Athletico Health Resources

Taut bands can exist within your body that disrupt blood flow to your muscles. The affected area can become an acidic environment and begin to radiate pain elsewhere in the body. Trigger points are when those taut bands start to refer pain elsewhere. A technique called dry needling can help with this referred or local pain. Dry needling is a skilled intervention that uses a thin filiform needle to penetrate the skin and release underlying myofascial trigger points, muscular and connective tissues. It can help manage neuromusculoskeletal pain and movement impairments. Dry needling is used for a variety of diagnoses, from headaches and migraines to low back pain. This helpful technique is also a treatment option for plantar fasciitis. This condition often affects endurance athletes.

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A common question we get as physical therapists is, “What can I do to stretch this tight muscle?” While stretching may seem like the best method to treat a tight muscle, stretching may also not always be the answer. Muscle tightness can be caused by weakness or tightness of the muscle, and weakness in surrounding muscles. Most commonly, all of these things are involved on some level, which causes a muscle to tighten.

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On August 24th, 2021 we proudly celebrate a significant milestone – our 30th anniversary! We can’t help but look back and reflect on our humble beginnings. It all started in 1991 when Mark Kaufman founded Athletico as a one-clinic organization that offered athletic training services to a local Chicago high school and rugby club.

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Work conditioning is a somewhat misunderstood program. Some think it is for injured workers who have failed acute therapy, some believe it is the last chance before a patient reaches the end of care, and some assume it is acute physical therapy but with more lifting involved.

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Physical therapy is something that we all can benefit from. From major accidents to minor injuries, a stint in physical therapy may do wonders in relieving that nagging pain and resuming normal function. But physical therapy isn’t just for athletes. Some actors and entertainers will utilize physical therapy to perform at their best. Some celebrities will even keep a physical therapist on staff. Here are just some examples:

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You may have heard about dry needling and the various benefits it can offer. You may have even considered pursuing this treatment options for yourself but have hesitated because of one burning question you have and are a little intimidated to ask. When it comes to dry needling, what you want to know is – is it effective?

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At Athletico, our clinicians undergo advanced training and pursue certifications, for the experience and education necessary to provide our patients with the highest standard of care. For this reason, we take a moment to recognize the clinicians who have committed to their education and their practice in becoming board-certified as an Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist (OCS). These credentials are designated by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS) to those who have successfully become board-certified clinical specialists working with orthopaedic diagnoses.

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Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, the dreaded injury. Many people know ACL tears are a severe injury, involving a long road of recovery despite surgical or conservative intervention. The ACL is a sturdy ligament deep in the knee joint that stabilizes the knee, specifically with rotational movements. There are two ways to injure your ACL, direct contact or non-contact. A direct contact ACL injury is when the knee takes a direct blow from another person or object. A non-contact ACL injury occurs when pivoting, cutting, twisting, or landing on the knee.

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