- Patients

Patient Success Stories

Athletico Physical Therapy is dedicated to providing outstanding patient care and personalized service on a daily basis. Patients tell their story best and we wanted to share their successful experiences with everyone. For your chance to be featured on our Patient Stories page submit your comeback story!

This Month’s Featured Patient:

“I am a professional dancer with Giordano Dance Chicago, and during rehearsal—just the day before a performance—I tore my meniscus. It was such a heartbreaking moment. I reached out to Caitlin, who immediately checked to see what was going on. She helped me get to a doctor and an MRI scan, where I learned I would need surgery. The recovery time depended on the type of surgery, which could range from 4–6 weeks to 4–6 months. It was another heartbreaking moment, as I knew we had many exciting places to tour with Giordano Dance Chicago.

I knew recovery was 97% mental. Caitlin Carroll, my physical therapist, was my coach, therapist, and biggest supporter. During the season, I observed rehearsals and dance classes, took notes, and visualized myself dancing with my team. For two months, I just watched. Gradually, I started taking barre classes, taking it one step at a time. Then one day, Caitlin told me I could start jumping. I was shocked. ‘Really?!’ I asked.

That first jump brought me to tears—I was so happy. Jumping and dancing in the air are my favorite things because they make me feel like I’m flying. By the third month of recovery, I was back to leaping, and it felt incredible.

Caitlin has helped me reach my dream. Not only physical guidance but also mentally. She never gave up on me and was always there for whenever needed. I got back stronger than ever and many achievements and dreams have come true.”

Clinic: Gold Coast – Chicago, IL

2024 Patient Stories:

William Heckinger Balance/Strength Hanover Park, IL	David Mazzier Wrist Injury St. Peters, MO	Judy Maneval Knee Replacement Hawley, PA

John Shafer Knee Replacement Ravenswood, IL	Michelle Stewart Meniscus Surgery Chicago, IL	Fonsa Brody Occupational Therapy Dallas, TX

Matt Powers Leg Pain Chicago, IL	Rowan Reyes Ankle Sprain Grand Rapids, MI	Mark Diamond Upper Extremity Battle Creek, MI

Philip Werner Back Pain Phoenix, AZ	Kristen Trukova Knee Surgery Gurnee, IL	Alex Baker Endurance Brownsburg, IN

2023 Patient Stories:

Mary Beth Stout Shoulder Surgery Monee, IL	Tony Simpkins Pelvic Health Therapy Pickerington, OH	Ron And Carolyn Schwarz Rotator Cuff/Knee Butler Hill, MO

William Moore Shoulder Dislocation Commerce Township, MI	Alison Frandsen Labral Tear McFarland clinic	Steven Reynolds Nerve Disorder (NMO) Dayton, OH

Ava English Labral Tear Mount Pleasant, IA	Annie Welch Concussion Niles, IL	Felicia Walden Surgery/Pain Zionsville, IN

Timothy Voss Shoulder Pain Des Plaines, IL	Annette Shambaugh Lumbar Stenosis Stow, OH	Sara Foster Occupational Therapy Fenton, MO

2022 Patient Stories:

Julie Nelson ACL/Knee Injury Bettendorf, IA	Jeff Surdej Lower Back Pain Wilmington, IL	Lindsey Cavlovic Multiple Injury Rehab Omaha, NE

Marsha Behrens Psoas Muscle Oregon, IL	Brian Stevens Arm/Leg Rehab Cape Girardeau, MO	Darcy Welsh Knee Rehab Bourbonnais, IL

Bob Marino Knee Rehab Fenton, MO	Tiffany Timmermann ACL Injury Vermillion, SD	Sami Callihan Broken Ankle Wright State, OH

Sheila Frost Low Back Pain Bloomfield Hills, MI	Nancy Wilson Hip Replacement Clear Lake, IA	Bianca Allor Sciatica Shelby Township, MI

Past Patient Stories:

Laura Jarvis General Pain Hamburg, MI	Adam White Dislocated Shoulder & Fractured Pelvis/Hand Vernon Hills, IL	Alina Barnett Total Knee Replacement & Kidney Transplant McKinley Park (Chicago), IL
Madison Steskal Torn Labrum & Fractured Tibia Elgin, IL	Pawan Verma Aches and Pains Naperville, IL	Hailey Newill Torn Labrum Fremont, NE
Sukanta Majumdar Shoulder & Knee Pain Carmel, IN	Ariane May Sciatic Nerve Pain Westerville, OH	Richard Guzik Nerve Injury – Arm Norridge, IL
James Bychowski Torn Meniscus Glenview, IL	Rick Kron Ruptured flexor pronator tendon South County, MO	Armando Trinidad Multiple Sclerosis Rolling Meadows, IL
Jill LaFreniere Torn Labrum Collinsville, IL	Mitchell Hahn Torn Meniscus Fremont, NE	Carolyn Thomas Fractured Humerus Evanston, IL
Abby Schmidt Back/Hip Western Springs, IL	Andrea Weber Trimalleolar Fracture Menomonee Falls, WI	Frank Tomaszewski General Pain Collinsville, ILS
Sara Aitken Quad/Glute Pain Prairie Village, KS	Grace Gau Broken Foot Colleyville, TX	Joe Gray Elbow Surgery Bucktown (Chicago), IL
Sandy Kindred Shoulder Surgery Ottawa, IL	August White Fractured Ulna Mesa East, AZ	Austin Antoni AC Joint Sprain Castleton (Indianapolis), IN
Jennifer Dawson Tibia and Fibula Break West Des Moines, IA	Merron Hart Ruptured Hamstring Ankeny South, IA	Austin Farley Concussion Niles/NW Chicago, IL
Tess Eckhoff ACL Tear New Albany, OH	Kathy Furteck Lower Tibia Stress Fracture New Lenox East, IL	Joseph Weber Lower Back Pain Rockford, IL
Jan Sinclair Partial Knee Replacement Brighton, MI	Karen Krohn Knee Pain Oak Brook, IL	Janine Renault Knee Pain Niles-Northwest Chicago
Mekenzie and Karrington Vandermolen Chronic Pain Grand Rapids, MI	Thiri Haubrich Lower Back Pain Paddock Lake, WI	Laura Stonitsch Dizziness, Headache, Spine Pain Channahon, IL
Marianne Meeder Muscle Imbalances Fenton, MO	Ashley Barnett Post Spinal Surgery Bloomington, IN	Steven Huber Post Rotator Cuff Surgery Tinley Park, IL
Madison Slattery Broken Finger Orland Park, IL	Nora Bestor Guillain-Barre Syndrome Schaumburg, IL	Stephanie Rupp Post-Chrondroplasty Overland Park, KS
Carl Carlson Post-Spinal Fusion Kenosha (Aquatics), WI	Mary Smeltzer Broken Shoulder Gold Coast (Chicago)	Brian Kolz Broken Wrist Vernon Hills, IL
Michael Ferconio Knee Replacement Lisle, IL	Eden Fisher Broken Elbow Sioux Falls, SD	Michael Affeldt Torn Achilles Bucktown (Chicago)
Nicole Harris Hip Surgery Novi, MI	Steve Burton ACL Surgery South Loop (Chicago)	Bob Samonski Hip Surgery Mt. Greenwood (Chicago)
Diana Ciepiela Achilles Tear Lincoln Park (Chicago)	Gregory Weinstein Torn Rotator Cuff Lincolnshire, IL	Kendall Schmidt ACL Tear Elgin, IL
Tim Noonan Humeral Fracture Lake Zurich, IL	Victor Montoya Lower Back/Hip South Loop (Chicago)	Donald Chalmers Broken Arm/Elbow Schererville, IN
Amy Bishop Back Surgery Elk Grove Village, IL	Billy Pirie Back Pain Third Lake, IL	Grace Langston ACL Tear Wentzville, MO
Greg Metzler Bicycle Accident North Loop (Chicago)	Laura Doherty Bunions St. Charles, IL	Paul Koenig Marathon Runner Wheaton, IL
Randy Venahaus Elbow Pain Collinsville, IL	Deborah Feffer Back Surgery Buffalo Grove, IL	Donald Wilson Knee Replacement Tinley Park, IL
David Thomson Vertigo/BPPV Northbrook, IL	Demetrius Baker Knee Replacement Forest City, IA	Danielle Doucette Ankle Injury Milwaukee, WI
Glenn Kubek Baseball Injury Bridgeport (Chicago)	Maike Fink Shoulder Injury Munster, IN	Anna May Miller Atrial Fibrillation Iowa City, IA
Valerie Banister Work Injury Monument Circle (Indianapolis)	Carrie Matczynski Hip Injury South Elgin, IL	Gina Biernacki Knee Pain Mich. Ave. (Chicago)
Tom Maag Parkinsons Barrington, IL	James Strempel ACL Surgery Palatine, IL	Brooke Bloedorn Hip Pain Milwaukee, WI

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