Frequently Asked Questions

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Sports Physical Therapy & Performance in Algonquin, IL

Have questions about physical therapy, sports rehabilitation, performance therapy, sports recovery, or working with Athletic Edge and Wellness? Here are answers to some of the questions we hear most often.

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1. Getting Started

Do I need a doctor's referral for physical therapy?

No. Illinois allows patients to access physical therapy without first obtaining a physician's referral in many circumstances. You can contact Athletic Edge and Wellness directly to schedule an evaluation. During your evaluation, your physical therapist will determine whether physical therapy is appropriate for your condition. If additional medical evaluation, imaging, or another healthcare provider is needed, we can help guide you to the appropriate next step.

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What happens during my first physical therapy visit?

Your first visit begins with a comprehensive evaluation.

We discuss your symptoms, injury history, goals, sport, activity level, and what you want to accomplish. Your physical therapist then evaluates relevant areas such as mobility, strength, movement, stability, and functional limitations.

From there, we develop an individualized plan based on your goals and the demands of your activities or sport.

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What can I see a physical therapist for?

Physical therapists can evaluate and treat many orthopedic and sports-related conditions, including shoulder pain, elbow and wrist injuries, back pain, hip pain, knee injuries, ankle and foot problems, muscle strains, tendon injuries, sports injuries, post-surgical conditions, and movement limitations.

At Athletic Edge and Wellness, we also specialize in sports-specific rehabilitation, return-to-sport programs, throwing injuries, arm care, performance therapy, and injury prevention.

 

How long is a physical therapy appointment?

Appointment length depends on the type of service and your individual treatment plan.

We offer different appointment options, including longer sessions when appropriate for comprehensive rehabilitation, performance work, or recovery services. Most of our sessions last between 50-60 minutes. 

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What should I wear to my appointment?

Wear comfortable athletic clothing that allows you to move freely.

Depending on your injury or sport, you may benefit from wearing shorts, athletic pants, a T-shirt, or other clothing that allows your physical therapist to evaluate movement and the affected area.

Athletes should also bring appropriate athletic footwear when relevant.

 

Do you treat non-athletes?

Absolutely. While Athletic Edge & Wellness specializes in sports physical therapy and performance, we also treat active adults and non-athletes who want to move better, recover from injury, and return to the activities they enjoy.

Our approach is individualized to your goals—whether that means returning to the gym, a exercise class, staying active, recovering from surgery or injury, or simply improving strength, mobility, and confidence in movement.

You don't have to be an athlete to benefit from an athlete-focused approach to physical therapy.

 

2. Sports Physical Therapy

What makes sports physical therapy different from traditional physical therapy?

Sports physical therapy considers more than the injured body part.

We look at the athlete as a whole—including mobility, strength, movement patterns, balance, stability, conditioning, sport demands, position, workload, and the specific requirements of returning to competition.

For an athlete, being pain-free is often only the beginning. The goal is to progressively restore the physical qualities needed to practice, compete, and perform.

 

When should my young athlete see a physical therapist?

An athlete does not have to be seriously injured to benefit from physical therapy. Physical therapy can be helpful when an athlete has pain, recurring injuries, movement limitations, strength or mobility deficits, difficulty returning to sport, or concerns about performance or injury risk.

For young athletes, early evaluation can also help identify areas that may need attention before they become larger problems.

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Do you treat athletes who aren't currently injured?

Absolutely.

You don't have to be injured to benefit from physical therapy. Athletes can use assessments and performance-focused services to identify limitations in mobility, strength, movement patterns, stability, and physical capacity before they become bigger problems.

Our goal is not simply to help athletes feel better. It is to help them move better, build capacity, perform better, and stay ready for their sport.

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Do you provide return-to-sport rehabilitation?

Yes.

Returning to sport is more than simply waiting for pain to go away.

Our rehabilitation programs progressively rebuild the physical qualities required for an athlete's sport and position. Depending on the injury, this may include strength, mobility, endurance, power, agility, running,  jumping, cutting, throwing, or other sport-specific activities. For throwing athletes, return-to-throwing is progressed systematically rather than simply based on a calendar date.

 

Do you treat athletes from sports other than baseball and softball?

Yes! We treat athletes from all sports. We have worked with professional athletes from the MLB, NBA, NFL, professional soccer, professional volleyball, United States Polo Association, United States Tennis Association, and Professional Dancers (Joffrey Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Kansas City Ballet)

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Do you work with youth athletes?

Yes. We work with athletes across different ages and levels of competition, including youth, middle school, high school, collegiate, and advanced-level athletes.

Treatment is adapted to the athlete's age, development, sport, training demands, injury, and goals.

 

3. Baseball, Softball and Overhead Athletes

Do you specialize in baseball and softball?

Yes. Baseball and softball are major areas of specialization at Athletic Edge and Wellness.

We work with youth, high school, collegiate, and professional baseball, MLB, and softball athletes, including pitchers and position players.

Our services include shoulder and elbow rehabilitation, arm care, throwing assessments, return-to-throwing programs, injury prevention, performance therapy, and sport-specific rehabilitation.

 

Do you treat throwing injuries?

Yes. We work extensively with overhead throwing athletes experiencing shoulder, elbow, or other throwing-related problems.

Common conditions include rotator cuff injuries, shoulder pain, labral injuries, UCL injuries, Little League shoulder, Little League elbow, and other throwing-related conditions.

Treatment is individualized based on the athlete, diagnosis, physical findings, sport demands, and throwing goals.

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What is a Throwing Assessment?

A throwing assessment evaluates the physical and movement demands involved in throwing.

Depending on the athlete and assessment, we may examine mobility, strength, stability, movement patterns, throwing mechanics, sequencing, and other factors that may affect performance or injury risk.

Video analysis may also be incorporated to provide additional information about the throwing motion.

 

What is an Arm Care Assessment?

An Arm Care Assessment is designed to evaluate the physical qualities that contribute to a healthy and effective throwing arm.

We look beyond the shoulder and elbow to consider the entire kinetic chain, including mobility, strength, scapular control, trunk function, hip and lower-extremity contribution, and movement efficiency.

The goal is to identify areas that may need attention and develop an individualized plan for maintaining arm health and improving performance.

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Can you help me return to throwing after an injury or surgery?

Yes. We provide individualized return-to-throwing programs for baseball and softball athletes.

The progression depends on the athlete's injury, healing status, physical readiness, throwing demands, workload, and response to increasing stress.

Your program may progress through different levels of throwing volume, distance, intensity, and sport-specific activity as appropriate.

 

What is The Full Count Assessment?

The Full Count is Athletic Edge and Wellness' comprehensive assessment designed to look at the athlete as a whole.

Rather than focusing only on the throwing arm, The Full Count examines the body from the ground up to identify areas of limited mobility, weakness, asymmetry, movement deficiencies, and other opportunities for improvement.

Know your body. Own your performance.

The Full Count is particularly useful for athletes who want a deeper understanding of their physical strengths and areas for improvement before or during their competitive season.

 

What is the difference between The Full Count and the SCORE Movement Screen?

Both assessments evaluate movement and physical limitations, but they serve different purposes.

SCORE is a movement screen designed to identify areas of mobility, strength, stability, and movement limitations.

The Full Count is a more comprehensive athlete-focused assessment that incorporates a broader evaluation of the body and its relationship to athletic performance, with particular relevance to baseball and softball athletes.

We can help determine which assessment is appropriate based on your goals.

--Not sure which assessment is right for you? We can help determine which option best fits your goals, sport, and current needs.

4. Payment and Scheduling

Do you accept insurance?

Athletic Edge and Wellness operates as a self-pay physical therapy and performance practice rather than an in-network insurance provider. This allows us to focus on individualized care and treatment based on the athlete's needs rather than insurance visit limitations or predetermined treatment guidelines. Sports performance is not a covered service by insurance. 

If you have questions about payment or reimbursement, contact us before your first visit.

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How quickly can I get an appointment?

We work to accommodate new patients as quickly as possible based on current availability.

If you are dealing with an acute injury, have an upcoming competition, or need guidance about whether you should continue participating, contact us and we can discuss the appropriate next step.

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Do you offer evening and weekend appointments?

Yes. We understand that athletes have practices, games, school, work, and training schedules.

Athletic Edge and Wellness offers evening and weekend appointment availability to help make sports physical therapy fit into your schedule.

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How long will I need physical therapy?

The length of care varies from person to person. Factors may include the type and severity of the injury, whether surgery was involved, your physical condition, training demands, goals, and how your body responds to rehabilitation. Our average number of visits is 6-8.  Our goal is to provide the appropriate care needed to help you progress toward your goals—not simply keep you in therapy longer.

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5. Athletic Edge Approach

How is Athletic Edge and Wellness different from a traditional physical therapy clinic?

Athletic Edge and Wellness takes a sports-focused, individualized approach to physical therapy. We look beyond the injured area to understand how mobility, strength, movement, stability, conditioning, workload, and sport-specific demands affect your ability to move and perform.

Our goal isn't simply to reduce pain. We help you restore physical capacity, return to the activities you enjoy, and—when appropriate—build toward higher levels of performance.

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Will I receive hands-on treatment?

Yes.

Hands-on treatment may be incorporated when appropriate. Depending on your individual needs, treatment may include manual therapy, soft-tissue techniques, ASTYM, cupping, RockTape, Voodoo Flossing, mobility techniques, or other appropriate interventions.

These techniques are used as part of an overall treatment plan—not as a replacement for restoring strength, movement, and physical capacity.

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Can I come to Athletic Edge if I have already been discharged from physical therapy?

Yes.

Some athletes finish traditional physical therapy when basic activities are tolerated but still don't feel ready for their sport, training program, or previous level of performance.

Athletic Edge and Wellness can help bridge the gap between rehabilitation and full athletic participation, including strength development, movement training, sport-specific activities, return-to-play preparation, and performance-focused care.

 

Do you use sports recovery treatments?

Yes.

Our sports recovery services can be used to help athletes manage training demands, recover between competitions, and prepare for upcoming activity.

Depending on your needs, recovery services may include Normatec, manual therapy, cupping, ASTYM, RockTape, 3D Mobility, Voodoo Flossing, and electrical stimulation.

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Do I see the same physical therapist each visit?

Yes! You will see the same physical therapist each visit. 

 

What if I am not sure whether physical therapy is right for me?

That's exactly what an evaluation is for.

If you're experiencing pain, limited movement, decreased performance, recurring injuries, or uncertainty about returning to your sport, we can evaluate the problem and help determine an appropriate course of action.

If your condition requires medical evaluation, imaging, or another specialist, we can recommend that you seek the appropriate medical care.

 

Where are you located?

Athletic Edge and Wellness is located at:

1213 S Main St.
Algonquin, IL 60102

We serve athletes and active individuals throughout Algonquin, Huntley, Crystal Lake, Barrington, Elgin, Cary, Carpentersville, Hampshire, McHenry, and the surrounding Northwest and Chicago-area communities.

 

Still Have Questions?

You don't have to figure out your injury, rehabilitation plan, or return-to-sport process on your own.

Whether you're dealing with an injury, preparing for a season, returning from surgery, trying to improve your performance, or simply want to understand your body better, Athletic Edge and Wellness can help you determine the next step.

 

Ready to Get Started?

Move Better. Perform Better. Be Better.

Contact Athletic Edge and Wellness in Algonquin, IL to schedule your physical therapy evaluation, sports assessment, performance session, or recovery appointment.

Call 224-505-3343 or schedule your appointment today.