
Achilles Rehab Mastery: $100 Testing Tools, RTP Benchmarks & PT-Surgeon Communication
APTA Orthopedics Podcasts - Previously Ortho StaticShow Notes
Join Stephania Bell, PT, OCS Emeritus, CSCS, senior writer and injury analyst for ESPN, as she sits down with Heather Milligan, PT, OCS, SCS, founder of Elite OrthoSport Physical Therapy & Performance, to explore the nuances of guiding athletes safely back to sport—from NFL quarterbacks to weekend warriors.
In this episode, Heather shares clinical reasoning, affordable assessment tools, and communication strategies that drive successful outcomes for all patient populations.
You’ll learn: - Clinical reasoning & progression strategies - Affordable, objective assessment tools - Return-to-sport benchmarks - PT-surgeon communication excellence - Managing elite vs. everyday athletes - Case study insights
Whether you treat elite athletes or general orthopedic patients, you’ll gain actionable insights to elevate your practice.
Target Audience: Physical therapists specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine, PTs treating Achilles injuries (surgical and conservative), Physical therapy students, residents, and new graduates, Athletic trainers and strength & conditioning coaches, Clinicians seeking improved surgeon communication and collaboration, Rehab professionals working with limited budgets and equipment, PTs bridging the gap between general and elite athlete care, Anyone interested in functional progression and return-to-sport decision-making
More from APTA Orthopedics Podcasts - Previously Ortho Static
Total knee replacements are climbing about 4% a year, and the updated 2026 Total Knee Arthroplasty Clinical Practice Guideline is here to help clinicians keep up. In this episode of Did You Know?, Lori Thein Brody and Jill Thein-Nissenbaum talk with guideline authors Dr. Allie Bove (University of Pittsburgh) and Dr. Michael Bade (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus).
This episode of the Did You Know podcast dives into the newly revised 2026 Clinical Practice Guideline for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Hosts Lori Thein Brody and Jill Thein-Nissenbaum sit down with three of the guideline's expert contributors — Mia Erickson, Marsha Lawrence, and Kylie Scott — to unpack what changed since the 2019 version and what it means for clinical practice.
Join hosts Jill Thein-Nissenbaum, PT, MPT, ATC, DSc, SCS and Lori Thein Brody, PT, ATC, PhD, SCS for the next episode of Did You Know?, featuring guest Dave, a fellow healthcare professional.
Join ESPN's Stephania Bell, PT, OCS Emeritus, CSCS, as she sits down at the TPC Team Physician Controversies Meeting with Dr. Norman Waldrop — orthopedic surgeon at Andrews Sports Medicine, Team Physician for the University of Alabama, and Team Physician for the New Orleans Saints.
Join hosts Jill Thein-Nissenbaum and Lori Thein Brody for the next episode of Did You Know?, featuring guest Mark Paterno, PT, PhD, Clinical Scientist and Senior Clinical Director at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. In this episode, Mark shares groundbreaking research on ACL re-injury risk — including the surprising finding that athletes who meet return-to-sport criteria AND have high knee-related confidence are 10 times more likely to sustain a second ACL injury. The conversation digs into the biopsychosocial factors influencing outcomes, the importance of guiding athletes through the full return-to-sport continuum, and exciting pilot data on "booster visits" — intermittent PT check-ins after discharge — that may improve patient-reported outcomes, physical activity levels, and long-term sports participation. If you work with post-ACL patients, this episode will challenge how you think about criteria, confidence, and your role beyond the clinic.