Today we’d like to introduce you to Mick Janusko.
Hi Mick, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I didn’t grow up planning to be a physical therapist or a business owner. I just loved sports, competing, and being active.
In high school, basketball was my thing. Going into my senior year, I fully expected to play at some level in college – until a freak water-tubing accident changed everything. I tore my ACL, PCL, and medial meniscus. I tried to push through, played my senior season on a damaged knee, and eventually had surgery.
I did everything I was told in rehab. I worked hard. I followed the plan. But right when rehab actually mattered most – the return-to-sport phase – my insurance visits ran out. As an 18-year-old, I was sent on my way with a few exercises and no real plan for progression. I ended up re-tearing my ACL trying to train on my own.
That experience is what led me into physical therapy… and also what showed me early on where the traditional model falls short.
I became a physical therapist in 2014 and spent the early part of my career in the traditional physical therapy model, improving my skills while seeing a high volume of patients. I loved helping people. There’s nothing better than meeting someone at a low point and knowing you can help them move, train, and live again. But over time, I kept seeing the same problem – care decisions being dictated by insurance instead of by the athlete, the family, and the rehab team.
One moment really solidified it for me: I was treating a high school football player already committed to play in college. He was progressing, but nowhere near ready for the demands of football. Insurance decided he was “done.” I appealed. I documented. I made phone calls. None of it mattered.
We made it work through extra coordination, home programming, and communication – but it shouldn’t have to be that hard to do the right thing.
That’s when I knew there had to be a better way.
My wife Kaylee (also a physical therapist) and I started Active Family Physical Therapy to create the type of care we wish existed when we were patients and clinicians inside the system. A model where:
You aren’t rushed
You work 1-on-1 with your PT for a full session
Care is built around your goals, not visit limits
Rehab blends seamlessly into performance, strength, and real life
We work primarily with gym environments because that’s where real movement happens. We don’t just want people “out of pain” – we want them confident, resilient, and capable long-term.
Active Family PT exists so rehab isn’t the thing that holds people back – but the thing that helps them move forward.
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?
No – it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road.
While physical therapy school did an excellent job laying the foundation for my clinical skills, I had zero formal education on business during my doctorate program. Nothing on marketing, finances, systems, leadership, or how to actually build and sustain a practice.
Everything related to business was self-learned. That meant learning through trial and error – making mistakes, asking questions, investing in mentors, reading, listening to podcasts, and figuring things out in real time while still being a clinician, a husband, and a father.
In many ways, the clinical side felt clear. The business side felt like learning a completely different profession from scratch. That process was challenging, but it also shaped how Active Family Physical Therapy operates today. We’re intentional about building a practice that not only delivers high-quality care, but is sustainable, transparent, and built to truly serve the people who walk through our doors – without burnout or compromise.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Active Family Physical Therapy?
Active Family Physical Therapy is a cash-based physical therapy and performance practice built for people who want to stay active for life.
We work primarily with active adults, athletes, and families who value their health and don’t want pain or injury to be the reason they stop doing what they love. That includes gym athletes, runners, field and court sport athletes, youth athletes, and adults who simply want to keep training, moving, and living well as they get older.
What we do best is bridging the gap between traditional physical therapy and performance-based training. Rehab doesn’t stop once pain goes down. We focus on movement quality, strength, load tolerance, and confidence so people don’t just “feel better,” but actually return to the gym, the field, or daily life stronger than before.
We specialize in:
Sports and orthopedic rehabilitation
Return-to-sport and return-to-gym training
Injury prevention and movement assessments
Strength and performance-based rehab for youth and adult athletes
What truly sets us apart is how care is delivered. Every session is one-on-one with a licensed physical therapist for a full 60 minutes. No techs, no handoffs, no rushed appointments. Care decisions are made by the therapist and the client – not an insurance company.
We operate out of gym environments because that’s where real movement happens. Instead of isolated machines and short visits, we train in the same spaces people actually live and compete in. That allows rehab to naturally blend into strength training, performance work, and long-term health.
Brand-wise, what we’re most proud of is trust. People know that when they come to Active Family PT, they’ll be listened to, educated, and given a plan that makes sense for their goals. We don’t believe in cookie-cutter programs or passive treatment. Clients are active participants in the process.
We want readers to know that physical therapy doesn’t have to be something you “get through.” It can be a turning point – the place where you finally understand your body, learn how to train around injuries, and build confidence moving forward.
Active Family Physical Therapy exists to help people stay strong, capable, and active – not just now, but for years to come.
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that outcomes are rarely driven by just one factor.
Even though my work focuses heavily on the physical side of health, I’ve learned that real progress is shaped by knowledge, mindset, and effort across all areas of life – not just rehab or training. That applies to family, fitness & health, faith, friendships, and business.
Knowing what to do is where things begin. Education creates clarity and direction. But knowledge alone doesn’t create change.
Mindset is what carries you through the hard seasons – when progress is slow, motivation is low, or things don’t go as planned. Without the right mindset, it’s easy to quit when things get uncomfortable.
Effort is what ultimately determines the outcome. Consistent, intentional effort – even when it’s not perfect – is what moves the needle over time.
That framework guides how I approach my own life and how we care for our clients. When people understand what they’re doing, believe in the process, and stay committed through challenges, the results tend to take care of themselves.
Pricing:
- We like to talk with people about pricing on a discovery call
Contact Info:
- Website: https://activefamilypt.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/activefamilypt/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61562944615020
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ACTiveFamilyPT
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/active-family-physical-therapy-jacksonville
