why i do this work
About Burke Selbst, PT, OCS, gcfp
Orthopedic Specialist • Sports Therapist • Movement Coach • Feldenkrais Teacher
I’ve spent my entire career helping people move better, recover faster, and stay strong for the long haul. As a board-certified orthopedic specialist and sports therapist, my work spans more than 25 years of treating, coaching, and studying human movement. I’ve had the privilege of working with everyone from highly active adults to elite international athletes—cyclists, runners, climbers, and competitors on world-class stages.
What I’ve learned at every level of sport is this:
performance isn’t luck. It’s training.
And when you apply athlete-style principles to everyday life, people don’t just avoid injury—
they get stronger, more capable, and more confident well into their later years.
My Approach
I blend three pillars into every program I build:
1. Orthopedic Expertise
Years of diagnosing and solving complex movement problems means I can quickly identify what’s holding you back—and what will move you forward. My background in manual therapy, movement assessment, tendinopathy management, and sports injury rehab shapes every recommendation I make.
2. Sports Science & High-Performance Principles
My time working with elite athletes taught me how to use training variables—strength, endurance, power, speed, load management—to help people perform their best. I translate those same methods into practical, accessible training for everyday humans.
3. Personalized Coaching & Long-Term Strategy
No two people move the same or live the same life, so your plan shouldn’t be generic. Everything I design is tailored to your goals, schedule, history, and preferred way of moving. I don’t hand out templates—I build strategies.
What I Believe
Strength is independence.
Movement is medicine.
Longevity is earned—through training, not guessing.
Small, consistent habits create lifelong resilience.
Everyone is an athlete when they train with intention.
Why Age Like an Athlete?
I created Age Like an Athlete to bring high-level training principles to people who want to stay active, adventurous, and strong as they age. It’s a space where orthopedic care meets performance coaching, where science meets practicality, and where aging is something you prepare for—not something you fear.
Whether you’re here to fix a stubborn injury, improve performance, or build a long-term strength plan, I’ll help you get there with clarity, purpose, and a smart strategy.
Your long, strong life starts with one good choice.
Let’s make it together.
From a Small Clinic to a World-Class Team
When I founded Focus Physical Therapy back in 2005, it was just me, a treatment table, and a belief that people deserved better care than they were getting. Over the next twenty years, that tiny clinic grew into a team of exceptional orthopedic and sports therapists—people who care deeply, think critically, and bring their best to every patient who walks through the door. Leading that team has shaped me more than any textbook or certification ever could. It taught me how to listen, how to problem-solve, and how to build strength and resilience in others. Much of what I share here—every insight, every program, every strategy—comes from those decades on the clinic floor, helping real people get back to the lives they love.
Contact me
Curious about whether we’re a good fit? Fill out the form below, and I’ll be in touch soon to start the conversation.