BIO.
Dr. Steve Kim founded KIN with the goal of providing highly personalized physical therapy to address the unique needs of each client. He recognized two key issues within the physical therapy industry: the tendency for generalized, one-size-fits-all treatments and the lack of specialized care for niche athletes such as climbers, snowboarders, surfers, and weightlifters. Driven by his passion for helping people return to the activities they love, Dr. Kim strives to offer individualized treatment that supports both rehabilitation and injury prevention.
With extensive experience working with a diverse population—from youth athletes to active adults—Dr. Kim specializes in treating a wide range of orthopedic conditions, particularly shoulder, neck, and low back pain. His expertise in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy (MDT) with the McKenzie Institute enables him to deliver effective, evidence-based care. Additionally, he specializes in rock climbing injury rehabilitation and prevention, having trained with Rock Rehab (the Climbing Doctor). His manual therapy skills include Functional Mobilization, acquired through the Institute of Physical Art (IPA), and Instrument Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) with Aquire.
Dr. Kim's personal experience with pain and injuries has further shaped his approach to physical therapy. Having dealt with chronic low back pain and climbing and surfing-related shoulder and hand injuries, he understands the challenges of recovery and is committed to helping his clients achieve full and lasting recovery.
Outside of his professional life, Dr. Kim enjoys bouldering at Dogpatch Boulders, surfing up and down the California coastline, snowboarding at Northstar, and playing pick-up basketball. He is also a dedicated fan of the Georgia Bulldogs and the Golden State Warriors.
TESTIMONIALS.
“Steve was instrumental in getting over a myriad of upper body issues and returning to climbing. When I started working with Steve my left shoulder and elbow were completely stopping me from climbing and I was unsuccessful for about 9 months of working with another PT. Over the next 3 months using the plan Steve developed I was able to completely fix the elbow issue and make huge progress on the shoulder. Steve was incredibly helpful over the 6 months as I began to climb harder to keep me healthy through suggesting reintroduction plans and troubleshooting as smaller tweaks popped up. Now I’m climbing my hardest ever with little to no pain!”
“I injured my arm last year, and experienced severe stiffness in my neck and shoulder for over eight months. After just three sessions with Dr. Kim, I’m feeling significantly better and nearly back to normal. Our sessions focus on arm mechanics, lifestyle adjustments, and targeted strengthening exercises for me to practice during the week. Dr. Kim’s approach is highly effective, and he creates a comfortable environment, even for beginners! I’m excited to continue seeing progress and can’t recommend him enough!”
“I’ve dealt with a series of injuries over the past decade, including multiple ACL tears and a shoulder labrum tear. Over the years, I’ve worked with several physical therapists, but Steve is by far the best. From day one, he took the time to understand my condition in detail, listening to my pain points, identifying compensating muscles, and adjusting my treatment plan as needed.
What stood out most was how hands-on and collaborative Steve was throughout the process. He didn’t just assign exercises; he worked with me to set clear, realistic goals and helped me achieve them in a structured way. His approach was methodical yet adaptable, always fine-tuning based on my progress.
Six months later, I’m running again—something I hadn’t done in over five years—and in better shape than I’ve been in a long time. I couldn’t have gotten here without Steve’s expertise and guidance. He helped me rebuild both my body and my confidence. Highly recommend him to anyone looking to recover from an injury.”