Today we’d like to introduce you to Alyssa Kuhn
Hi Alyssa , so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I was working as a physical therapist seeing patients after total knee and hip replacements and I quickly realized the holes in the healthcare system that exist for patients with osteoarthritis. Surgery was viewed as the only option for many. People were missing out on vital prevention and pain relieving measures due to lack of resources, available healthcare and an understanding of their options. It was the last straw when I met a patient who previously was very active and had gone through 6 total knee revisions due to infections and other complications, which turned her life upside down.
After this I realized I had to get to these patients sooner. I wanted to help fill in the gaps for those dealing with arthritis and bring hope. Osteoarthritis is a very common condition and surgery actually isn’t inevitable. Certainly there is a time and a place for it, but not as a first line treatment that so many receive prematurely. I set out on a journey to spread information regarding not only how to find pain relief but how to bring adventures back to life.
Keep the Adventure Alive was founded. I started putting information everywhere including instagram, facebook, pinterest, youtube and started a podcast. I wanted to spread the web so I could reach as many people as possible. One of the reels I made for instagram went viral and kickstarted my business. My husband and I both work together to keep the business running.
We’ve evolved from an online course to a membership and now people are accomplishing things they never thought were possible. We’ve garnered an amazing and supportive community, something that was lacking for those with osteoarthritis. Now, we are continuing to grow our membership (Adventurers for Life), the youtube channel and our community.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Certainly obstacles have been encountered along the journey. For example, our business relies heavily on technology and we all know how reliable that can be! We’ve been learning so much along the way. Neither my husband nor myself had any previous experience with video/audio editing so that has been an uphill battle but I think we are finally figuring it out. I just like to view everything as a test. That way, if something doesn’t go right, you learn from it and move on. This is something that took quite a bit of time to learn as it was initially difficult not to take everything personally.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I graduated physical therapy school from Ohio State University. Prior to starting Keep the Adventure Alive I worked in home care which means I treated people in their own homes and drove all over the place. Since taking the plunge and specializing in osteoarthritis I have been able to focus all of my efforts there including staying up to date on research, getting different perspectives from patients and finding the gaps in information for the public. Honestly, I’m most proud of everything my members, followers and subscribers have been able to accomplish, not only physically but mentally as well. Confidence is a superpower with osteoarthritis and helping people become more informed so they can advocate for themselves is a big goal of mine I continue to strive for each and every day.
Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
Consistency. In a world that has so much information available at our fingertips, in order to stand out, I think the best approach is continuing to show up. It helps foster trust and genuinity that I really want to help and will do everything I can to do so. Social media can be brutal. Burn out is very real. Constantly coming up with new ideas can be a struggle at times. These are simply obstacles I continue to work to overcome. Just like exercise, it’s hard to see results without consistency.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://keeptheadventurealive.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/adventurealive/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@arthritisadventure
