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Sam Fischer, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT, RMSK

@samfischerdpt

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Teaching DN, manual therapy & MSK clinical reasoning
Director of @activept_ortho_residency
Assistant Director for @americanacademymt Fellowship

POSTS STORIES REELS TAGGED

🏋️‍♀️ Lifting & Loading Progression Lab!

Last week, our residents got hands-on with Olympic weightlifting and CrossFit movement progressions alongside lifting specialists Courtney and Adam!

We dove into the snatch, clean, and jerk, breaking down points of performance, movement phases, coaching cues, and common faults. We also explored strength training principles, workout stimulus, volume management, and how to modify movements based on an athlete’s needs and injury presentation.

From Olympic lifts to CrossFit gymnastics, our residents learned how to analyze movement, modify exercises, and appropriately progress or regress loading for patients with a variety of upper and lower extremity injuries.

And, of course, we put everything into practice by finishing the lab with an AMRAP CrossFit workout! 🔥

A great couple of days learning how to bridge the gap between rehabilitation and performance! 💪

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Learning, growing, and making the most of our time in LA! 🌴☀️

Our orthopedic residency experience isn’t all classroom time—we also made sure to explore the city, enjoy some sunshine, and spend time together outside of the course. From new experiences to good food and even better company, these trips are a great reminder that some of the best learning happens alongside the people you get to share it with.

Grateful for the opportunity to learn from some of the best in the field while making memories along the way! 🦴📚🌴

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Our orthopedic residents recently had the opportunity to return to USC for another incredible learning experience with Dr. Joe Godges!

We’re so grateful for the opportunity to learn from Dr. Godges and dive deeper into orthopedic physical therapy through hands-on learning, clinical reasoning, and discussion. Experiences like these continue to challenge our residents and help us grow as orthopedic clinicians.

Two trips to USC, countless takeaways, and plenty more to bring back to the clinic! We’re looking forward to returning in January for our third session.

Thank you, Dr. Godges, for sharing your expertise and passion for orthopedic physical therapy with us! 🙌🏼

#orthopedicresidency #physicaltherapy #orthopedicpt

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I think this is my favorite wedding anniversary yet. @samfischerdpt

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We’re excited to highlight a newly published case study by Dr. Ian Young and AAMT Faculty in the International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy.

“Integration of Diagnostic Ultrasound in Calcific Patellar Tendinopathy”

This case demonstrates the integration of musculoskeletal ultrasound for the assessment of calcific patellar tendinopathy and the use of ultrasound guidance to deliver needle fenestration.

The study highlights an important application of MSK ultrasound: moving beyond imaging alone and integrating real-time diagnostic information into clinical decision-making and image-guided intervention.

📚 Evidence-based practice
🔬 Diagnostic ultrasound
🎯 Ultrasound-guided intervention

Congratulations to Dr. Young and the AAMT Faculty on this publication and their continued contributions to the growing body of MSK ultrasound research.

Read the full study — link in bio.

#MSKUltrasound #DryNeedling #PhysicalTherapy #Tendinopathy #AAMT

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This July, five of our clinicians spent a weekend in the lab instead of the clinic — training in AAMT’s DN-1 dry needling course at our Rochester location. Claire Pierce, Rory Bickler, Sean Conley, Valerie Szefler, and Matt Kallis built hands-on skills for treating headaches, neck and shoulder pain, and more, all through an evidence-based approach.

And we’re especially proud that the course was taught by one of our own — Sam Fischer served as lead instructor, assisted by Lexi Zuleger.

Meanwhile in Dallas, Hunter Scherr took it a step further with AAMT’s DN-3: Ultrasound-Guided Dry Needling — advanced training that uses real-time imaging to guide treatment with even greater precision for shoulder, hip, knee, and spine conditions.

This is what it looks like to invest in our team: never just a packet of exercises, but care built on the latest evidence and skill.

Curious how dry needling could fit into your care? We’d love to connect. 📍

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🪡 What are the actual mechanisms of dry needling? This literature breaks its down.
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What do I explain to my patient? We’re creating the body’s own healing response and signaling for natural pain killers. Nice and simple. Don’t over complicate it
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#physiotherapy #dryneedling #physicaltherapy #chiropractic #athletictraining

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This isn’t that steroids are bad - they’re often really helpful in severe acute flares. But if we have a tool that compares with the shot, without the trade offs.. c’mon you gotta try it
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Shout out to @samfischerdpt for teaching me how to do a carousel. Y’all should go follow him
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#dryneedling #hippain #elbowpain #physio #physicaltherapy

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Introducing the 2026-2027 ActivePT Orthopedic Residency Cohort!

Heather Hulinsky
Heather is from Otsego, Minnesota, and graduated from the St. Catherine University Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2026.

Olivia Holmes
Olivia is from Hennepin, Illinois, and graduated from the St. Ambrose University Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2025.

Matt Kallis
Matt is from Rochester, Minnesota, and graduated from the Southwest Baptist University Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2026.

Daniel Graves
Daniel is from Dike, Iowa, and graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2025.

Jenna Pruess
Jenna is from Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point Doctor of Physical Therapy program in 2025.

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From the classroom to the clinic floor, our PT residency program is all about diving deep into advanced movement mechanics. Swipe through to see a snapshot of our recent Clinician Skills Session focused on Olympic Weightlifting!

#residency
#activept
#olympiclifting
#physicaltherapy

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(You also don’t need to keep a mentor for life). Doesn’t matter how old they are, doesn’t matter what profession they are. All that matters is they know something you don’t
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Follow me if you want to mentor me/be mentored by me
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#physicaltherapy #dryneedling #dpt #acupuncture #chiropractic

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The Residents recently had the opportunity to learn more about the aspects of baseball and softball, along with rehabilitation programming for return to swinging and pitching. They ended up having some fun and practicing their own softball pitches, and even swung against RCTC’s lead softball pitcher Zoey Clark!

Special thanks to D-Bat for hosting us, and to Zoey for helping us with this amazing learning opportunity!

#physicaltherapy #orthopedicresidency #baseballrehab #softballrehab #jospt

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