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Official Instagram Account for the Tennessee State University Doctorate of Physical Therapy Program

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🦵 ACL REHAB ISN’T JUST FORWARD & BACK.

Early in rehab, we build the foundation:
➡️ Sagittal plane strength
➡️ Quad + hamstring control
➡️ Foundational movement patterns

But as rehab progresses, the knee has to be prepared for EVERYTHING sport demands.

↔️ Frontal plane — lateral movement, deceleration, cutting
🔄 Transverse plane — rotation, pivots, changing direction
⬆️⬇️ Sagittal plane — acceleration, jumping, landing

Late-stage rehab should take those foundational movements and make them faster, more dynamic, reactive and sport-specific.

Because the goal isn’t simply to make the knee strong in one direction.

The goal is to create a body that can CONTROL and STABILIZE the knee in every plane of motion. 🔥

If we don’t progressively challenge frontal + transverse plane movement throughout ACL rehab, we’re missing a critical piece of the return-to-sport puzzle.

Build the foundation.
Challenge every plane.
Earn the right to progress.
Prepare for the chaos of sport. ⚽️🏀🏈

#ACLRehab #SportsRehab #ReturnToSport #ACLRecovery #physicaltherapy

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Ally celebrated her Birthday with our 1st year & 2nd year DPT students today!!! 🎂🎈🎉🩷

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We had a great time connecting with TSU DPT students at the @tsu_dpt Career Fair last week! 💙

It was a great opportunity to meet future physical therapists, share more about STAR Physical Therapy, what makes our team and culture special, and the opportunities we offer to help clinicians grow, from mentorship and continuing education to residency programs.

We always enjoy meeting the next generation of physical therapists and hearing about their goals as they prepare to start their careers. Thanks to @tennstateu for having us and for a great career fair!

#PhysicalTherapy #DPTStudents #FutureDPT #TSU #STARPT

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Our very own Ali Lacey, DPT, is TSU’s Clinical Instructor of the Year! 🎉

She also had the honor of speaking to third-year students at TSU’s White Coat Ceremony.

Through patient care and mentorship, Ali is helping shape the next generation of clinicians.

Join us in congratulating Ali on this well-deserved recognition! 👏

#physicaltherapy #award #celebration #physiotherapy #student

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ACL REHAB: THE GAME STARTS TO COME BACK HERE. 🧠⚡️

Late-stage ACL rehab isn’t just about getting stronger.

It’s about teaching the athlete to see → react → absorb → redirect → accelerate while continuing to build the physical capacity to do it repeatedly.

This is where we start layering in the unpredictable:

🧠 Reactive agility + neuroplasticity
Visual cues. Decision-making. Unplanned movement. The athlete has to process information—not just follow a cone.

⚡️ Deceleration under pressure
Braking isn’t simply stopping. It’s controlling force, positioning the body and preparing for what happens next.

🏐⚽️ Sport + contact-specific movement
Introducing the positions, reactions, perturbations and contact demands that actually exist in the athlete’s sport.

💪 Strength → power → plyometric control
Force production is important. But late-stage rehab demands the ability to produce, absorb and redirect force efficiently.

↔️ All 3 planes
Sagittal. Frontal. Transverse.
Because sport rarely gives you the luxury of moving in one direction.

📊 Continue testing. Don’t guess.
Strength symmetry, force production, deceleration, jump/landing mechanics, movement quality and sport-specific performance should continue to be measured as the athlete progresses.

The goal isn’t simply:

“Can you do the exercise?”

The better question is:

“Can your knee and nervous system handle the chaos of your sport?”

Late-stage ACL rehab is where controlled rehabilitation starts becoming real-world performance.

BUILD THE CAPACITY.
TRAIN THE REACTION.
TEST THE READINESS.
EARN THE RETURN.

#ACLRehab #ACLRecovery #SportsPhysicalTherapy #ReturnToSport #SportsRehab

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So you want professional growth?

Be in the room.

Last night, more than 100 attendees came together for the Belmont/TOA Orthopaedic Grand Rounds to learn, connect, and engage across disciplines.

PT and medical students representing four different programs, along with university faculty and TOA therapists, joined us for an excellent lecture from Dr. Cason Shirley on ligament balancing in total knee arthroplasty.

There is tremendous value in textbooks, research, and online education—but there is something different about being in the room. Hearing directly from experts. Asking questions. Learning alongside professionals from different disciplines. Building relationships with the people you may one day work beside.

These are the opportunities that help shape better clinicians and stronger collaborative care.

Show up. Ask questions. Make connections. Be in the room.

Thank you to Dr. Shirley and to everyone who helped make last night such a great turnout.

#Orthopaedics #GrandRounds #PhysicalTherapy #MedicalEducation #InterprofessionalEducation

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Ally & Bodie sure had a great day spreading happiness to the TSU DPT students today! 🥰They found a way to get in their daily naps 😂😴

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MID-PHASE ACL REHAB 🦵🏼⚡️
STRENGTH IS STILL THE PRIORITY. NOW WE TEACH IT TO HANDLE FORCE.

This is where ACL rehab starts to change.

We’re introducing impact. Deceleration. Dynamic movement.

…but we’re NOT taking our foot off the gas when it comes to strength. 🔥

The mission is still to relentlessly build:

🏋🏼‍♀️ QUADS — force production + knee control
🦵🏼 HAMSTRINGS — posterior-chain strength + dynamic stability
🍑 GLUTES — hip control + force production
🦶🏼 CALVES & ADDUCTORS — the often-overlooked supporting cast
💪🏼 TRUNK — controlling the body above the knee

Then we start connecting it all.

➡️ IMPACT → ABSORPTION → DECELERATION → CONTROL

Because running, jumping, cutting and changing direction aren’t isolated knee movements.

They’re full-body skills.

The knee has to be able to accept force, control force, and redirect force while the hip, pelvis, trunk, foot and ankle all do their jobs.

And that’s the key to this phase:

Don’t confuse “more dynamic” with “more advanced.”

Advanced rehab isn’t just adding harder exercises.

It’s progressively exposing the athlete to more force, more speed, more complexity and more decision-making—while continuing to build the physical capacity underneath it.

📈 BUILD THE ENGINE.
⚡️ TEACH IT TO HANDLE SPEED.
🧠 CONTROL THE MOVEMENT.
🏃🏼‍♀️ EARN THE RIGHT TO RETURN.

Mid-phase ACL rehab = strength + control + exposure.

The goal isn’t to make the athlete look good in rehab.

The goal is to make them ready for sport.

#ACLRehab #ACLRecovery #ACLReconstruction #ACLRehabJourney #MidPhaseACL

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ACL REHAB | LATE-EARLY PHASE 🔥🦵

She’s feeling better. She’s getting back to work. She’s on her feet more.

But feeling better doesn’t mean we’re done building the knee.

At this stage of ACL rehab, we’re continuing to develop:

⚡️ Quad + hamstring strength
⚡️ Single-leg stability & control
⚡️ Glute + calf strength
⚡️ Trunk control
⚡️ Proprioception & reactive stability
⚡️ Confidence loading the surgical leg

The goal is to prepare the knee for the demands of everyday life without letting increased activity outside the clinic outpace the capacity we’re building inside it.

Returning to work can be a huge milestone—but it also adds another layer of physical stress.

Rehab is about finding the right dose.
Enough stimulus to create adaptation.
Not so much that we create swelling, pain, or setbacks.

👉🏼 Build capacity. Control the load. Earn the next phase.

This is how we turn “my knee feels pretty good” into a knee that is strong, stable, and ready for the demands of sport.

#ACLRehab #ACLRecovery #ACLReconstruction #SportsPhysicalTherapy #SportsPT

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Progress doesn’t always feel like progress.

This athlete has been through a long road — ACL reconstruction, two meniscus repairs, setbacks, frustration, and plenty of days where her knee simply doesn’t feel the way she wants it to.

But when we look at the objective data, the story is different.

Her strength is improving.
Her testing numbers are moving in the right direction.
She is better than she was a month ago — and significantly better than she was four months ago.

Does her knee feel perfect every day? No.

And that’s okay.

Rehab isn’t a straight line, and recovery doesn’t always feel like progress while you’re living through it. It’s easy to look at someone else’s journey and wonder why yours doesn’t look the same.

Don’t compare your chapter to someone else’s.

Look at where you were. Look at where you are. Then keep moving forward.

The goal isn’t perfection every day.
The goal is consistent progress over time.

Her journey is her own — and right now, she’s moving in the right direction. 💪🏼

#ACLRehab #ACLRecovery #ACLReconstruction #MeniscusRepair #KneeReha

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Building the Foundation 🦵⚡️

Late early-phase ACL reconstruction + LET, and we’re getting ready for the next chapter: RUNNING + JUMPING. 🏃‍♂️⬆️

Before we earn the right to run and jump, we build the foundation.

🎯 Sagittal plane: quad + hamstring strength
🔥 Frontal plane: glute + adductor strength
💪 Trunk control: creating a stronger, more connected athlete
⚡️ Calf strength + power: preparing for the demands of running
🚀 Non-impact power: introducing speed and force without unnecessary impact

And just as important—we’re working around real life.

Busy work schedule.
Long days on your feet.
Multiple days of standing.
Limited recovery windows.

These aren’t obstacles that stop the rehab.
They’re challenges we account for and work around.

The goal isn’t perfection every day.

The goal is to show up, adapt, and get the work done. Day by day. Rep by rep. Session by session.

We’re not rushing the next phase.

We’re building the athlete who is ready for it. 🔨🦵⚡️

#ACLRehab #ACLReconstruction #ACLRecovery #LETreconstruction #KneeRehab

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💙 Meet Lexie Rothchild, PT, DPT! 💙

We're excited to welcome Lexie to our Pleasant View team!

Lexie's journey to becoming a physical therapist began when she was 12 years old and first experienced physical therapy. Ever since then, she has dreamed of the day she would become a PT!

Lexie attended @tsu_dpt for her Doctor of Physical Therapy. While at TSU, she had the opportunity to complete a clinical with STAR during the summer of 2025, and she is excited to now begin her career with STAR!

Lexie is passionate about improving functional mobility, promoting healing, and helping patients get back to doing the things they love. She is also looking forward to continuing to learn and grow alongside the STAR team! ⭐

Outside of the clinic, Lexie enjoys playing volleyball, reading, line dancing, and country swing dancing. And if you ever see her talking about her corgi, Bandit, you can bet she has a picture ready to share! 🐶💙

Welcome to the team, Lexie! We're so excited to have you at STAR! ⭐

#PhysicalTherapy #PT #DPT #STARPT #PleasantViewTN

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