Dr. Katie van den Heuvel, PT, Performing Arts Medicine

04/13/2026

Uphill All the Way! ⛰️

Eddie and I took on the Rattlesnake Mountain trail in the Cascades today. It was two miles of almost nonstop uphill trekking, but the beautiful Pacific Northwest spring vibes made it worth every step! 🌸

We hit Stan’s Overlook for a well-earned snack and water break while soaking in those gorgeous valley views. Everything is starting to bloom - the trees are budding, the water is flowing, and the weather was absolutely perfect. 🌳

It was great to share the trail with so many other hikers and a very diverse (and adorable) assortment of trail dogs! 🐾

Coming down was definiely easier on the heart rate, but the legs were certainly feeling that climb! 😊

04/12/2026

A Nerd Day Out in Seattle! ☔️✨

Eddie and I took the scenic route to Seattle Center with a transit trifecta: bus, Link, and the Monorail!

Outside of the museum was a fun park with a labyrinth, poems, and interactive musical fence among the play structures.

MoPOP (The Museum of Pop Art) was an absolute blast. Getting to see props and costumes from Star Wars, Doctor Who, Star Trek (and more!) up close was incredible - the Borg and Darth Vader are just as intimidating in person, and I really enjoyed comparing the anatomy of a Terminator to human anatomy. Seeing Buttercup’s dress from The Princess Bride was a total “as you wish” moment, and seeing Gimli’s helmet made the fantasy fan in me very happy.

We also squeezed in some music history and education (that guitar tower is iconic!) and grabbed the mandatory Space Needle selfie while walking by. It was the perfect way to spend a day off and get some miles in!

02/14/2026

Our life together has been a beautiful, “go with the flow” adventure. From navigating several Army relocations to our current season of life, your kindness has been my constant.

Even now, as my work in performing arts medicine takes me across the oceans on cruise ships, you remain my anchor and my support. Thank you for the Marco Polos that bridge the miles, the endless GIFs that make me laugh, and the thoughtful way you champion my passion from near and far.

Now that we are free to look for our next permanent home base somewhere in the world, we know the destination doesn’t matter. As long as we are connected, we are already home.

I love and appreciate you! Happy Valentine’s Day!

02/14/2026

Learning, connecting, and celebrating the physical therapy profession with at !

01/30/2026

Eddie and I drove down to Miami with one primary goal: to share a little sweetness with the incredible Entertainment Department on Scarlet Lady. 🚢✨

I had so much fun hand-crafting these Lemon, Strawberry, and Triple Chocolate cake truffle balls, and I am so happy they found their way into such deserving hands. A massive thank you to everyone who braved the chilly, rainy Miami weather and busy turnaround day to say hi. It was truly wonderful to catch up with such amazing friends!

A huge shout-out to and , who are officially my ‘Truffle Ambassadors’ on board. Keep being the absolute stars you are, and I’m wishing the whole team an incredible rest of your contracts!

Sea you down the road! ❤️⚓️

10/27/2025

Squeezing in a quick nighttime walk somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean.

10/05/2025

Last night, a chapter officially closed on the Scarlet Lady. Duel Reality had its final performance on this ship.

For over 11 incredible months total, across two ship contracts and five different casts, this show has been my clinic, my classroom, and my family. Working with the extraordinary performers of Duel Reality taught me more than anything else could about the intricacies of circus performing arts medicine.

I became intimately familiar with the demands of banquine, hooping and hoop diving, teeterboard, aerial chains, juggling, diablo, and hand-to-hand, treating everything from sprained thumbs, joint dislocations, and concussions, to contusions and pole burns.

But my job was so much more than tape and treatment. It was sharing holiday meals, celebrating birthdays, and watching every single show from the front row—noting hard impacts, missed tricks, and altered facial expressions. I’ve been there to successfully rehabilitate performers to finish their contracts, and to support those who needed to disembark for recovery. I’ve gone to bat for our casts with ship medical and security to make sure they were supported and protected.

After every show where there were no injuries, I gave my report: “Cast is happy and healthy.”

Last night, I gave that report one final, proud time before hanging up my coms. Thank you, Duel Reality. I will never forget what I learned from you.

09/21/2025

09/10/2025

Pain is a lot more complex than you may think! It’s not a direct measure of tissue damage, but rather an output from your brain, designed as a protective alarm system.

That alarm can be influenced by your biology, your thoughts, your emotions, and even your environment (including the people and places).

So, what can you do about it? By learning more about pain science (like reading this post 😆), by managing your stress through options like meditation and connecting with your support group, and by doing things you enjoy, you can help calm your body’s alarm system.

To understand this game-changing concept in a fun, entertaining way, check out resources like Lorimer Moseley‘s TEDx talk on “Why Things Hurt” and the Brainman animated video on “Understanding Pain in less than five minutes”

08/09/2025

To everyone working to heal and recover from an injury, this is for you.

Healing is not a straight line!

The recovery journey is a winding road, not a steady, upward climb. Setbacks and plateaus are a completely normal part of the process.

Every recovery path has its turns. Celebrate every small victory along the way, and remember that even during the challenging moments, you’re building the resilience needed for the long haul.

Stay patient with yourself, and trust the process. You’ve got this.

—

07/24/2025

Ahoy everyone! It’s been a bit, and I’m so excited to jump back in and share with you all. For those new here, I’m , and I’m a Doctor of Physical Therapy!

My clinic? Often at sea! 🌊 I work with a company that contracts with Virgin Voyages, bringing care to incredible talent and crew members as they sail the world. I specialize in Performing Arts Medicine, working with everyone from singers, dancers, and actors to circus artists, musicians, roadies, and technicians – basically, anyone who makes magic happen both onstage and backstage!

When I’m not helping performers stay in tip-top shape, you can usually find me exploring new cities on foot, getting happily lost in a foreign grocery store, or diving into a great sci-fi or fantasy book. I’m a huge fan of music, love visiting historic spots, and enjoy hiking in nature. My life’s a fun mix of healing and adventuring!

I can’t wait to share more about my adventures at sea and my passion for performing arts health!

I’m heading to the British Isles and Iceland for the very first time, and I’m beyond excited!

If you’ve been, what are some of your absolute favorite places, hidden gems, or must-see spots to look out for in the ports there? Share your best recommendations below!