At C.O.R.E., our greatest success is the progress our patients make every day. We’re proud to share real stories from individuals who have overcome injuries, regained strength, and returned to doing what they love. When you choose C.O.R.E., you become part of our extended family. Explore some of the inspiring journeys from our patients.
Griffin, ACL Reconstruction after Nerve Relocation Surgery, Physical Therapy
Injury:
Services Utilized:
Results
Meet Griffin!
Griffin’s story started in 2018 after a full dislocation knee injury with nerve damage. Multiple orthopedic and neurological procedures were to follow. After a successful nerve transplant surgery and rehab, he elected to have the final surgery of ACL reconstruction. This was a more difficult recovery than normal with the nerve damage and he needed a specialized approach to balance integration and nervous system retraining. We started from the ground up. Full motion. Full Balance. Full strength. Full Integration of all functional coordination and proprioceptive drills for a full recovery.
His story needed a special recovery. He needed a special set of surgeons. He needed a special physical therapist. Dr. Claire Lakatos PT DPT CSCS was up for a multi year challenge for a very complicated and involved rehab process.
Since we have all the weights here in our clinic, we can give him IMMEDIATE feedback of his form, technique, and movement patterns – (instead of just having him send us videos of what he’s doing elsewhere because we didn’t have the correct equipment in house). One of the many scenarios that makes CORE so different – Griffin is TOO STRONG to be anywhere else! He did return to playing Class A football, at a top level even though many would say he would have never returned to sports after his injury.
If your Omaha Sports Physical Therapist doesn’t have full weightlifting and conditioning equipment, they are really not doing “sports” justice. We know the CORE of all athletic movements, injury prevention and performance is rooted in resistance training. Power production, balance, strength and CORE integration is paramount for a full recovery at CORE Physical Therapy in Omaha.
Bryan, Achilles Tendon Rupture, Physical Therapy
Injury:Achilles tendon rupture
Services Utilized:therapeutic ex, balance training, proprioceptive training, sports specific rehab, dry needling, CORE dynamic stretching
Results
1 Year ago Bryan Ruptured his achilles tendon trying to scale a warped wall in a ninja warrior facility. A simple heavy plant and sprint completely severe the nearly one inch thick tendon.
After surgery and reconstruction of the tendon, we work hard on restoring range of motion and decreasing swelling for the first 2-3 weeks. Week 4 we started to work on gait mechanics, balance and lighters strengthening of the surrounding structure.
At week 6-8 we began light strengthening and graded exposure techniques to increase the strength of the repair without stressing too much during the healing process. Early on, blood flow restriction training allowed us to strengthen heavily without loading the involved structures more than 30% of max.
We continued to progress with power work, strength and balance. We also began to incorporate more fire fighter specific drills, and Crossfit type workouts as he enjoyed previously before his injury.
Over the course of the year, we achieved symmetrical range, strength and balance, full return to duty was at 6 months post op. Sports performance and heavy simulation of activities and sports specific worked continued for the last 6 months. Bryan was to get back to full level previously enjoyed, perhaps better than before.
The important thing with Bryan was to make sure we worked on sports and work specific exercises and duties to get back to work as soon as able and safe. From there, we worked towards achieving his higher level of fitness. Programming was added on off days and we scaled to seeing once per week, then to once every 2 weeks.
We are very proud of his recovery and his story. At any age, great outcomes can be achieved.
Colin, Knee Reconstruction, Sports Injury and Physical Therapy
Injury:Knee and femur fracture, Sports
Services Utilized:therapeutic ex, balance training, proprioceptive training, sports specific rehab, dry needling, CORE dynamic stretching
Results
Colin came to CORE Physical therapy in Omaha with a very unique injury. During a football practice early in 2019, he had a missed tackle drill and ended up with a femur fracture and damage to the articular surface in the knee joint. He was 14 at the time. After a 7 hour surgery, he began rehab 6 weeks later.
Quad firing and range of motion normalization were the early priorities. Aggressive range was needed to restore full motion before scarring set in, but not so extreme that the hardware or old fracture lines would be an issue. At month 3, full motion set in, and gait training, and full strengthening could commence. We worked hard as a team, and gave homework with the patient and the parent to continue aggressive range at home, We worked squatting, lunging and eventually running by the months 4-5, month 6 we worked on jumping and pre plyo drills.
As 6 months ended, more sport specific drills were in order. We work hard on balance. We work hard on speed and agility training. We worked hard on sports specific drills for baseball.
By Month 9 he was cleared to Play baseball, and had taken up a full resistance training routine at his local gym. With programming and exercise selection for the help of Dr Mark Rathjen, PT DPT CSCS, he continues to progress and gain strength and power to this day.
We are very proud when we see our patients succeed. We are even more proud to see them grown up and take accountability of their rehab. Work ethic learned in sports or in rehab translates well to other areas of life.
Jared, ACL Reconstruction, Physical Therapy
Injury:ACL tear
Services Utilized:therapeutic ex, balance training, proprioceptive training, sports specific rehab, dry needling, CORE dynamic stretching
Results
Jared tore his ACL in a football training camp in 2019. He shopped around to multiple physical therapy clinics to find the right fit. We found a great match right away.
After surgery we had a modified weight bearing status for 2 weeks, progressed off crutches totally by week 3. Walking and gait mechanics/symmetry where huge milestones for him during this phase. Range was full at 6 weeks, and heavier single and double leg strengthening began.
At 10 weeks and physician approval, we started running and jumping in controlled motions and planes, no rotation until week 14. We continue to build power and stretching with traditional lifting, single leg lifting and football specific drills. We continue to work on speed, and sprint power, as we progressed. Core continue to progress to full agility training and jump training with and without resistances.
At CORE, emphasize whole body treatment, we worked heavily with his operated leg, and also the non operated leg, we wanted no deficits. We continue to do 40 yard dash, pro agility, max squats, Max power cleans and vertical jump testing. We wanted him better than before.
We emphasized more sports specific work ,and complicated tasks to gain automatic control of his body without fear or apprehension that often plagues surgical repairs. We work hard on reaction time drills and lateral stability. We added more complicated situations and reading of body language. We progressed towards jumping with hits, running with hits, and falling with hits.
He has to learn to trust his knee without thinking about it.
After 9 months he was fully cleared to return to play. 4.6 40 yrd dash, 455 squat, 30 inch vertical jump, 4.29 pro agility, symmetrical single leg hop, and triple leg hop testing.
We are very proud of his recovery, his story, and his work ethic at CORE physical therapy. He is a true master of his own destiny.
Here is the video below of his story.
Brandon Jacob of Omaha, Quad tendon surgical repair recovery.
Injury:Quad tendon rupture
Services Utilized:NM Russian stimulation, Laser leveling feed back, Corrective exercises, Mechanical bio feedback, proprioceptive training.
Results
In October 2018, Omaha powerlifter Brandon Jacob was preparing for the 2018 Show of Strength at Omaha Barbell when a devastating injury changed everything. During a warm-up squat just two weeks before competition, Brandon suffered a complete left patellar tendon tear coming out of the bottom of a full squat.
As a seasoned lifter with no prior knee or hip injuries, Brandon had been progressing extremely well throughout the 2018 powerlifting season and was on track to hit personal records.
Having previously worked with CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance for an unrelated injury, Brandon contacted us immediately after the incident. Within two days, we coordinated a sports orthopedic consultation with one of Omaha’s top orthopedic surgeons. Based on the mechanism of injury and clinical examination, we strongly suspected a complete patellar tendon rupture.
MRI imaging later confirmed the diagnosis, and surgery quickly followed.
Just one week after surgery, Brandon began a year-long rehabilitation process with Dr. Mark Rathjen, PT, DPT, CSCS at CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance. Dr. Rathjen has extensive experience treating patellar tendon repairs and returning strength athletes and powerlifters back to elite-level performance.
From day one, our goal was not simply to help Brandon recover — it was to rebuild him stronger than before.
The early stages of rehab focused on restoring mobility, improving gait mechanics, and gradually increasing weight-bearing tolerance. Over the following months, progressive strengthening of the quadriceps, hamstrings, hips, and CORE became the foundation of his recovery.
As Brandon advanced, we carefully reintroduced squat mechanics. He began squatting to a 20-inch box before gradually progressing to deeper ranges of motion and heavier loads. Eventually, the box height was lowered, full-depth squatting returned, and strength steadily climbed.
By month nine, Brandon was squatting over 500 pounds again.
Today, he is approaching and exceeding 600 pounds on the squat.
Before returning to maximal lifting, symmetry and control of the left leg had to be restored. Our team used advanced strength testing, movement analysis, laser-level feedback, slow-motion video assessment, proprioceptive training, and progressive plyometric programming to ensure full recovery and optimal mechanics.
At month eight, Brandon was cleared to compete with a near 600-pound sumo deadlift — an important milestone in restoring confidence, strength, and lower-body symmetry. Strategic modifications in pulling mechanics also helped reduce unnecessary stress on the lower back during recovery.
By month 12, Brandon underwent final return-to-sport testing, including formal assessments of quadriceps and hamstring strength, balance, power production, jumping mechanics, and proprioception using established rehabilitation protocols and dynamometer testing.
He passed with flying colors and was fully discharged from CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance without restrictions.
Stories like Brandon’s are why we do what we do.
Years ago, an injury like this could have ended an athletic career. Today, with expert surgical care, evidence-based rehabilitation, and individualized sports performance training, athletes can return stronger, more confident, and pain-free.
At CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance, helping athletes get back to doing what they love isn’t just our job — it’s who we are.
Sean, Quad tendon Repair, CORE Physical Therapy Omaha
Injury:Quad/patellar tendon rupture-repair
Services Utilized:Dry needling, proprioceptive training, work/sports rehab specific, modalities, sports performance, manual therapy
Results
Sean came to CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance after spending 3 months immobilized following a quadriceps tendon repair in 2017.
When Sean began rehab, he only had 45 degrees of knee motion and was significantly behind schedule in his recovery. From day one, we developed a clear plan together — start simple, stay consistent, and rebuild the right way.
Our goals were straightforward:
• Restore as much knee motion as possible, as quickly and safely as we could
• Build a progressive rehabilitation plan specific to Sean’s job demands with Omaha Fire Department
• Gradually integrate symmetrical and unilateral strength training with a “quality first” approach
• Reinforce every gain in mobility with progressive resistance training
• Progress into sports performance and work-hardening phases to fully prepare him for return to duty
We knew this process would take time.
At CORE, every session is one-on-one with your Doctor of Physical Therapy — no techs, no assistants, and no bouncing between providers. That individualized approach made all the difference in Sean’s recovery.
We aggressively attacked motion deficits while carefully respecting tissue healing timelines. Russian stim dry needling was used to help reactivate a dormant quadriceps muscle following surgery. We incorporated Graston technique to mobilize scar tissue and desensitize the surgical region. Functional mobility drills were paired directly with strengthening progressions so newly restored movement translated into real-world function.
Little by little. Day by day.
The results started adding up.
Consistency and progressive overload were the keys to success.
By the time Sean completed rehabilitation, he had regained full knee motion, full balance, full strength, and complete confidence in his repaired leg. In fact, Sean reported feeling more confident in his surgical knee than his non-operative side.
Years ago, Sean had surgery on the opposite knee and completed rehabilitation elsewhere, but never fully regained full function. At CORE, we place a major emphasis on training both extremities during recovery. Research consistently shows that strengthening and restoring symmetry on both sides can help reduce re-tear risk and improve long-term performance outcomes.
Sean’s recovery required time, attention to detail, and an individualized plan — and that’s exactly what we gave him.
Today, Sean is back to work at 100%, serving the Omaha community as a firefighter and paramedic.
We could not be more proud of his recovery.
At CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance, we combine evidence-based rehabilitation, sports performance principles, and individualized one-on-one care to help our patients fully recover — not just “get by.”
No assistants.
No techs.
No shortcuts.
Just elite rehabilitation designed to get our patients back stronger than before.