Meet Dr. Trae Mingus

As the founder of Apex Performance & Physical Therapy, my goal is simple: help athletes and active individuals recover completely, perform at their highest level, and return to doing what they love with confidence.

I'm an Asheville native and have spent my career working with athletes from youth sports and high school athletes to collegiate competitors and professional football players. My background combines physical therapy, athletic training, and strength & conditioning, allowing me to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and performance.

I earned my Doctor of Physical Therapy degree from Western Carolina University and I am also a Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC), Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), and Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). I am also certified in dry needling, giving me another tool to help patients reduce pain, restore movement, and accelerate recovery.

One of the most influential experiences of my career was working with the Indianapolis Colts, where I served alongside the medical and performance staff providing both physical therapy and athletic training services. Working in the NFL provided unique opportunities to manage athletes throughout the entire rehabilitation process—from the treatment table to on-field rehabilitation and return-to-sport progression. That experience reinforced my passion for helping athletes safely return to competition with confidence rather than simply becoming pain-free.

Throughout my career, I've developed extensive experience treating orthopedic injuries with a special interest in return-to-sport rehabilitation. I particularly enjoy working with ACL reconstruction and other knee injuries, helping athletes regain strength, power, confidence, and the ability to compete at their previous level. I also have a strong background treating overhead athletes, including baseball, softball, volleyball, tennis, and pickleball players, where performance depends on efficiently transferring force through the entire body—not just the shoulder or elbow.

My philosophy is that rehabilitation shouldn't stop when the pain goes away. True recovery means restoring strength, movement quality, confidence, and sport-specific performance so you can return to your activity prepared for the demands it places on your body. Every treatment plan is individualized, combining hands-on care, movement analysis, strength training, and performance principles to help you achieve lasting results.

When I'm not in the clinic, you'll usually find me spending time with my wife and daughter, hanging out with our two dogs, exploring everything Western North Carolina has to offer, or staying active outdoors. Being part of the Asheville community is something I'm proud of, and I love helping the people in my hometown stay healthy, active, and doing the things they enjoy most.