From the Ice to Pelvic Health: My Journey to Kandor

I grew up in Alberta, Canada, where competition and teamwork shaped every season of my childhood. Winter meant early mornings at the rink, lacing up my skates to play hockey with the boys; spring and summer brought long days on the softball diamond and volleyball courts. Each sport taught me something different: the grit to keep pushing when the game got tough, the resilience to bounce back from setbacks, and the undeniable power of a strong team working toward a common goal.

Those lessons carried me south to the University of Minnesota, where I joined the Golden Gophers and had the incredible honor of being named team captain, twice, by my peers. Leading a team that talented was humbling and inspiring. We worked hard, played harder, and built bonds that still last today.

A Defining Challenge

During our 2004 national championship season, I faced one of the biggest challenges of my life. Early in the season, a broken leg threatened to end my year before it truly began. The road to recovery was grueling, long hours of physical therapy, moments of doubt, and a constant mental battle to stay focused on the goal. But every step back onto the ice reminded me that healing is rarely linear, and perseverance pays off.

When we ultimately raised the championship trophy, it wasn’t just a team victory. It was a personal milestone that cemented my love for the process of recovery. That experience ignited a desire to help others through their own injuries and health challenges, showing them that strength and healing are possible even after major setbacks.

Family, Lake Life, and Minnesota Roots

Today, Minnesota is still home. My husband, Andrew, and I have two energetic kiddos who keep our days full and our calendars colorful. Whether it’s coaching their sports teams, shuttling to practices, or cheering from the sidelines, family life is wonderfully busy.

When the Minnesota summer finally arrives, you’ll find us near the water: boating, swimming, or simply soaking in the calm of lake life. These moments on the lake give us space to reconnect, recharge, and appreciate the balance between a full professional life and cherished family time.

Discovering Pelvic Health

After earning my doctorate and beginning my career as a general orthopedic physical therapist in Glencoe, MN, I felt confident I’d found my lifelong path. I loved helping patients regain strength and mobility after injuries and surgeries. But one patient changed the course of my career forever.

A family medicine physician asked me to consult on a long-term care resident who was experiencing recurrent UTIs and hospitalizations for sepsis. As we worked together, I recognized that addressing her pelvic health—an area rarely discussed openly—was the key to reducing those hospital visits and dramatically improving her quality of life.

Seeing her transformation opened my eyes. It wasn’t just about physical recovery; it was about restoring dignity, confidence, and a better day-to-day life. In that moment, a new passion took root.

Building Specialized Programs

That experience inspired me to pursue specialized training in pelvic health, with a particular focus on peripartum care. I helped launch the first postpartum physical therapy program at Glencoe Regional Health, where we met with every new mother before discharge and ensured each had a clear, supportive plan for continued care.

Later, I joined Twin Cities Orthopedics, where I expanded pelvic health programming and worked alongside an incredible team to make this vital service accessible to more patients. These years were invaluable, sharpening my clinical skills and deepening my understanding of how comprehensive pelvic care can change lives.

The Birth of Kandor PT + Pelvic Health

Despite those rewarding experiences, a vision kept nudging me forward: creating a practice where care could be truly individualized, free from the constraints of insurance rules and the “one diagnosis at a time” mindset.

That dream is now reality: Kandor PT + Pelvic Health. Here, I can offer a different kind of care, whether in a welcoming clinic space or through a concierge model that allows me to travel to patients throughout the Southwest Metro. Together, we create an evidence-based plan for your entire body, designed to meet you exactly where you are and evolve as you do.

Care without Limits

At Kandor, I provide both pelvic health and orthopedic physical therapy with a trauma-informed lens for all genders and life stages. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, managing incontinence, living with prolapse, or experiencing pain that’s been dismissed or minimized elsewhere, you deserve care that sees and hears you fully.

I’ve built a strong network of trusted physicians, surgeons, and allied health professionals, ensuring you receive the most comprehensive support possible. My approach is collaborative and patient-centered, because healing is rarely one-size-fits-all.

You deserve more than just 'live with it'!

Too often, people are told that symptoms are a “normal” part of aging or postpartum life, or that nothing more can be done. I’m here to challenge that narrative. You never have to simply “live with it.” Whether you’ve tried physical therapy before without success or felt dismissed by previous providers, there’s always another path forward and a fresh perspective to explore.

Walking the Journey Together

Our bodies are dynamic and ever-changing. That’s part of being human, and it deserves care that adapts right alongside you. By combining evidence-based techniques with compassionate listening, I partner with each patient to navigate those changes, empowering you to reclaim your health and enjoy a full, active life.

Healing is a journey, and I’m honored to walk it with every patient who trusts me with their care. Together, we’ll work to turn the corner on the challenges holding you back and celebrate the milestones along the way.

-Kelsey