Stephen G. Warfel II, PT, DPT, MTC, FFMT, FAAOMPT

Primary Therapist, Co-Owner of KinetiChain

Steve has been practicing Manual Physical Therapy since 2001. His education journey began at Penn State, where he had the good fortune of working in research and athletic settings in the exercise physiology program. For two years he was a trainer and tester for the US Army Study, which evaluated the ability of women to gain strength, and physiological changes with a strength training regimen. After finishing with the military study, he was accepted as a trainer for varsity sports at Penn State. For two years he trained athletes ranging from wrestling to women’s lacrosse with High-intensity training (HIT) philosophy.

Dr. Warfel graduated from Penn State University with a B.S in Exercise Physiology in December of 1999 and was accepted to Physical Therapy School at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USA). St. Augustine’s curriculum was focused on orthopedic manual therapy with extensive anatomical detail, coupled with biomechanical evaluation, and treatment to the involved regions. He completed his Master’s and Doctorate degrees in Physical Therapy at USA in 2001 and 2002 respectively, earning high honors and the Manual Therapy Certification (MTC). Upon leaving Florida, he accepted a position at HealthSouth in Lakewood, CO, and began studying with the Institute of Physical Art.

Steve completed the Institute of Physical Art (IPA) curriculum and achieved the Certification in Functional Manual Therapy (CFMT) with honors. After completing certification, he began lab assisting IPA courses, which gave him valuable experience, but also lead to an invitation from the IPA to complete a yearlong fellowship in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.

Steve worked diligently academically and clinically to improve his skills and broaden his knowledge base over the year-long program. After graduating and achieving fellow status with IPA and nationally with the American Association of Orthopedic Manual Therapists (AAOMPT), he accepted a permanent position at Johnson & Johnson Physical Therapy as a staff PT as well as co-fellowship instructor. This opportunity to teach and work with skilled therapists continued to broaden his horizons and fuel him to seek additional training and knowledge.

Dr. Warfel has been working on the viscera, craniofacial region, and airway since 2014, presenting with Dr. Brad Gilden at the American Academy of Physiological Medicine & Dentistry (AAPMD) conference in 2016. He continues to study these regions in-depth and develop new treatments to improve physiology as well as biomechanical function.  Over the last five years, his focus has been on treatment to the brain and heart.  Working with these areas has opened the door to restoration of function following concussion, brain injury, general surgery, and dysautonomia.  Diagnoses such as congestive heart failure, asthma, hypertension, and fatigue can be addressed and improved upon!

An avid outdoorsman, Steve enjoys snowboarding, hiking, running, and mountain biking. He has raced mountain bikes at CAT 1 level for ten years for Feedback Sports out of Golden, CO. He has completed multiple trail marathons and endurance cross country mountain bike races, highlighted by he and his wife’s first place in Summer Grand Traverse 2016. Above all, Steve enjoys spending time with his family; his wife Heidi and daughters Finley and Isla and their cat Pippen.

Brad Gilden, PT, DPT, CFMT, FAAOMPT, FFMT, CSCS

Co-Owner of KinetiChain, Elite Health Services, IPA Physio Manhattan

Brad has been practicing orthopedic and sports physical therapy since graduating from New York Medical College in 2000. He has worked in a variety of settings treating patients with various neurological, orthopedic, airway, TMJD and sports injuries. In 2004, he completed a clinical doctorate in upper quarter & hand therapy from Drexel University. He joined Elite Health Services as a managing partner and rehabilitation coordinator in 2005 and co-founded IPA MANHATTAN Physical Therapy in 2011.

Brad follows the approach of a Functional Manual Physical Therapist treating movement dysfunction and postural awareness. His focus is on restoring efficient mobility and strength while integrating patients back to their highest level of function. He enjoys working with all diagnoses and has extensive experience treating patients with neck pain, headaches, airway and breathing difficulties, sleep disorders and other related issues. In 2010, he completed an intensive certification in functional manual therapy through the Institute of Physical Art, passing with honors. In 2014 he completed a three-year-long fellowship in functional manual therapy through the American Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy (AAOMPT).

Technology, along with 19 years of experience, allows Brad to identify breathing pattern disorders and malocclusions related to poor posture, injury, and faulty behavioral patterns. He has developed a physiology laboratory to measure how stress impacts the autonomic nervous system, amplifying pain and inflammation.

Brad has worked with many professional, collegiate and recreational athletes. He has also helped thousands of patients suffering from symptoms related to poor posture, stress and various breathing pattern disorders. He is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA), American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy (AAOMPT) and the American Academy of Physiological Medicine and Dentistry (AAPMD). He lectures at various medical conferences around the country and his local community on the adverse effects of breathing pattern disorders and chronic sympathetic load on the human body. 

An avid outdoorsman, Brad enjoys skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and fly fishing. There is no better place for these activities than Colorado. He has always enjoyed taking his family on vacation in Colorado, inspiring him to open KinetiChain Integrated Manual Physical Therapy  in the Pitkin Valley and spend more time in the Rocky Mountains. He enjoys a multitude of sports and completed his first NYC Marathon in 2008 and Olympic Triathalon in 2013. Brad takes a lot of pride in his businesses and education, but enjoys time with his family more than anything.

Zachary Garcia, PT, DPT

Physical Therapist

Zach has been a practicing Physical Therapist since 2019. Zach grew up in Texas in a region of the state known as “the Rio Grande Valley” on the most southern tip of the state. He played soccer and basketball which is what grew his love for exercise, health, and performance training. This led Zach to study kinesiology during his undergraduate career at Schreiner University in Kerrville, Texas. After his undergraduate studies, he was accepted into the University of Saint Augustine for Health Sciences Doctor of Physical Therapy program in Austin, Texas. Zach has been living in Austin since beginning his Doctoral program in 2017.

Zach’s higher education began at Schreiner University where he received his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science. While studying exercise, Zach was fascinated by the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system and knew that being a Physical Therapist would be the right path for him. Between graduating from Schreiner and starting his DPT program, Zach worked his final year as a Beach Patrol Lifeguard in South Padre Island where he was a supervisor that led lifesaving efforts and coordinated medical emergencies daily. During this last year of beach patrol service, Zach trained a group of lifeguards to take on the USLA national lifeguard competition for the first time in the beach patrol’s history.

Zach excelled in his DPT program, largely due to his prior understanding of biomechanics and anatomy from his time at Schreiner, and graduated with High Honors. During his time as a student, he had the opportunity to do a clinical rotation at Johnson & Johnson Physical Therapy (JJPT) in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. In Steamboat, he was introduced to the Institute of Physical Art(IPA) curriculum and was able to take courses in Functional Mobilization and Proprioceptive Neuromuscular Facilitation(PNF). Between the 2 IPA courses and his 3 months with JJPT, Zach developed a passion for performing and learning manual physical therapy treatment to compliment his skills in exercise prescription. Zach returned to Austin after his time in Colorado and began working for the manual-therapy-focused company, Results Physiotherapy.

While living and working in Austin, Zach had the opportunity to work with various populations from high level athletes, people with chronic pain, and those with neurological disorders. Zach also started a side hustle working from a local gym where he treated both recreational athletes and avid weightlifters. Zach has moved to the Roaring Fork Valley to learn from Steve Warfel and his Integrated Manual Therapy approach and to help grow his practice in the region. This will progress his manual therapy skills and clinical reasoning so that he can continue to improve his knowledge of the human movement system and continue to keep his patients healthy & doing the activities they love.

An avid athlete and outdoorsman, Zach continues to play soccer and train for his various athletic endeavors. Zach enjoys snowboarding, surfing, fly fishing, mountain biking, hunting, and hiking with his Australian Shepard, Cooper. Moving to the Roaring Fork Valley will be an amazing experience to enjoy all these mountain activities that are challenging to do in his home state of Texas. Zach hopes to become integrated into the community and be a steward for both the enjoyment and protection of these beautiful mountain landscapes and ecosystems.

Alice Dee

Clinic Administrator

Alice Dee is the Clinic Administrator at KinetiChain Integrated Manual Physical Therapy. Bringing over six years of expertise in business consulting and operational management, Alice specializes in enhancing organizational efficiency and client satisfaction through innovative strategies and diligent leadership.

At KinetiChain, Alice manages aspects of clinic operations, ensuring everything from patient scheduling and facility management to compliance with health standards is handled with precision and care. Her role is pivotal in maintaining the high standards of service and operational excellence that KinetiChain is known for.

Alice is not only passionate about her career but also enjoys an active lifestyle outside of work. She is an avid hiker, surfer, yoga enthusiast, and traveler, which allows her to maintain a healthy work-life balance and stay connected with nature and diverse cultures. These activities reflect her commitment to health and wellness, a core value that she brings to her professional role at KinetiChain.

Alice’s professional and personal dedication makes her an integral part of the KinetiChain team, where she continues to contribute to its success and uphold its mission to provide outstanding care and service.