About AOK Physical Therapy
AOK PT was founded with a simple goal: to give our patients more.
More one-on-one care, more efficiency, more fun, and more education—every single session.
Our Mission:
AOK PT is on a mission to redefine physical therapy.
We are dedicated to cultivating a community where movement becomes a bridge to self-discovery and meaningful connections.
We are dedicated to empowering our patients to achieve sustainable, long-term success, enabling them to live to their fullest potential in order to inspire both themselves and those around them.
Our Purpose:
At AOK Physical Therapy, our purpose is to be a trusted leader in orthopedic-specialized physical therapy, renowned for empowering individuals to embrace their potential and live healthfully and purposefully.
We envision a future where our patients—through our support and education, are equipped to achieve their goals and enrich their lives continuously through movement.
Frequently Asked Questions
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We provide 1:1 care for the full hour, which means we are out-of-network with all insurance plans. However, we can provide a superbill for out-of-network benefits. We accept all major credit cards and FSA/HSA cards.
Why 1:1?
Traditional PT clinics juggle multiple patients at once, leading to less skilled treatment and longer recovery times. At AOK PT, we prioritize efficiency, education, and results—our patients complete therapy in 40-60% fewer visits than conventional PT.
With our cash-based model, you know the cost upfront—no surprise bills or insurance hassles. This allows us to focus entirely on your recovery, ensuring you get the highest quality care in every session.
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At insurance-based clinics, PT sessions often include brief time with the therapist, exercises with support staff, and passive treatments like heat or ice—which may feel good but won’t fix the problem.
At AOK PT, every session is a full hour, 1-on-1, and focused on solving the root cause of your issue through exercise, education, and hands-on techniques.
Your first visit includes a deep dive into your history, a full assessment, and targeted treatment. Each session builds on the last, ensuring steady progress in mobility, strength, and endurance. Wear workout clothes so we can assess and treat effectively!
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A referral for physical therapy is not required to start PT; however, we are required to get one in order to continue after two weeks from your first visit.
If you don't have a primary care provider or a referral this won't affect your ability to start PT. We can facilitate by connecting you with a great provider for quick easy access to the care you need.
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At AOK Physical Therapy in Austin, we take a hybrid approach to rehab and training, treating you as a whole person—not just an injury. As a cash-based practice, we eliminate insurance restrictions, allowing us to provide the care you truly need, without limitations on treatment type or duration. This gives us the flexibility to take a holistic, movement-focused approach to your recovery and performance.
Whether you’re a rock climber, runner, or weekend warrior, we tailor our treatment to fit your specific goals. Our performance-based model doesn’t just get you out of pain—it helps you stay that way. We believe movement is the best medicine, so we take an active approach to keep you strong, resilient, and doing what you love.
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At AOK Physical Therapy, we provide the highest level of care for Austin’s rock climbers, runners, and active individuals—simple as that.
No other clinic in Austin provides the same expert 1-on-1 treatment, full-hour sessions, and personalized approach centered entirely on your goals.
Whether you're recovering from an injury or optimizing your performance, we’re here to help you move with confidence and get back to doing what you love.
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We specialize in helping patients recover from injury and improve sport performance while optimizing fitness.
Common diagnosis include but are not limited to: Sprains and strains, Headaches, Neck Pain, Temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction, Rotator Cuff tendinopathy, Hand, wrist, and elbow injuries, Frozen shoulder, Ligament tear, Meniscal tears, Intervertebral disc degeneration, Herniated or ruptured discs, Radiculopathy, Sciatica, Spondylolisthesis, Traumatic injury, Postural Dysfunction.
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At AOK PT, we’re athletes, climbers, and runners ourselves, so we get it. Staying active and injury-free is key to doing what you love. Investing in proper mobility and training now is far more cost-effective than rehabbing an injury later. That’s why we offer wellness, maintenance, and injury prevention services to keep you strong, healthy, and moving at your best.
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Not at all! While AOK PT specializes in treating runners and rock climbers, you don’t have to be an athlete to benefit from our care. We treat a wide range of orthopedic conditions and help anyone looking for expert physical therapy, rehabilitation, or strength training.
No matter your activity level, we’re here to get you moving and feeling your best.
Dr. Shelby Burbank
Shelby is a committed physical therapist with a passion for helping her patients. She listens attentively to her patients and delivers personalized care, empowering them to reach their goals.
Shelby earned her Master’s in Exercise physiology in 2019 and her Doctorate in Physical Therapy in 2022 from Baylor University. She also completed an orthopedic residency program in 2023 to further refine her clinical reasoning skills.
As a former college soccer player who watched many of her teammates suffer from injuries—and the victim of an ACL tear herself—Shelby is always ready to provide a sympathetic ear and to help her patients regain strength, function, and achieve their fullest potential.
Outside of the clinic, Shelby enjoys staying active by hiking, running, skiing, climbing, playing pickleball, lifting weights, and participating in most other outdoor activities. She finds it hard to beat an early morning workout followed by coffee with friends. And she also has a totally justifiable (or maybe not) addiction to running shoes.
Dr. Sam Brown
Sam attended Northeastern University in Boston and completed its 6 year combined undergrad/grad program, earning his DPT in 2019. He stayed in Boston for another 2 years to start his career before doing travel PT on the West Coast and eventually returning to his childhood city of Austin. After 5 years working in the corporate, 2-3 patients-an-hour sphere he felt burned out from not being able to spend enough time with his patients and feeling the quality of care diminish. He is thrilled to work at AOK and be able to treat patients with the energy, time, and quality that they deserve.
As an active climber who has suffered from pulley injuries and a broken elbow, Sam knows the frustration of being held back from the wall and is excited to expedite the return of as many injured climbers as he can. Outside of the clinic, Sam enjoys staying active by climbing, occasionally lifting weights, and (even more) occasionally going for a run. His current goal in his personal life is to train his cat into becoming a crag cat.
Dr. Jack Dowling
Jack is a physical therapist who is passionate about delivering evidenced based care personalized to meet the individual goals of his patients.
After earning his DPT from Belmont University, Jack worked in a clinic specialized in treating high performance athletes including Olympians, NFL, MLB, WNBA, college, and high school athletes. He is dedicated to helping anyone who views themselves as an athlete recover from injury and return to their sport.
Outside of the clinic Jack competes in professional ultimate frisbee with the Austin Sol, traveling throughout the country for games in a quest to return to championship weekend and bring home the league title to Austin for the first time. He also enjoys climbing, hiking, and playing disc golf, as well as hunting for treasures of thrifted clothes and vinyl.
Owner & Founder, Dr. Alyssa O’Krent
Dr. O’Krent (she/her) graduated from St. Edward’s University prior to earning her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from University of Texas Medical Branch.
After a 9 year career in corporate orthopedic physical therapy, Dr. O’Krent saw an opportunity to transform the patient experience by providing 1:1, specialized care. She started AOK Physical Therapy to create a more enjoyable and effective way to return her patients to doing what they love.
Schedule a free phone consultation with Dr. O’Krent today and experience firsthand what AOK PT can do for you!