Author Bios
Physical Therapist Management of the Winter Athlete
Helen Bradley, PT, MSc, SCS
Helen Bradley, PT, MSC, SCS received her bachelor of science degree in physical therapy from Cardiff University, Wales, England, in 2006, and her masters degree in Sport and Exercise Medicine from Cardiff Metropolitan University, Wales, England, in 2013. She has been a member of the American Physical Therapy Association since 2009. She has been a Lead Sport and Orthopaedic Physical Therapist working at Howard Head Sports Medicine in Vail, Colorado since 2012. Helen has a wealth of experience in rehabilitating athletes following ski and snowboarding injuries and ligamentous (multi) knee injuries. She has been Team Lead for Dr. William Sterett for more than two years and has recently taken on the leadership role of Clinic Coordinator. In addition, Helen has a sustained interest in research and has collaborated with individuals from The Steadman Clinic and The Steadman Philippon Research Institute to generate peer reviewed articles. She currently serves as research advisor for the clinic’s APTA accredited sports and orthopaedic residency program. Since 2015, Helen also serves as a rotational sports physical therapist with the United States Snowboard Team, working predominantly with snowboard cross athletes. She has provided physical therapy care at training camps and World Cup events both nationally and internationally and served as Team Physical Therapist at the PyeongChang Olympic Games in 2018. Helen was a Snowboard Instructor, Vail, Colorado in 2002/2003 and 2006/2007, and in Whistler, BC, Canada before that (2000-2002).
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Brett T. Mueller, PT, DPT, SCS
Brett Mueller, PT, DPT, SCS received his Doctorate in Physical Therapy degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in 2014. He was subsequently a resident at Howard Head Sports Physical Therapy residency program in 2014-2015. He is a sports and orthopedic physical therapist working at Howard Head Sports Medicine since 2015 and has been a sports certified specialist since 2016. Snowboarding and physical therapy are two of his greatest passions, combining both in his clinical practice and writing. Clinically, he specializes in upper and lower extremity injuries. Since 2021, he is a faculty member of the Howard Head Sports Physical Therapy Residency, teaching didactic portions and mentoring residents during the knee and shoulder units. His past publications have primarily been in collaboration with Dr. Robert LaPrade and focused on various knee injuries and rehabilitation.
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Andrew Newell
Andrew Newell is a cross country skier and 4 time Olympian from Shaftsbury, Vermont. After an athletic career spanning 16 years with the US National team, Andrew founded Nordic Team Solutions, a cross country ski training consulting company and website. He is also the head coach of the Bridger Ski Foundation Pro Team, based in Bozeman, Montana.
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Anastasia Robinson, PT, DPT, OCS
Anastasia Robinson, PT, DPT, OCS received her bachelor’s and master's degree in physical therapy at the College of St Scholastica in her hometown of Duluth, MN. Since 2006, she has worked at Howard Head Sports Medicine (HHSM) in Vail, CO. She completed her Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and Orthopedic Residency through Regis University and Evidence in Motion in 2009. While developing her clinical and manual skills in the treatment of traditional sporting and endurance athletes, she seized the opportunity to work and travel with the US Cross Country Team. Supporting the cross country team has taken her to the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, World Championships in Falun, Sweden, and many trips throughout Europe and Canada. As a faculty member for the Howard Head Sports and Orthopedic Residencies since their inception in 2009 and 2022, respectively, Ana has valued the opportunity to teach and offer mentorship to HHSM residents. She also has offered ongoing consult on the value of physical therapy as part of the multidisciplinary team in orthopedics, by working with Surgical and Athletic Training fellows at the Steadman Clinic. Ana currently works closely with MD partners to write post injury protocols, post-surgical protocols, and develop return to sport criteria. This work has provided opportunities to collaborate on multiple publications and speaking engagements locally and nationally on injuries of the foot and ankle, Achilles tendon repairs, and return to sport. Away from the clinic, Ana has previously coached both cross country skiing and soccer for age groups spanning from kindergarten through college. Outside the clinic, she and her husband enjoy cross country skiing, alpine touring, mountain biking, and hiking with their two kids.
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Karen Schleper, PT, DPT, OCS
Karen Schleper, PT, DPT, OCS received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Regis University in Denver, CO in 2018. She became a board-certified orthopedic clinical specialist in 2020. Karen has a strong interest in gait analysis, with a previous publication on the reliability of video running gait analysis. She currently works at Howard Head Sports Medicine in Frisco, CO specializing in treatment of alpine and cross country skiers, runners, and with women's health. She is a recreational cross country skier in her free time.
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Kate Spencer, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Kate Spencer, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS received her bachelors in rehabilitation science in 2005 and masters of science in physical therapy in 2006 from Northeastern University Bouve School of Health Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts. She then began practicing and completed her doctorate of physical therapy in 2009 from Northeastern University College of Professional Studies. Kate has been a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (NSCA) since 2005 and an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) since 2009. Other certifications include Functional Dry Needling and Pregnancy and Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist. She is active within the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), currently serving as West District Chair of the Colorado chapter and on the CSM Work Group for Private Practice APTA.
Kate has been downhill skiing since she was 7 years old. She has been working with downhill skiers of all levels since the first year of her career when she served as a Physical Therapist volunteer for the US Ski Team. She was a traveling Physical Therapist for 10 years, spending winters in Aspen, Colorado where she was able to treat patients with ski injuries from the acute through the return to sport phase. She worked seasonally at the Snowmass Clinic, the Snowmass Ski Area on-mountain walk-in clinic, growing a satellite outpatient Physical Therapy clinic there for Aspen Valley Hospital from 2010 to 2019.
Kate and James have worked as Physical Therapists in 7 states. They have skied together in 7 states and Canada. After settling down in Aspen full time, they now own a private practice, Ajax Physical Therapy. They have two daughters who are becoming great skiers. The family loves to explore the beautiful Rocky Mountains in all four seasons. Kate enjoys uphilling, cross country skiing, and hiking, as well as baking and reading a good book at home. James is a rabid recreational skier in his free time and spends his summers running, hiking, and swimming while he waits for another winter. Both wear helmets and dream of someday skiing in Hawaii.
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James Spencer, PT, DPT, OCS
James Spencer, PT, DPT, OCS received his bachelors in rehabilitation science in 2005 and masters of science in physical therapy in 2006 from Northeastern University Bouve School of Health Sciences, Boston, Massachusetts. He then began practicing and completed his doctorate of physical therapy in 2009 from Northeastern University College of Professional Studies. He has served many roles in APTA chapters, sections, and in FSBPT. He is currently Vice President of the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy. James has been an OCS since 2010 and is certified in Functional Dry Needling and Blood Flow Restriction Training. He has served many roles in APTA chapters, sections, and in FSBPT. He is currently Vice President of the Academy of Orthopaedic Physical Therapy.
James started downhill skiing at age 11, where his love for skiing was discovered. He later worked as a traveling physical therapist for over 10 years in a wide variety of settings. For 8 winters as a traveler and 5 years in a full-time capacity, James worked at Aspen Valley Hospital, situated among four world class ski mountains, treating a wide variety of skiing-based injuries in outpatient, acute care, and emergency room settings. He served as the primary therapist at Aspen Valley Hospital’s slopeside walk-in medical clinic and outpatient Physical Therapy clinic at Snowmass Ski Area from 2019 to 2021.
Kate and James have worked as Physical Therapists in 7 states. They have skied together in 7 states and Canada. After settling down in Aspen full-time, they now own a private practice, Ajax Physical Therapy. They have two daughters who are becoming great skiers. The family loves to explore the beautiful Rocky Mountains in all four seasons. James is a rabid recreational skier in his free time and spends his summers running, hiking, and swimming while he waits for another winter. Kate enjoys uphilling, cross country skiing, and hiking, as well as baking and reading a good book at home. Both wear helmets and dream of someday skiing in Hawaii.