Whether you're an athlete, a gym-goer, or someone who just reached awkwardly into the back seat rotator cuff injuries are one of the most common causes of shoulder pain. And while some cases may require surgery, most rotator cuff injuries can be successfully treated with physical therapy.

If you love high-impact activities like running, jumping, CrossFit, martial arts, or competitive sports, you probably know what knee pain feels like. For some, it’s a dull ache after a long run. For others, it’s a sharp pain that flares up during squats, box jumps, or takedowns. While high-impact training can keep you strong and conditioned, it also puts a lot of stress on your knees - especially if there are weak links elsewhere in your movement chain.

As a physical therapist, I want you to know that you don’t have to live with knee pain or stop doing what you love. The key is managing your pain smarter, not just “pushing through it.”

No two bodies are the same and neither are injuries. Yet too often, injury recovery is treated like a “one-size-fits-all” process: generic rest, generic stretches, and a handout full of exercises that may or may not apply to your situation.

At Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we take a different approach: every injury recovery plan is individually tailored to the person in front of us. Why? Because a plan that’s not personalized won’t give you the best chance at healing fully or staying injury-free long term.

Let’s explore why tailoring your recovery plan matters and how a personalized approach leads to better outcomes.

At Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we often hear from patients who are unsure about the difference between simply managing pain and truly getting back to their best. Today, we’ll break down two key approaches in physical therapy (symptom management and functional recovery) and explain why our focus on long-term gains and real functionality sets us apart.

Recovering from an injury or surgery can feel like a long, uncertain journey. However, understanding key rehabilitation milestones can help reassure and motivate you along the way. Research shows that setting and tracking progress markers improves patient engagement and leads to better outcomes.¹ At Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we focus on measurable recovery signs to ensure you're on the right path.

Recovering from an injury isn’t just about healing, it's about rebuilding strength, mobility, and confidence in a way that sets you up for long-term success. One of the most effective ways to stay focused and motivated during rehabilitation is by setting SMART goals. At Tualatin Valley Physical Therapy, we help our patients use this powerful method to take ownership of their recovery and achieve meaningful, lasting results

In a world of quick fixes and instant gratification, it’s easy to feel frustrated when recovery doesn’t happen overnight. But when it comes to physical therapy, patience isn’t just a virtue, it’s a crucial part of the process. Whether you’re recovering from surgery, healing a chronic injury, or working through everyday aches and pains, the road to recovery is rarely linear. There are good days and bad days, breakthroughs and setbacks. But the key to lasting results? Consistency and patience.

Navigating the complexities of the US healthcare system, especially the convoluted world of health insurance, can be frustrating and time-consuming. With countless insurance providers and plans, each with their own rules and restrictions, patients and providers are often caught in a web of administrative tasks. Despite the hundreds of billions of dollars spent annually on these administrative costs, patients are frequently left to decipher their own benefits, adding to the confusion and burden.