So take a few moments and read through some of these amazing stories by previous and current clients. They may be just the motivation you need to move ever closer toward the next level you seek.

I had knee surgery at the Steadman Hawkins Clinic. I knew after my first rehab appointment at another facility I needed to change. Their approach was more like an assembly line. "Go do this excessive for X amount of reps and tell me when you’re done". I wanted better and found Next Level. Next Level gives personalized attention with great equipment, and techniques brought over from the pro sports world. But most importantly is the positive, encouraging and challenging attitude of the entire staff of Next Level. I was able to ski 20 times following bilateral knee replacements after rehabilitating with the Next Level staff. Get the most out of rehabilitation, “take it to the Next Level".

Lonny Butterfield

I trained at Next Level Sports Performance for the last 2 summers for a bicycle endurance event. The event is called The Leadville Trail 100 and is a high altitude mountain bike race that covers 104 miles, over rocky and steep terrain. I had never attempted such a challenge before and I set my goal of finishing the event within the 12 hour cut-off time. This event required every bit of preparation if I was going to finish, and with the help of the Next Level Team, I completed the first year’s event at 10:45 and the second year at 11:29.

My training consisted of strength, weights, stretching, cardio, nutrition, and mental toughness, in addition to a significant amount of time on the bike. The program at Next Level complemented my bicycle training to create an overall great experience with results that exceeded my expectations.

The staff at Next Level has forever changed my approach to training and goal setting. These are lessons learned that I will take with me to my next challenge and will certainly include Next Level as part of my training program. Thanks for all your help.

Erick Whittier

Leadville 100

WE HAVE HUNG A LEADVILLE 100 BIKE JERSEY IN HIS HONOR AT NEXT LEVEL

Mike wrote the book for over-achievers and is the prototypical client for Next Level Sports Performance (NLSP). Mike has trained on and off at NLSP since 2006. He sets the pace and tempo for all clients. Mike is an aggressive outdoorsman who never backs down from a challenge. Biking, running, climbing and skiing are just a few of the activities he does on a regular basis.

Last summer on a beautiful Colorado day, Mike’s life took a sudden change. He was rock climbing in Colorado at Eldorado Canyon State Park with his 16 year old son. Mike lost his footing and slipped causing him to fall. The 30 foot vertical fall knocked him unconscious, fractured his hip and forearm. The event turned his son into a man when he had to hold the belay rope to stop the fall. With the help of his son and a fellow climber, Mike was able to rappel to safety where immediate medical care was waiting. Mike underwent several arm and hip surgeries to repair the injuries caused by the rock climbing accident.

Most people with a similar hip injury are restricted to a wheelchair for a full year before they are ready to do any activity. Injured people often accept the accident and never return to their passion. Mike stated, “I started therapy at Next Level as soon as I could move around on my crutches. I knew that the basic physical therapy most places provide would never get me back to my athletic lifestyle. I needed the intense personal treatment and motivation provided by Next Level.”

Due to Mike’s inner strength, determination and work ethic, he has leveraged the resources of NLSP to make a near full recovery in a remarkable 6 months. This winter he resumed to his international travel schedule. Mike is running and pursuing the passion of outdoor activities on the slopes in Colorado and Norway.

Mike Oldham

an Inspirational Outdoorsman

Mike is a true testament to the raise the flag section, an inspiration to all and most importantly a great friend.

Michael Limback arrived at Next Level with a partially ruptured calf at the end of August 2008. Through his military work ethic and attention to detail he was able to turn a long term injury into a rapid recovery. Michael was able to complete the Marine Corps Marathon on October 26, 2008 with a finishing time of 3:49:50. Thanks to Michael’s hard work and determination, he was able complete the marathon just 2 months after a significant injury with limited precise training.

Michael Limback
Motivation and Desire a Huge Part of Recovery

We have hung a United States Marines flag in his honor at Next Level.

In April 2007, I tore my meniscus and ACL while skiing at Breckenridge. Often, skiers never fully recover from such injuries due to the difficulty in fully strengthening the knee to the point where you can ski as hard as possible without worrying if your knee can handle it. As someone who bases my life around skiing, it was extremely important for me to make a full recovery both mentally and physically.

I began rehab at Next Level about 10 weeks after surgery. Prior to Next Level, I had been doing rehab at a non-athlete specific clinic due to traveling constraints. Even though I was not behind schedule in my recovery, I improved dramatically after I started going to Next Level. The staff at Next Level pushed me as hard as I was willing to go; they were able to understand the drive I had to recover much better than my previous physical therapists.

Next Level worked with me through the entire fall- until I felt that I was 100 percent recovered. Generally, for an ACL, less rehabilitation is recommended than is necessary to return to a competitive sport (especially one that is as demanding on the knees as skiing). The staff at Next Level pushed me passed the walking/jogging stage all the way back to the point where I felt I could do anything to my knee that I could have done before the injury

I was able to return to the snow much before I was expected to, and was fully recovered by the slopestyle competition season of the following winter (which was less than 8 months after my injury). Next Level's insistence on bringing my entire body back to competition shape allowed me to return a much stronger athlete than I had been before the injury. Since recovering, I've used the knowledge, expertise, and drive I learned from the staff at Next Level to stay injury free while pushing myself as hard as I can.

The staff at Next Level helped (more than) overcome an injury that threatened my skiing aspirations. I highly recommend any athlete returning from an injury to consider Next Level for their rehabilitation.

Brian Locke
Elite Slopestyle Skier

I have been going to Next Level since shortly after it opened. At the time I was coming of ankle surgery and been doing physical therapy with another operation, but I was looking for somewhere where I could incorporate training into my rehab so I could back in shape and return to a competitive level. Next Level was perfect for this; I not only received the physical therapy I needed, but also sport specific training and was able to return to my sport in better shape than I was before my surgery. Since that time I have continued training at Next Level and have received invaluable advice and information on training issues and other injuries I have suffered.

Next Level is unlike any other physical therapy/sports training facility I have been to. When you walk in the door at Next Level, you are not just another patient. They treat you as an individual, and take the time to get to know you and your needs. By doing this, they can cater their treatments to your specific needs in ways other facilities can not.

The hands on techniques taken at Next Level provide thorough and effective treatment. This, coupled with the fact that Next Level utilizes the newest technologies available in the therapy and training fields, allows the staff at Next Level to provide the best treatment available. Because of this, you will see positive results faster than you would at other facilities. After my most recent surgery, I did the initial therapy at another facility and did not see much change or improvement; but, after just a couple visits to Next Level, I saw dramatic results in my recovery.

I recommend visiting Next Level for anyone looking for physical therapy or sports training. I have had great experiences there, and have seen not only myself, but also other patients recover and be able to return to their lifestyle. I always enjoyed my visits to Next Level, as the staff is personable and strives to do all they can for you. Next Level is in a league of their own when it comes to physical therapy and training and I owe them many thanks for enabling me to keep doing the things that I love.

Neal Kopec
University of Notre Dame

I have been having knee difficulties for a number of years; it really got tough to do daily activity in the past 6 months. The folks at Next Level Sports worked with me with very personal/hands on level to see if we could get some relief as well as more flexibility and strength.

After a few sessions, the Next Level folks strongly recommended that I go see an orthopedic surgeon as they believed the only long term solution might be a total knee replacement. Their reference was right on and I had knee replacement 2 months ago.

Since then I’ve been to Next Level for 2 sessions per week and my recovery has been beyond expectations for me and the surgeons. 1) Aggressive, hands on, enthusiastic therapy. 2) Wide range of types of therapy: Stretching, Strengthening, Heat, Cold, Massage/soft tissue, Bicycles, Machines etc. 3) Very solid knowledge of what was going on currently with my knee/recovery and what I could expect in the short and long range future

The recommendations, schedules and forecast Next Level gave me were right on line with what the surgeons told me. I appreciated the flexibility in scheduling my sessions as my work schedule changes very frequently. While I have been to Next Level specifically for rehab, I have also been impressed with the clients that are working toward better performance in athletics and daily life. I’ve seen a number of those people "grow before my eyes".

Overall a very professional group that knows what they are doing and activates it with great passion and enthusiasm.

February 8, 2007

"To all of you at “Next Level”, that I will always call my friends.

First of all, I’m sorry it took so long to write these words of thanks. It doesn’t really seem like enough to just say thanks; because of your help I was able to resume doing the things I like even sooner than the Doctors thought after having over 20 surgeries & needing therapy to get back to work. When I say your facility & especially all of you that work there are so very special I truly mean it. You make a person feel at home as soon as they walk (or hobble) in.

The knowledge that you all have, & use so very skillfully, is not all that common in other rehabilitation centers I’ve been to. I knew after just a few visits, I surely had come to the best place possible for my recovery.

I would have no reservations at all about telling anyone else about your facility, & that if they did go there; they could expect the same wonderful help and direction that you all showed to me.

Both knees that you helped me with after the replacement surgeries are doing well. I know I should be working them a little harder, but with all this #@%&* snow, I ‘m being a little lazy.

I will be having my left shoulder scoped, so I will be seeing you again soon."

Thank you all again, Your Friend,
Duane Heinz

"I am a 20 year old division I athlete and a year and a half ago I tore my ACL and meniscus playing soccer. I was referred to Next Level by my school for physical therapy after my surgery. They were amazing and understood my needs as a person and a returning athlete. They gave me the attention that I needed and yet knew how far they could challenge me so I could get back before the next season.
The biggest benefit to Next Level was my transition stage to special performance. I had already been working with them through my rehab so they knew me and my injury better than anyone! I used the best machines and had the best support team behind me and I know that without them I wouldn’t have come back as strong or as fast.

I went into pre-season in better shape than 95% of my team, of whom none were injured. Although that was important to me, the biggest importance was not re-injuring my knee that upcoming season. I have seen many of my teammates re-injure their knees multiple times with multiple surgeries and I knew that I didn’t want that to happen to me. I got back to playing at the same level I was at before the surgery and my knee feels better than ever. With the training that I received I was educated on what I needed to do for my body and became a stronger and healthier person in the process.

Without Next Level I know I would have never gotten back to be the same player that I once was. As well as having a very informative and supportive team throughout the long recovery, they were also very personable from the day that I met them. They got to know me and my family and that is the reason why I am still training here today. The people and their training tactics are so different from any other it’s the reason I keep coming back!"