What to Look for in a Physical Therapist in Boulder, CO — Especially If You're Active
- Colin O'Banion, DPT
- 6 days ago
- 3 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Boulder, Colorado is unlike almost anywhere else in the country. Our community is packed with runners tackling steep trails, cyclists on every trail and road, climbers hanging from granite walls, and hikers exploring every inch of open space.
With so many people pushing their bodies to high levels of performance year-round, physical therapy here needs to rise to a different standard.
A typical "cookie-cutter" PT approach simply isn’t enough. Active individuals in Boulder demand fast, intelligent solutions that respect their drive to keep moving while ensuring true healing. This requires a great physical therapist who can offer more than just generic exercises—it requires clinical expertise, hands-on skills, cutting-edge technology, and an ability to see the bigger picture.
Understanding Boulder’s Active Population
What I notice here vs. my practice in NYC is that clients are generally healthier, but I see a lot more overuse and repetitive strain injuries.
I see a lot more athletes who are constantly training, and don't have the luxury of resting for an extended period of time. Overuse injuries, repetitive strain, and training-related tissue overload are daily realities for many Boulder athletes.
What’s unique about working with this population is their mindset: resting completely isn’t usually an option they’re willing to consider. They need an expert who can guide them through activity modification, not just blanket rest prescriptions.
Key Qualities of a Great Physical Therapist in Boulder
✅ Expert Evaluation and Accurate Diagnosis. The foundation of successful treatment is always a detailed, precise evaluation. After 20 years of experience, I’ve honed a comprehensive evaluation framework that identifies whether the issue is musculoskeletal or if deeper factors—like sleep, nutrition, or systemic inflammation—are contributing.
✅ Activity Modification, Not Just Rest Instead of shutting athletes down, I help modify movements to allow for healing while maintaining strength, conditioning, and performance.
✅ Streamlined, Targeted Rehab Plans Boulder’s athletes are busy. Treatment plans must be efficient, focused, and easy to integrate into already packed schedules—not overwhelming. I use a great app, called Physiapp where I can film and upload unique exercises just for them in order to support my clients in their healing.
✅ Deep Clinical Skillset with Advanced Tools. My work goes beyond exercises. I integrate:
Shockwave therapy for tendon and soft tissue healing
Interactive neuromuscular stimulation for better muscle activation
Dry needling to release chronic tension
Red light therapy to promote cellular recovery
How a Great Physical Therapist Keeps You Moving
Ultimately, great physical therapy in Boulder is about more than treating symptoms. You have to understand the unique population of driven, athletes we have here.
It’s about:
Seeing the whole picture
Creating a customized, evolving plan
Providing hands-on techniques and clinical modalities when needed
Empowering clients with clear, actionable steps toward healing
I first came to Colin after seeing three different physical therapists for back pain that was keeping me from running. As an athlete, that was incredibly frustrating and discouraging.
Colin has a holistic approach—he sees the whole body not only the one issue, he sees the whole person. Over the years, I’ve come to him with different issues—from back pain to other tightness and imbalances—and he’s always been able to help me and keep me active and moving forward.
Thanks to his care, I was able to get back to running, complete my first marathon in 2020, and stay injury-free since. I’ve now run six marathons and gone from a 5:25 to a 3:40 finish. - Anna
Boulder’s active community deserves a smarter, more advanced approach to physical therapy. If you’re looking for a therapist who respects your goals, understands the mindset of active individuals, and offers expert care built around results, I’d love to help.
How to Connect with Me:
Colin O’Banion, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Colin is a licensed Physical Therapist and founder of Colin O’Banion Physical Therapy in Boulder, Colorado. With 20 years of experience, he specializes in solving complex and chronic pain cases through a root-cause, integrative approach. Colin combines advanced manual therapy, shockwave therapy, dry needling, and movement re-education to help clients return to the activities they love. His one-on-one practice is dedicated to clients seeking lasting solutions when traditional PT has fallen short.
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