Return to sport (RTS) after an upper extremity injury shouldn’t be based on time alone — and it definitely shouldn’t stop at “it doesn’t hurt anymore.” For athletes, especially those who lift, throw, grapple, strike, or collide, the shoulder, elbow, and wrist must demonstrate strength, stability, and power under load . Below are some of the most useful upper extremity RTS tests  we use in physical therapy to determine whether an athlete is truly prepared to return to training

When it comes to physical therapy, most people assume that their insurance is the best way — or only  way — to access care. But at its core, physical therapy is about helping you recover faster, move better, and get back to the life you love . That’s why more people are choosing cash-based physical therapy — where you pay for value, quality, and results  — instead of letting insurance dictate your care. 1. You Get Real, One-on-One Care — Every Session In many insurance-based

“What are you talking about, a gorilla would totally beat up a kangaroo?” Not quite what we are talking about. Let’s compare and contrast a kangaroo and gorilla and see what different qualities they possess and how they can help our athletic development.  When you think about a kangaroo, what do you think of? Probably that they are springy, hop quickly, and spend little time on the ground when they are moving.  When you think about a gorilla, what do you think of? Probably th

Returning to running after an injury is one of the most common — and most poorly handled — transitions in rehabilitation. At RPE Physical Therapy , we believe in one simple principle: Assess. Don’t guess. Running is a high-impact, repetitive activity that places significant demands on the body. Without objective testing, returning too soon (or progressing too quickly) increases the risk of reinjury, lingering pain, or stalled performance. Unfortunately, many runners are clear

Dry needling is a treatment option commonly used in sports physical therapy, but it’s often misunderstood. Some clinics market it as a cure-all, while others avoid it entirely. At our cash-based sports physical therapy clinic in Pittsburgh , we take a more balanced, evidence-informed approach. Dry needling is not a standalone solution , and it is not the primary reason athletes get better . Exercise, progressive loading, and sport-specific training drive long-term adaptation.

If you consider yourself an athlete—whether you compete in youth sports, college athletics, professional leagues, or simply train at a level that increases the physical demand on your body—your performance and recovery deserve more than the limitations of traditional insurance-based physical therapy. The cash-pay model isn’t just a different payment structure; it’s an entirely different approach to care. For athletes who want faster results, personalized programming, and trea

It is imperative to be seen by a rehab professional that has a robust framework for your return to sport (RTS) journey, especially after major surgery like an ACL reconstruction. Too often, I have seen athletes go through rehab underloaded, poorly measured, and mismanaged. As an athlete or parent, it is hard to know the difference between misguided rehab and great rehab.  “What gets measured, gets managed.”  If a healthcare provider does not understand the countless metrics t

ACL tears are frequently discussed in sports media and are a major concern for high school athletes participating in court or field sports. Nearly every competitive athlete knows someone who has torn their ACL and undergone the extensive physical therapy required for recovery. This raises the question: what exactly is the ACL?

We have all heard the term “plyometric” before, but what really are plyometrics? I am sure if I asked you to list some, you could name a few, and may list some exercises that your high school coach told you are plyometrics but really are not. Jumping, sprinting, throwing, cutting, hopping, to name a few. But what really are plyometrics?