactical athlete or professional athlete compared to the average individual
Is stretching an essential piece of a prevention program?
The importance of addressing symmetry of movement instead of counting on a stretching routine to solve mobility problems
Common movement errors in the shoulder and hips that most people have
Kyle’s learning experience with gold metal athletes and the importance of strength conditioning into the opposite direction
How to duplicate an athletic trainer or injury prevention specialist with simple tools