Did you know massage therapists in Illinois need 750 hours of learning and training to qualify for licensing?  A typical curriculum would consist of Anatomy 1 and 2, Pathology, Physiology,  Kinesiology, Palpation, Clinical integration, Ethics, Hydrotherapy, and Alternative complementary therapies.

A skilled massage therapist should know how to assess a range of motion for all joints, assess your gate and posture upon viewing, utilize Orthopedic testing if necessary, assess your information from your intake form, and talk to you about your concerns.

After doing these things, massage therapists should be able to use their knowledge of anatomy and massage therapy to devise a plan for treating you that day. Usually, our goal is to find the source of your pain and eradicate it through various massage techniques and modalities.

Sometimes the therapist may check for pain or abnormalities in areas other than where you are experiencing localized pain because often times the source...

We often get questions regarding what exactly is an athletic trainer, and how they differ from a personal trainer or a physical therapist.  We have two Certified Athletic Trainers at our office that perform your daily rehab exercises including, but not limited to manual therapy, graston therapy and exercises.  Below we have broken down information regarding an Athletic Trainer vs. a Personal Trainer.

ATHLETIC TRAINER

An athletic trainer is an expert at recognizing, treating and preventing musculoskeletal injuries. ATs meets qualifications set by the Board of Certification, Inc., and adhere to the requirements of a state licensing board. ATs practice under the direction of a physician and are members of a health care profession recognized by the American Medical Association.

Requirements:

• Must obtain, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in athletic training
• Must pass a comprehensive exam to earn the ATC credential
• Must keep their knowledge and skills current by...

Have you ever wondered who are those people standing on the sidelines of a football or basketball game with the fanny pack and and always running out on the field or court for an injured athlete?  Well those people are Licensed Athletic Trainers and they do more work than most people realize. Athletic Trainers (ATs) are health care professionals who collaborate with physicians. The services provided by ATs comprise prevention, emergency care, clinical diagnosis, therapeutic intervention and rehabilitation of injuries and medical conditions. Athletic training is recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as a healthcare profession.

Athletic trainers can work in a variety of settings such as; professional and collegiate sports, secondary and intermediate schools, sports medicine clinics, hospital ER and rehab clinics, occupational settings, fitness centers, physician and chiropractic offices.

Students become eligible for BOC (Board of Certification)...