
3-Step Recovery Method: How Physical Therapy Gets Active Adults Up and Running Again
Discover how the 3 Step Recovery Method helps active adults understand pain, calm it down, and build lasting strength so they can get back up and running.

Discover how the 3 Step Recovery Method helps active adults understand pain, calm it down, and build lasting strength so they can get back up and running.

With the right exercises, you can rebuild strength, control, and confidence so your knee handles the miles, workouts, and weekend adventures you care about. In this guide, we walk through what runner’s knee actually is, why it shows up, and the specific rehab progressions that help you move and train without fear of every step.

Whether you’re running in Fort Collins, Boulder, Denver, or anywhere else in the country, smoke from wildfires in Colorado, the Pacific Northwest, or even Canada can change the air quality in a matter of hours. This guide is the one I wish I had back then: simple, practical, and built for athletes who need real answers about air quality index, PM2.5, when to take it indoors, and more!

AJ Cohen’s drive toward running physical therapy began with his own struggles as an injured athlete.
His graduate school experience at a high-volume clinic, seeing multiple patients every hour, left him exhausted, and he even injured himself.
Though he pivoted into oncology and later worked in nursing homes, his passion for helping active adults and trail runners never faded.
Fueled by vision and frustration, he made the bold choice to start his own clinic tailored to what he believed physical therapy could be.

Imagine walking through Old Town Fort Collins, surrounded by the charm of locally-owned shops and the scenic beauty of the Cache La Poudre River. Now, imagine trying to navigate those same streets with a constant fear of falling. That’s where balance exercises for athletes can help you get back in the game!
Whether it’s a trip over uneven pavement or a stumble on one of our beautiful hiking trails, balance issues can drastically affect your quality of life.
But what if we told you that physical therapy could be your ticket to restoring your balance and confidence?

Physical therapy is not just for those recovering from surgery or injury. It’s a powerful tool for anyone looking to improve their balance, reduce the risk of falls, and regain a sense of stability in daily life. Balance exercises can also enhance athletic performance by developing essential skills like stability, strength, and agility.
In Fort Collins, where the active lifestyle is a part of the community’s DNA, maintaining good balance is essential for enjoying everything from a leisurely walk along Spring Creek Trail to tackling more challenging routes like Horsetooth Mountain.
In this blog post, we’ll dive into how physical therapy addresses key factors like hip and ankle stability, vestibular function, and eye movement coordination to enhance balance. By the end, you’ll understand why physical therapy might just be the most effective, long-term solution to improving your balance and reducing fall risks.

When it comes to staying active and pain-free, your hips play a more vital role than you might think. Poor hip mobility doesn’t just affect your hips—it has a ripple effect on your entire body. The good news is hip mobility exercises can make all the difference!
If you’re an active adult or an outdoor enthusiast, improving your hip mobility can be the key to enjoying activities like hiking at Horsetooth Reservoir or running along Spring Creek Trail without pain.
But here’s the kicker: neglecting your hip mobility could lead to long-term issues like:
– Low back pain
– Knee discomfort
– Even Achilles problems
If your hips aren’t doing their job, other areas of your body will have to pick up the slack—and that often leads to pain or injury.
So, how can you improve your hip mobility, stay strong, and move better? Incorporating a hip mobility exercise routine can be the solution.

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Introduction Rock climbing is a sport that demands not just mental fortitude but also a high level of physical fitness. Climbers often find themselves in

In a world bustling with fast-paced living and constant demands, prioritizing our well-being often takes a backseat. Yet, amidst the chaos, there exist simple yet

Introduction As a physical therapist and a passionate runner, I’ve seen the battle scars worn by countless runners battling injuries. We push our bodies to

Learn how to running efficiently with expert tips on proper form, injury prevention, and training. Elevate your fitness journey with these essential insights.

Today, I’d like to break down a groundbreaking technique that’s been reshaping the landscape of physical therapy – Blood Flow Restriction therapy. As a seasoned

Introduction Imagine combining physical therapy’s healing power with the great outdoors’s rejuvenating experience. Outdoor physical therapy is a growing trend, and its benefits are particularly

What if I told you that with your next running shoe purchase, you could reduce your risk of injuries by 39%?

In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of run/walk intervals and offer some valuable tips to get you started. Are you a runner looking

What is Overstriding in Running? “Overstriding” is a term frequently used in the running community to describe a particular foot-striking pattern that may lead to

Discover effective strategies to prevent blisters in running. Learn what causes blisters, how to choose the right socks and shoes, and other essential tips for

Running can cause intense strain and soft tissue damage, which is why it’s essential for all runners to visit a physical therapist regularly. By doing

If you live in Colorado and experience acute or chronic pain, you should start physical therapy in Fort Collins to help with muscle restoration, pain

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Let’s start with a quick story. Last year, I participated in the Hilton Head 5k in South Carolina. As I started my warm-up, I realized

Rest Isn’t Always The Answer Sustaining an injury can be a frustrating experience, especially when the recommended course of action involves nothing more than rest

It’s normal for these things to change on a daily basis: How fast you feel How strong you feel How confident you feel How resilient

I get this question a lot… “What’s the best way to warm up for runners?” It depends! You don’t NEED to “warm up” before you

3 Things To Improve Outcomes With A Running Injury * * * Thanks for reading! If you’d like to learn more about who we are

Getting to know your own anatomy and feeling comfortable discussing what is normal and not normal is an important part of addressing pelvic floor dysfunction.

Many hikers find themselves entering the warmer months with big ambitions but little to no fitness. Hiking fitness is very important and not only greatly

Static stretching is the most common form of stretching that I see misused. It seems like it’s been ingrained into the minds of all active

MythBusters! Pelvic Floor Edition- Part 1 Have you recently been scrolling on social media while “sittervising” your kids at Twin Silos or Spring Creek Canyon

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With years of experience as a physical therapist working with injured runners, it is clear to me that we are not all getting the same

This has been a hot topic since Ironman partnered with Aleve, which is an NSAID, or “non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug.” This is big news due to

Are you a new mom that’s recently postpartum and looking to get back into running? Well first of all, go back and check out

Strength training has so many benefits to athletes and overall health in general. Although a common mistake is when intensity isn’t high enough to yield

In this episode of the Making Strides Podcast AJ and Adam talk to Brad Wells. He studied atmospheric science at CSU and works in meteorology.

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Video Transcript: Are you a mom who is looking to get back into running during the postpartum period? Well, I have 4 really great

Workouts should be catered to your specific goals. There should be a lot more thought that goes into workouts than simply being exhausted. Workouts need
Video Transcript:Hi! I’m Sam the pelvic floor physical therapist at Up and Running Physical Therapy, and today I wanted to speak to you about

One of the biggest reasons why rehab will sometimes fail athletes is when the exercises are too easy, rudimentary, or generalized. It’s fairly common that

A bladder diary is a log of how much a person drinks in a day, how much they urinate and if they experience any leaking.

Pain in the Butt It is common knowledge that our muscles are the prime movers that get us to run, jump, squat and walk from

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