Dr. Dillon Balkin, a Montgomery County native, attended Cold Spring Elementary, Frost Middle School, and graduated from Wootton High School in 2009. As a teen, Balkin faced challenges and often found himself in trouble. His turning point came when he landed a job as a chiropractic assistant, which gave him direction. After a year at Montgomery College, he studied kinesiology, earning his bachelor’s at the University of Maryland, before earning his Doctoral degree in Chiropractic and a focus in sport injury rehabilitation from Palmer College of Chiropractic in Florida. Balkin calls this decision life-changing, allowing him to work in sports like surfing, running, and CrossFit competitions.
After working as a chiropractor at Bethune-Cookman University, where he focused on improving athletes’ reaction times, recovery, and performance, Dr. Dillon Balkin returned to Montgomery County to pursue his dream of working with NFL players. In 2019, he opened Optimal Performance in Rockville. His first professional football client was Cardale Jones of the DC Defenders, leading to a connection with the late Dwayne Haskins, then quarterback of the Washington Commanders. Haskins introduced Balkin to several other key players, helping expand his client base within the NFL.
In June, Dr. Dillon Balkin connected with Jayden Daniels, and they quickly began working together. On the first day, Balkin applied his comprehensive approach, focusing on preparing Daniels’ body to handle hits by putting him through controlled compromised positions. Balkin praised Daniels’ work ethic, noting how dedicated he is to studying football and staying motivated. Their sessions, held twice weekly, focus on injury prevention and maintaining peak performance. Balkin also highlighted the influence of Daniels’ mother, Regina, who plays a key role in his discipline and is a major advocate for recovery.
Dr. Dillon Balkin emphasizes that while many athletes seek him out after injuries, Jayden Daniels works proactively, staying ahead of potential issues. “Jayden puts in the work ahead of time. He wants to be five steps ahead,” Balkin notes. Balkin sees his role as just one part of the puzzle, alongside other factors like nutrition and sleep. Balkin has also previously worked with notable athletes such as Stefon Diggs, Montez Sweat, and Jordan Hawkins. Diggs, in particular, prioritizes his body, even scheduling “tune-ups” with Balkin during tight windows.
Dr. Dillon Balkin’s Optimal Performance Rehab is currently located at 110 N Washington St Suite 207 in Rockville. He is opening a new flagship location on Shady Grove Road in July 2025 with details on the opening coming soon.
