On the Road with U.S. Soccer
Editor’s Note: Athletico has been a partner of U.S. Soccer for more than 10 years. As the Official Provider of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training to the organization, Athletico provides athletic training support for all of the men’s and women’s soccer teams, which includes traveling with the teams both domestically and internationally. This special blog post will chronicle our athletic trainers’ experiences both on and off the field traveling with these teams. (more…)
Meet Athletico Athletic Trainer Tony Garofalo
The Athletic Training Program has been a cornerstone for Athletico Physical Therapy since Mark Kaufman founded the company 22 years ago. Affiliations now include all of the major professional teams in Chicago, as well as thirteen colleges, seventy nine high schools, the US Soccer Federation and multiple elite affiliates. The most senior of Athletico’s 200+ athletic trainers (ATs) is Tony Garofalo, ATC, who has 43 years of experience including his service as the Chicago Cubs Head Athletic Trainer from 1977 though 1986. During his illustrious career Tony has worked in the high school, college, professional, elite, and clinical settings and is a member of the Illinois Athletic Trainers Association (IATA), St. Benedict University, and St. Louis University Halls of Fame. He is also a founding partner of the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS). We caught up with Tony and asked him about the highlights of his career. (more…)
Working with the Pros: Keeping the Fire on the Field
Athletico’s Jake Bronowski has scored won of the most sought after positions in the massage world: he is the team massage therapist for the Chicago Fire of Major League Soccer. He is a highly skilled and experienced massage therapist and is well-deserving of this role. Working so closely with these elite athletes is a fun and rewarding experience for Jake, and he states that developing relationships with everyone involved in the Fire organization is the best part!
Jake was kind enough to answer my questions about what it is like to work with this very special population. (more…)
Keeping Dancers Dancing: The Inside Story on Working with Performing Artists
As the lead physical therapist with the Joffrey Ballet, Athletico’s Jennifer Janowski has come to equate working with dancers to working with family, as she spends quality time with the dancers while on tour for a performance. Janowski looks forward to the moments right after a show ends when everyone has a chance to relax, grab dinner together, and come off the adrenaline high from the performance, sharing stories from the day. But to get to this moment of reflection and relaxation, a lot of hard work and preparation needs to take place for both the dancers and their physical therapist. (more…)
Medical Mission to Honduras Changes Lives
* Editor’s Note: For the past 5 years, Athletico has supported and participated in a week-long medical brigade in Honduras through Global Brigades. Athletico volunteers have helped in supportive roles such as interpreting, running the pharmacy, triage, dental staffing, and this year, formal physical and occupational therapy. Over 600 patients were seen this year by Athletico volunteers, physicians, nurses, dentists, and other volunteers. This special entry is written by Athletico physical therapist Sarah Holt, who shares with us her experience as a volunteer with this year’s brigade. (more…)
