Adam C. Young, MD
Alan C. League, MD
Albert Knuth, MD
Alejandra Rodriguez-Paez, MD
Alexander E. Michalow, MD
Alexander Gordon, MD
Alfonso Bello, MD
Ami Kothari, MD
Amy Jo Ptaszek, MD
Anand Vora, MD
Andrea S. Kramer, MD
Andrew J. Riff, MD
Angela R. Crowley, MD
Angelo Savino, MD
Anthony Savino, MD
Anuj S. Puppala, MD
Ari Kaz, MD
Ashraf H. Darwish, MD
Ashraf Hasan, MD
Bernard J. Feldman, MD
Bradley Dworsky, MD
Brian Clay, MD
Brian J. Burgess, DPM
Brian R. McCall, MD
Brian Schwartz, MD
Brian Weatherford, MD
Brooke Vanderby, MD
Bruce Summerville, MD
Bryan Waxman, MD
Bryant S. Ho, MD
Carey E. Ellis, MD
Carla Gamez, DPM
Cary R. Templin, MD
Charles L. Lettvin, MD
Charles M. Lieder, DO
Chinyoung Park, MD
Christ Pavlatos, MD
Christian Skjong, MD
Christopher C. Mahr, MD
Craig Cummins, MD
Craig Phillips, MD
Craig S. Williams, MD
Craig Westin, MD
Daniel Newman, MD
David Beigler, MD
David Guelich, MD
David H. Garelick, MD
David Hamming, MD
David Hoffman, MD
David M. Anderson, MD
David Norbeck, MD
David Raab, MD
David Schneider, DO
Djuro Petkovic, MD
Douglas Diekevers, DPM
Douglas Solway, DPM
E. Quinn Regan, MD
Eddie Jones Jr., MD
Edward J. Logue, MD
Elliot A. Nacke, MD
Ellis K. Nam, MD
Eric Chehab, MD
Eric L. Lee, MD
Evan A. Dougherty, MD
Garo Emerzian, DPM
Gary Shapiro, MD
Giridhar Burra, MD
Gregory Brebach, MD
Gregory J. Fahrenbach, MD
Gregory Portland, MD
Harpreet S. Basran, MD
Inbar Kirson, MD, FACOG, Diplomate ABOM
Jalaal Shah, DO
James M. Hill, MD
James R. Bresch, MD
Jason G. Hurbanek, MD
Jason Ghodasra, MD
Jason J. Shrouder-Henry, MD
Jeffrey Ackerman, MD
Jeffrey Goldstein, MD
Jeffrey Staron, MD
Jeffrey Visotsky, MD
Jeremy Oryhon, MD
John H. Lyon, MD
Jonathan Erulkar, MD
Jordan L. Goldstein, MD
Josephine H. Mo, MD
Juan Santiago-Palma, MD
Justin Gent, MD
Justin M. LaReau, MD
Kellie Gates, MD
Kermit Muhammad, MD
Kevin Chen, MD
Kris Alden MD, PhD
Leah R. Urbanosky, MD
Leigh-Anne Tu, MD
Leon Benson, MD
Lori Siegel, MD
Lynn Gettleman Chehab, MD, MPH, Diplomate ABOM
Marc Angerame, MD
Marc Breslow, MD
Marc R. Fajardo, MD
Marie Kirincic, MD
Mark A. Lorenz, MD
Mark Gonzalez, MD
Mark Gross, MD
Mark Hamming, MD
Mark Mikhael, MD
Matthew L. Jimenez, MD
Mehul H. Garala, MD
Michael C. Durkin, MD
Michael Chiu, MD, FAAOS
Michael J. Corcoran, MD
Michael O'Rourke, MD
Nathan G. Wetters, MD
Nikhil K. Chokshi, MD
Peter Hoepfner, MD
Peter Thadani, MD
Phillip Ludkowski, MD
Priyesh Patel, MD
Rajeev D. Puri, MD
Rhutav Parikh, MD
Richard J. Hayek, MD
Richard Noren, MD
Richard Sherman, MD
Ritesh Shah, MD
Robert J. Daley, MD
Robert J. Thorsness, MD
Roger Chams, MD
Ronak M. Patel, MD
Scott Jacobsen, DPM
Sean A. Sutphen, DO
Serafin DeLeon, MD
Shivani Batra, DO
Stanford Tack, MD
Steven C. Chudik, MD
Steven G. Bardfield, MD
Steven Gross, MD
Steven Jasonowicz, DPM
Steven M. Mardjetko, MD
Steven S. Louis, MD
Steven W. Miller, DPM
Surbhi Panchal, MD
T. Andrew Ehmke, DO
Taizoon Baxamusa, MD
Theodore Fisher, MD
Thomas Gleason, MD
Timothy J. Friedrich, DPM
Todd R. Rimington, MD
Todd Simmons, MD
Tom Antkowiak, MD, MS
Tomas Nemickas, MD
Van Stamos, MD
Wayne M. Goldstein, MD
Wesley E. Choy, MD
William Robb, MD
William Vitello, MD

Phase IV: Return to Sport

What is Phase IV?

The Illinois Bone & Joint Institute’s Phase IV Program is designed for patients with hip, knee, or ankle injuries who wish to continue advanced rehabilitation to facilitate return to sport and reduce the risk of re-injury. Our evidence-based protocols will teach and cover multiple aspects of lower extremity conditioning including: 

  • Sport-specific strengthening 
  • Power production 
  • Explosiveness 
  • Plyometric and jump training 
  • Cutting and pivoting mechanics 
  • Techniques for reducing risk of re-injury

Who is an ideal candidate for the program?

  • Competitive and recreational athletes 
  • High school and collegiate post-injury ACL athletes 
  • Industrial athletes 
  • Weekend warriors 

Baseline and Return-to-Sport Assessments are performed on each patient to ensure safe participation in the Phase IV Program, track each patient’s individual progress, and ensure a full and safe return to sport. Additional information on Phase IV testing is provided below.

Phase IV Options

Phase IV Therapy 

If advanced sport-specific rehabilitation is covered by the patient’s insurance company, the patient will be seen in Phase IV Therapy, receiving one-on-one care with a physical therapist and/or athletic trainer. The patient’s individual insurance information will be collected and verified at the time of scheduling to determine coverage for Phase IV Therapy. 

Phase IV Therapy can be performed at any of our IBJI rehabilitation clinics, dependent on space and staffing. A patient may be referred to continue Phase IV therapy at specific location as desired by supervising physical therapist or physician. 

The Illinois Bone & Joint Institute offers alternative options for patients that may have insurance limitations for advanced sport-specific rehabilitation.

Phase IV Class

The Phase IV Class is an innovative small group training option for patients with insurance limitations for advanced sport-specific rehabilitation. This 6-week circuit-style training class includes a progressive strength and conditioning program and comprehensive instruction on sport-specific skills including plyometrics, sprinting, deceleration, and cutting. In addition to facilitating a full and safe return to sport and reducing the risk of re-injury, the Phase IV Class gives patients an opportunity to develop relationships with other athletes with similar injuries.

The cost of this 6-week class is $360 ($30/visit). The cost of this class is not covered by insurance. Attendance twice a week is mandatory.

For continuity within each Phase IV Class, we strongly request that all participants start on the listed start date for a given location. While the Phase IV Class is meant for patients that have insurance limitations, class participation may be recommended by the supervising physician or based on patient preference.

Upcoming Phase IV Class Dates:

  • The Phase IV Class at the IBJI Sports Institute in Highland Park is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-7:30PM.
    • May 4th – June 17th, 2021
    • June 22nd – August 5th, 2021
    • August 10th – September 23rd, 2021
    • September 28th – November 11th, 2021
    • November 16th, 2021 – January 6th, 2022 (additional time for the holidays)
  • The Phase IV Class at our IBJI Morton Grove rehabilitation clinic is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-7:30PM.
    • March 2nd – April 15th, 2021
    • April 20th – June 3rd, 2021
    • June 8th – July 22nd, 2021
    • July 27th – Sept 9th, 2021
    • September 14th – October 28th, 2021
    • November 2nd – December 16th, 2021
    • January 4th – February 17th, 2022

The Phase IV Class in Glenview is held within The Edge Sports Enhancement Training facility on Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:15-8:15PM.

  • February 15th – March 31st, 2021
  • April 5th – May 19th, 2021
  • May 24th – July 7th, 2021
  • July 12th – August 25th, 2021
  • August 30th – October 13th, 2021
  • October 18th – December 1st, 2021
  • December 6th, 2021 – January 26th, 2022 (additional time for the holidays)

Phase IV Training

For patients with insurance limitations that are unable to attend the Phase IV Class or would prefer one-on-one individualized care, we offer one-hour training sessions at a rate of $70/session. Phase IV Training is currently offered at the IBJI Sports Institute in Highland Park and the IBJI Morton Grove Rehabilitation Clinic.

Phase IV Testing

During the course of a patient’s recovery, incremental testing will be conducted to assess the patient’s strength, benchmark completion and readiness to progress to the next phase of rehabilitation. The patient’s involved side will be compared to the uninvolved side in order to individualize each assessment. The Illinois Bone & Joint Institute offers a variety of testing in order to ensure a safe and full recovery.

Phase IV Baseline Assessment: In order to ensure the patient has the proper strength to enter the Phase IV Program and/or start the Phase IV Class, there are a few criteria the patient will have to successfully complete in our Phase IV Baseline Assessment. This assessment will evaluate functional strength and limb symmetry and can be performed at any of our IBJI rehabilitation clinics. Biodex Testing and/or Proprio 5000 Testing may be recommended if desired by the physician.

Phase IV Return-to-Sport Assessment: The Illinois Bone & Joint Institute offers a standard Phase IV Return-to-Sport Assessment comprised of an evaluation of functional strength, limb symmetry, plyometric power, and visual assessment of dynamic movement. This assessment provides the physician, physical therapist, and/or athletic trainer with valuable information to assess the patient’s readiness to safely return to sport and can be performed at any of our IBJI rehabilitation clinics. Biodex Testing and/or Proprio 5000 Testing may be recommended if desired by the physician.

Biodex Testing: The Biodex is used to precisely measure the force generated by the prime muscles that move the knee: the quadriceps and hamstrings. The strength of these muscles are tested at different speeds in order to give the physician, physical therapist, and/or athletic trainer insight into the patient’s individual progress and any remaining deficits and/or imbalances. Biodex testing is offered at our Highland Park, Palatine, and Chicago – Avondale physical therapy clinics.

Proprio 5000 Testing: The Proprio 5000 is used to measure, assess, and train the patient’s dynamic stability. The athlete stands on a moving platform with either double-leg or single-leg stance, attempting to maintain his or her balance with good core, hip, and knee control. This testing provides the physician, physical therapist, and/or athletic trainer insight on the patient’s lower extremity strength and dynamic core, hip, and knee stability. Proprio 5000 testing is offered at our Glenview and Morton Grove physical therapy clinics.

Return To Sport

IBJI’s Phase IV Program is designed to offer a comprehensive approach to returning the patient to the court/field. In order to ensure a full and safe return to sport and minimize the risk of future injury, test selection and return-to-sport criteria are set based on evidence-based research. The criteria require strength, functional movement, and dynamic movement scores on the involved limb to be within 85-90% of the uninvolved limb to ensure normalized endurance, strength, stability, and power. The physician, physical therapist, and athletic trainer will work together with the patient to determine when he/she may officially return to sports participation.

Request an Appointment

Move better. Live better. Request an appointment with an IBJI provider today.

Request an Appointment

Related Locations

Related Blogs

Illinois Bone & Joint Institute provides a safe alternative to hospitals and emergency rooms for urgent and non-urgent orthopedic treatment and care. Learn more about the steps we are taking to keep all IBJI facilities safe for patients and staff.
close