Ethan Brinkmann
PT, DPT, Cert DN, Cert MSKU
Physiotherapy
My passion for physical therapy started when I was a kid: I was diagnosed with Osteomyelitis in my hip (a bone infection). After a summer of IV antibiotics I was ‘healed’ but the months of reduced activity and infection left me with abnormal gait and chronic low back pain at the age of 12.
I tried everything: chiropractic, acupuncture, meds, even ‘standard’ PT (diathermy and a sheet of standard leg exercises) with little to no results. I gave up and decided I would have to live with the pain.
Around that time I started resistance training after school and to my surprise my back pain went away in a matter of weeks. This opened my eyes to the power of exercise for pain reduction and restoring mobility and I decided I would work to become a Dr. of Physiotherapy.
During my academic journey pursuing my Bachelors in Clinical Movement Science (Kinesiology) at the U of M Twin Cities I continued training with weightlifting, break dancing, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (grappling) honing my understanding of various types of human movement.
After Graduation with my DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy) from the University of Minnesota I have worked in a number of settings and added to my skill set becoming certified Dry Needling and Spinal Manipulation and currently am a Fellow in Training in the AAMT Fellowship for Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography.
Personally my passions include spending time traveling and enjoying my family (wife, 2 kids, 1 granddaughter).
I also am a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Black Belt under world champion competitor Jose Carlos Lima.