Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Mikulski.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I graduated as a Doctor of Physical Therapy 17 years ago. I can’t believe it’s been that long! I worked for several orthopedic physical therapy practices in the Metro-Detroit area until September of 2022 when my daughter was born. At that point, I’d gotten my OMPT (orthopedic manual physical therapy) fellowship and was managing a clinic for a prominent PT company. I thought I had everything I wanted. But I wasn’t happy – I had pressure coming at me from every direction to spend less time with each patient but deliver more value, and bill for charges that would make everyone the most money. I was so touched-out from treating 17-18 patients a day that I would get overstimulated hugging my toddler son when I came home from work. I went home with chest pain and anxiety every day because I couldn’t give my patients what I knew they needed. Especially my female patients. I noticed that they experienced back pain, knee pain, and many other spine and joint conditions differently than male patients did. They had more flare ups (which a lot of times were cycle-related), needed different treatments in order to return to their daily lives and move well without pain, and of course had many activities in their lives to get back to that were specific to their careers, caring for children, and other roles in their families and society. During my maternity leave after my daughter Grace was born, the idea and motivation for my own brand of physical therapy was also born when I opened the doors to Grace In Motion Physical Therapy & Women’s Health in spring of 2023. My experience as a PT as well as my own prenatal and postpartum experiences eventually led me to build a physical therapy practice focusing on everything women need to thrive in all stages of their lives. Grace In Motion Physical Therapy & Women’s Health is named after my daughter, in hopes that the current and next generations of women will be well-informed and give themselves the permission to prioritize their own physical health and well-being.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely not been a smooth road! I’ve learned a lot that I now pour into how I manage my practice every day. I learned that the energy and dynamic in the practice/building you’re in can make or break your peace, joy, creativity, and productivity. I’ve learned to value that and make decisions based on that. It’s not common in health care to feel like your own self-worth and well-being matters, but it has such a direct effect on your happiness and your ability to give to your patients. Whether I’ve owned the practice or been an employee, the environment I’m in has had a huge impact on me and the quality of care I’m able to provide.
One thing that has not been as much of a challenge as I thought it would be is opening up my own practice. It sounded crazy and very intimidating years ago when a mentor of mine suggested it to me, Then, after seeing my female patients’ experiences and having some of my own, the passion I have to help women get the care they need and deserve has taken the fear I had of going out on my own and turned it into drive. Even in the tough times over the past 3 years, I’ve learned to slow down the worry that comes with being an entrepreneur and trust in myself that I have the ability to figure it out. Self-confidence is definitely something that is built!
I’ve also learned that the struggles often lead to the most beautiful changes in the end. I try to remember that whenever I’m frustrated about a situation – it usually means I’m being led to make a change that will ultimately make everything better.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
At Grace In Motion Physical Therapy, I combine hands-on manual therapy techniques, breathwork, pelvic-floor integration techniques, core stability exercise, and functional movement training in plans of care specific to each woman, their story, and the active life they strive to live. I specialize in treating conditions that are common in women, including low back pain, diastasis recti, pelvic floor laxity, pelvic floor tension, rib pain and rib flare, and joint and spinal issues. Each patient receives education to build strength and limit pain in all areas of their life to build a solid base line and continue improving through education and home programs once they finish PT. I also provide prenatal coaching, postpartum coaching, cycle sync coaching, women’s strength training programs, and runner’s training programs geared toward utilizing the strengths of and reducing excessive strain within the female body. My Rhythm and Grace Labor and Birth Prep circuit training program is designed to mimic the progression of child birth and train the mom-to-be to keep her body and mind connected during the process, enabling her to channel her inner strength and minimize birth injuries. It’s a passion project of mine and has been so fulfilling to guide women in such an empowering time in their lives.
I’m most proud of the one-on-one patient care time and the transformations that happen when my patients work with me. In owning my practice and being the sole provider, I’ve been able to provide a higher value of care that is more thorough and comprehensive than I ever could before while working in other practices. I’ve also found ways to adapt the financial aspects of my services to make them accessible to everyone who needs them – something I care deeply about and now have the power to do. The improvements in the outcomes of my patients have been so gratifying to see – that the combination of treatments I provide really does help women to reconnect with their bodies and give them the tools and ability to live the active lives they want to live. Making the difference for future generations to love and take care of their bodies is the ultimate goal.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Honestly, I feel like there are a couple. A big one for sure is the ability to remember your passion and to remind yourself of it when there are tough times. To not give up on the hard days when sometimes it seems like it would be easier to give up, and instead to find the signs that are encouraging you to continue and move forward. The ability to withstand challenges, persevere, and problem solve comes to me when I feel so driven to carry out my mission that letting the challenges beat me is not an option. Going back to what I know is truth, and finding confidence in that always helps.
Another important quality is to have the mindset that you don’t know everything and you’ll never know everything. I’m continuously finding out which new techniques and exercises benefit my patients and recognizing where I could apply them with others who have the same needs. I’m always soaking up new information to be able to apply it to the care I provide. I think that’s especially important in the realm of women’s health today, where there is so much new research coming out about hormonal changes that occur in different phases of women’s lives and how they affect so many areas of their health. In keeping up on that, I can continue to adapt my practice to provide specific treatments to enhance the quality of life of all the women I work with.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.graceinmotionphysicaltherapy.com
- Instagram: graceinmotion_pt
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/graceinmotion.nicolemikulski
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/graceinmotionPT
