Patient Education Archives - Forward Physical Therapy

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Is the Best First Stop for a Work Injury

Jedd Wellenkotter

The Doctor of Physical Therapy Is the Best First Stop for a Work Injury You got hurt at work. What […]

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What It Means to Be Independent

Jedd Wellenkotter

What It Means to Be Independent Before my wife Kristen and I started Forward Physical Therapy, we both worked in

What It Means to Be Independent Read Post »

Physical Therapy Leads the Research on Shoulder Pain

Jedd Wellenkotter

Behind the Research — Shoulder Pain This is part of our “Behind the Research” series — where we pull the

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Physical Therapy Leads the Research on Low Back Pain

Jedd Wellenkotter

Behind the Research — Low Back Pain This is part of our “Behind the Research” series — where we pull

Physical Therapy Leads the Research on Low Back Pain Read Post »

Back Pain? See a Doctor of Physical Therapy First. No Referral.

Jedd Wellenkotter

Your back hurts. It might feel like something shifted, something is out of place, or something is broken. You find

Back Pain? See a Doctor of Physical Therapy First. No Referral. Read Post »

Your MRI Shows a Rotator Cuff Tear. But Does It Matter?

Jedd Wellenkotter

A 2025 systematic review in the Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy — the profession’s leading research journal —

Your MRI Shows a Rotator Cuff Tear. But Does It Matter? Read Post »

Your Physical Therapist Should Be Testing Your Ventilatory Thresholds. Here’s Why.

Jedd Wellenkotter

This is why “go for walks” is not a prescription. For many patients, walking never reaches VT1 — it is

Your Physical Therapist Should Be Testing Your Ventilatory Thresholds. Here’s Why. Read Post »

You Probably Don’t Have Sciatica. Here’s What You Actually Have.

Jedd Wellenkotter

If you have pain shooting down your leg, you have probably been told you have sciatica. It is one of

You Probably Don’t Have Sciatica. Here’s What You Actually Have. Read Post »

Is Your Physical Therapy Appointment Weeks Away? You Have Options.

Jedd Wellenkotter

You are in pain. You call to schedule physical therapy. The earliest available appointment is 4 to 6 weeks out.

Is Your Physical Therapy Appointment Weeks Away? You Have Options. Read Post »

Rotator Cuff Tear: Do You Actually Need Surgery?

Jedd Wellenkotter

You got an MRI. It shows a rotator cuff tear. The next question is almost always: do I need surgery?

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Frozen Shoulder: Here’s What We Know and Here’s Where to Start

Jedd Wellenkotter

Frozen shoulder — adhesive capsulitis — is one of the most frustrating conditions a patient can experience. The stiffness comes

Frozen Shoulder: Here’s What We Know and Here’s Where to Start Read Post »

Shoulder Pain: Expert Evaluation, Conservative Care, and When to Refer.

Jedd Wellenkotter

Shoulder pain deserves a thorough evaluation before any decision about treatment is made. Not an image. Not an injection. An

Shoulder Pain: Expert Evaluation, Conservative Care, and When to Refer. Read Post »

Numbness in Your Arm? It Might Not Be Carpal Tunnel. Sciatica Down Your Leg? Here’s What Actually Helps.

Jedd Wellenkotter

You have numbness running down your arm. Your grip feels weak. Someone says carpal tunnel. You have shooting pain down

Numbness in Your Arm? It Might Not Be Carpal Tunnel. Sciatica Down Your Leg? Here’s What Actually Helps. Read Post »

Your Shoulder Hurts. But Is It Your Shoulder?

Jedd Wellenkotter

Your shoulder hurts. It could be a dozen different things. And the right treatment depends entirely on figuring out which

Your Shoulder Hurts. But Is It Your Shoulder? Read Post »

Can I Run, Jump, or Play Sports After a Knee or Hip Replacement?

Jedd Wellenkotter

Can you run after a total knee replacement? Jump? Play pickleball, tennis, basketball? Hike steep terrain? The peer-reviewed evidence says yes. Here’s what the data shows and what your rehab should look like.

Can I Run, Jump, or Play Sports After a Knee or Hip Replacement? Read Post »

You Don’t Need a Referral for Physical Therapy in Wisconsin. Here’s Why That Matters.

Jedd Wellenkotter

Most people don’t know this. You can see a physical therapist in Wisconsin without a doctor’s referral. It’s called direct

You Don’t Need a Referral for Physical Therapy in Wisconsin. Here’s Why That Matters. Read Post »