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.
Kelsey, Hip Surgery, Physical Therapy
Injury:Hip surgery-labral
Services Utilized:Ther ex, sports performance, russian stimulation, graston, manual therapy, plyometrics, gait analysis, visual feedback proprioception training,a
Results
After hip surgery and months of physical therapy elsewhere, Kelsey was struggling with even the most basic daily activities.
She couldn’t lift her leg on her own. Walking was difficult. Stairs were a challenge. Getting back into sports or the weight room felt impossible.
At one point, she was essentially told this was “as good as it was going to get.”
But that wasn’t good enough for Kelsey — and it certainly wasn’t good enough for CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance.
Working one-on-one with Dr. Claire, we were able to identify movement limitations and underlying issues that had previously been overlooked. From there, we rebuilt her rehabilitation plan with a focus on restoring strength, improving movement mechanics, and gradually progressing her back into an active lifestyle.
Step by step, Kelsey regained confidence in her body again.
What started with simply trying to lift her leg eventually turned into deadlifting, squatting, and working out pain-free.
And yes — we’re pretty impressed with her deadlift form too.
At CORE, we believe athletes deserve rehabilitation that goes beyond basic recovery. Our goal is not just helping patients function again — it’s helping them return stronger, more confident, and capable of doing the things they love.
Athletes understand what athletes need, and that’s one of the many reasons we take so much pride in what we do here at CORE.
Cara, Chronic back pain recovery
Injury:Low back pain,
Services Utilized:Dry Needling, Graston, Mobility PNF stretching, Manual therapy, Functional corrective ex, slo motion analysis, progressive ex,
Results
Cara came to CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance after dealing with chronic back pain for several years caused by lifting and training.
As an athlete training at a local powerlifting gym in Omaha, Cara injured her back while lifting heavy weights. Over time, she began to believe that pain during exercise and lifting was something she simply had to live with.
In just 2 months, everything changed.
We restored the mobility needed for Cara to perform a full squat completely pain-free. She also returned to deadlifting pain-free at weights she had not touched in more than two years.
Her rehabilitation began by creating a strong, symmetrical foundation through improving core control, lumbar mobility, posture, and movement mechanics. From there, we integrated stabilization exercises, proprioceptive core training, and postural retraining to improve control and confidence during movement.
Once stability, mobility, and movement quality improved, we rebuilt her lifting mechanics from the ground up.
Using slow-motion video analysis, laser leveling feedback, movement assessment, and progressive strength training, we helped Cara relearn efficient movement patterns and proper lifting technique in a controlled, progressive environment.
As symptoms resolved and strength improved, we transitioned Cara into a long-term discharge program she could confidently continue independently in the gym.
Seeing patients regain confidence in movement again is one of the best parts of what we do.
We are incredibly proud of Cara’s progress, posture improvements, strength gains, and ability to return to lifting pain-free.
At CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance, every rehabilitation program is completed one-on-one with the same Doctor of Physical Therapy every session. We never double-book patients, and we never hand patients off to techs or assistants.
Our focus is simple: individualized care, real relationships, and helping people fully return to the activities they love.
As a family-owned clinic, we treat our patients like family every single day. We strive to create a positive environment that makes rehabilitation effective, empowering, and sustainable long after therapy is complete.
Our goal is not just to help patients recover — it’s to give them the tools and confidence to take control of their health for years to come.
This is who we are.
This is what we do.
Kristina, Omaha Physical therapy sports
Injury:Femoral acetabular Impingement surgery reconstruction,
Services Utilized:Physical therapy, manual therapy, sports performance, squat jumping and running slo motion analysis, proprioception dynamic ex
Results
Kristina came to CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance following FAI surgery (femoroacetabular impingement surgery), a procedure used to reshape the hip joint and reduce painful bone-on-bone contact that can limit running, sports, and lifting.
When she began rehab, she was non-weight bearing and using crutches. Early recovery focused on protecting the surgical repair while safely restoring hip control, stability, and basic movement patterns without rushing into aggressive stretching or loading.
As she progressed, we gradually transitioned her to increased weight-bearing, then into bodyweight strengthening, hip stabilization, and single-leg balance work to rebuild a strong foundation.
Once Kristina demonstrated good hip stability, quad strength, and pain-free mobility, we began reintroducing running through a structured gait retraining and progression program. Over the next four weeks, we closely monitored her running mechanics, tolerance, and movement symmetry to ensure a safe return to impact activity.
From there, we advanced into sports performance training, including pre-plyometric drills, plyometrics, dynamic balance, and power development. The goal was to rebuild force production, landing mechanics, and full-body coordination for sport.
As her strength continued to improve, we added mobility work and sport-specific training to support her return to swimming, running, jumping, and weightlifting.
Kristina successfully completed her rehabilitation at CORE and met all return-to-sport criteria, including:
• No pain with activity
• Full hip range of motion
• Full static and dynamic balance
• Symmetrical single-leg squat strength, hop testing, and box testing
• Pain-free full-depth squatting with proper loading symmetry
• Symmetrical jumping mechanics and force production
• Full running progression without gait deviations
• Symmetrical strength confirmed through dynamometer testing and functional movement assessments
We are incredibly proud of Kristina’s dedication throughout her recovery.
At CORE Physical Therapy & Sports Performance, our goal is simple: restore full function, rebuild athletic performance, and help every patient return to the activities they love with confidence.
Tony, a new member of the CORE family.
Injury:
Services Utilized:
Results
Tony came to C.O.R.E. Physical Therapy and Sports Performance in Omaha, Nebraska as a military veteran looking to return to full-duty physical activity and training. After returning to heavier weightlifting and exercise, he began experiencing significant lower back pain that limited both his performance and daily function.
At the start of rehabilitation, our focus was on restoring mobility, improving flexibility, and creating better movement symmetry throughout the trunk, pelvis, and lower extremities. During evaluation, we identified left-sided glute weakness along with compensatory right hip flexor overuse that had developed over years of altered movement patterns and physical stress.
Before progressing into heavy strengthening, it was critical to first restore proper pelvic alignment, movement symmetry, and muscle balance. At CORE Physical Therapy in Omaha, we believe strengthening on top of dysfunctional movement patterns only reinforces compensation and can worsen pain over time. Our rehabilitation philosophy emphasizes correcting the root cause of dysfunction before progressing into higher-level performance training.
Once Tony demonstrated improved movement quality and stability, rehabilitation advanced into comprehensive core strengthening, functional movement retraining, and progressive loading exercises. From there, treatment focused on improving muscle activation patterns, movement efficiency, and work-related physical demands through simulated military and combat-style conditioning drills.
As his strength and endurance improved, Tony gradually returned to heavier lifting, advanced exercise progression, and full physical activity without significant pain or limitations. By the completion of rehabilitation, he successfully achieved maximum-level PT testing scores and returned stronger, more stable, and more confident than before.
At C.O.R.E. Physical Therapy and Sports Performance, we are proud to serve military veterans and active individuals throughout the Omaha metro area with individualized physical therapy, strength-based rehabilitation, and performance-focused recovery programs designed to help patients return to the activities they value most.
Parker, ACL recovery CORE Physical Therapy Omaha,
Injury:ACL reconstruction
Services Utilized:Ther ex, sports performance, russian stimulation, graston, manual therapy, plyometrics, gait analysis, visual feedback proprioception training,
Results
Parker came to C.O.R.E. Physical Therapy and Sports Performance in Omaha after suffering an ACL tear that required reconstructive surgery along with a meniscus repair. Like many athletes and active individuals facing a major knee injury, he was unsure what to expect during the rehabilitation process and how long it would take to return to full activity.
Throughout his recovery, Parker committed fully to the rehabilitation process, and over time we developed a strong friendship while working together toward his goals. As an active college student at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, it was extremely important not only to help him recover, but to restore full strength, balance, and movement quality to reduce the risk of future compensation injuries and long-term knee problems.
During the first phase of rehabilitation, treatment focused on restoring early range of motion, muscle activation, swelling reduction, and proper tissue healing following ACL reconstruction surgery. As healing progressed, Parker advanced into gait training, balance work, and progressive lower extremity strengthening to rebuild confidence and stability.
Over the following weeks, rehabilitation transitioned into pre-running drills, sprint progression, agility training, plyometrics, and advanced sports performance exercises. Single-leg balance training, jumping mechanics, dynamic stability work, and strength progression became major components of his recovery as he prepared for a safe return to sport and higher-level activity.
One of the most rewarding parts of the process was watching Parker progress from non-weight-bearing on crutches to running, sprinting, jumping, and eventually returning to full sports participation with confidence.
At the completion of rehabilitation, Parker demonstrated outstanding post-operative testing results, achieving 95% or greater symmetry in dynamic balance, triple hop testing, single-leg squat performance, single-leg vertical jump testing, and lateral hop testing.
At CORE Physical Therapy in Omaha, we believe successful ACL rehabilitation requires more than simply healing the knee—it requires restoring strength, movement quality, confidence, and athletic performance so patients can safely return to the activities they love.
Caleb, Running Physical Therapy Omaha
Injury:IT band and Knee pain
Services Utilized:Corrective ex, Dry needling, Manual Therapy, Gait analysis, Proprioceptive feedback/hip control
Results
Caleb came to C.O.R.E. Physical Therapy in Omaha after struggling for nearly six months with persistent running pain that prevented him from competing at the level he was accustomed to. Prior to his injury, he had been a highly competitive runner without any significant limitations.
At CORE, we took a comprehensive, movement-based approach to identify not only the symptoms, but the true cause of his pain. Our evaluation revealed deficits in hip strength, flexibility, and movement control, along with excessive tension and overuse involving the hips and IT band. More importantly, we identified poor hip and knee control during running gait mechanics—especially as fatigue set in—as the primary contributor to his symptoms.
Through individualized physical therapy, gait analysis, strength training, mobility work, and a customized home exercise program, we were able to correct the underlying movement dysfunctions contributing to his pain. Rather than focusing on a temporary fix, our goal was to fully resolve the root cause of the issue and help Caleb return to running stronger and more efficiently than before.
Within just four weeks, Caleb was able to return to competitive running at approximately 80–90% of his previous speed without significant pain or overuse symptoms. As his rehabilitation and strength progression continued, we fully expected him to surpass his previous performance level while remaining free from recurring knee pain and IT band tightness.
At CORE Physical Therapy and Sports Performance in Omaha, we focus on finding the cause of the problem—not just treating symptoms. That is what individualized physical therapy and sports rehabilitation should be.