Physical Therapy for Professional Runners

Isaac vanWestrienen '26 is interning with a physical therapist who was a 2020 and 2024 Olympic Marathon Team trials qualifier at Boulder Run Physio in Boulder, Colorado. Isaac is assisting with and performing therapeutic exercise, neuromuscular education, therapeutic activity, and gait training and is also performing operational tasks such racking weights and organizing and cleaning equipment.

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Meet Isaac

Isaac vanWestrienen

Isaac vanWestrienen '26

Hometown: Evergreen, CO
Major(s): Kinesiology-Exercise Science

About me

I am an aspiring professional runner and physical therapist. So far in my collegiate career, I have qualified for 6 national meets and I have 1 All-American honor. After graduation, I plan to attend PT school and chase a contract in professional running. Ever since I was in high school, I have known that I want to bring a wealth of knowledge in all things running to a PT setting and help runners recover from their injuries as quickly as possible.

What I hope to get from this internship

Through this internship, I want to grow my connections in both the running world and the PT world. This location is a clinic that treats almost exclusively Olympic-caliber runners. From shadowing the head therapist and seeing how he works I will learn about the daily routine in a PT clinic. I will also chat with patients and build a larger network in the running world. Ultimately, I want to work at this clinic after I graduate and this internship opportunity will give me a foot in the door.