Behind the Scenes of Olympia
At Olympia, we are more than just a physical therapy clinic—we are dedicated to helping the community become the best versions of themselves. As a proud Black and Woman-owned business, our mission is to increase access and support in the journey to peak performance. Our presence across various parts of Los Angeles County is intentional, as we actively engage with the community to promote wellness, inspire curiosity about physical therapy, and educate people on investing in their health.
A key part of our approach is building knowledge and trust. Establishing rapport—a "harmonious relationship"—between patients and therapists is crucial to fostering collaboration and equality.1 Research shows that strong rapport leads to better patient compliance, improved clinical outcomes, and higher overall satisfaction.
Over the past year, we’ve partnered with local organizations like Jump Beyond in Torrance, Actyve Volleyball in Santa Monica, CAMP DA in Gardena, and Her Game. These pop-up events provide us with invaluable opportunities to learn about the community and understand how we can serve them better. Many parents bring their children to these training camps because they offer free or low-cost programs. Unfortunately, barriers to youth sports participation—such as a lack of recreational spaces, rising costs, safety concerns, and exclusionary policies—can limit children's opportunities to become better athletes.2
To combat these challenges, athletes often need nothing more than a space to play and someone to cheer them on. Having a medical professional by their side can make a tremendous difference. Providing them with the knowledge to improve their performance and investing in their aspirations can be the turning point between playing for fun and playing for their future.
At Olympia, we recognize these challenges and are committed to overcoming them. To address the lack of recreational spaces, we partner with The DSTRKT and Movement Performance Institute to secure safe and accessible locations for training and events. To make our programs more affordable, we offer an “Athlete Collaboration” discount and collaborate with organizations that provide funding for youth sports. Safety is a priority, so we educate parents and children on safe practices in sports. We also offer team and group training sessions focused on understanding proper body mechanics and the importance of injury prevention. Through field trips and pop-up clinics, we encourage kids to participate in learning and provide them with hands-on experience with gym equipment. Earlier this year, we hosted a Sports Medicine field trip for students from SEED LA, which included a Sports Science lecture, interactive workshops, and an opportunity to trial VALD equipment for performance testing.
At community events, our goal is to spark interest, raise awareness of our services, and create meaningful connections with potential clients. It's incredibly rewarding to see people move from curiosity about Olympia to commitment in enhancing their physical performance. For many, that curiosity turns into action when they take the next step by visiting our clinic for a one-hour evaluation. Most leave inspired, motivated, and ready to continue their journey with us. It’s deeply fulfilling to watch athletes, both figuratively and literally from the sidelines, as they progress through their rehab journeys and achieve their full potential.
At the end of the day, Olympia's presence is about making a meaningful impact—both on the clinic's success and the well-being of the community. Looking to the future, we envision a state-of-the-art campus where athletes can train, access recovery and physical therapy services, practice yoga, and have dedicated spaces for studying. This hub will not only focus on athletic excellence but also strengthen our connection to the community, creating a lasting impact beyond sports.
References:
Araújo ME, Bruno R, Almeida DS, et al. Digital and media literacy programs for young people: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Prev Med. 2022;63(5):780-789. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2022.05.015. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8806294/
The Aspen Institute. Sport for All, Play for Life: A Playbook to Get Every Kid in the Game. The Aspen Institute; 2015. Available from: https://www.aspeninstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/Aspen-Institute-Project-Play-Report.pdf
Written by Michelle Hong, Olympia Executive Assistant