March is National Athletic Training Month, a time to recognize the vital role athletic trainers play in helping athletes prevent, treat and recover from injuries. At Panorama Physical Therapy, we have a deep appreciation for the partnerships our physical therapists forge with athletic trainers to provide comprehensive rehabilitative care for injured athletes.  In conversations with two of our physical therapists, Carrie Hamm and Justin Meyer, who regularly work with local university athletic programs, it’s clear this interdisciplinary teamwork is key to getting athletes back in the game ..read more

By Justin Meyer, PT, DPT, Cert. DN.    Justin serves as the physical therapist for the University of Denver Athletics, assisting in the evaluation, treatment, and management of injured athletes. In this role, he provides his expertise in orthopedics, rehabilitation, and preventative medicine, as well as the strong rapport he has cultivated with the Panorama physicians. This collaborative approach allows Justin to provide comprehensive support to the DU athletic training staff and the student-athletes under their care.  When you think of March, what is the first thing that c ..read more

Joint pain can be a significant challenge in daily life, leading many individuals to consider joint replacement. However, in this age of misinformation, there are several commons myths that discourage people from a procedure that could save them from decades of pain.  Joint replacement expert, Dr. Joshua Shapiro, sheds light on several myths that often cloud the decision-making process for patients dealing with joint pain.    Myth 1: Avoid a Joint Replacement for as Long as Possible  Reality: Dr. Shapiro stressed the importance of seeking evaluation when pain significa ..read more

Your doctor may recommend hip arthroscopy if you have hip pain that has not responded to nonsurgical treatments, including rest, physical therapy, medications and injections. Hip arthroscopy is a minimally invasive surgery. This means the entire procedure is completed with only two or three 1 cm incisions. This speeds the recovery time and minimizes any scarring. Through these small incisions, the doctor is able to reshape any bone to eliminate FAI and repair or reconstruct the labrum. “My philosophy is to preserve your own tissue whenever possible, “says Dr. Michael Ellman. In greater th ..read more

Diagnosing the cause of hip pain can be a challenge because the hip is a complex joint. Hip pain caused by impingement and subsequently a labral tear occurs in both males and females, usually between the ages of 16 – 45.  It tends to be more common in females and often affects athletes or individuals with an active lifestyle. Certain sports – from soccer, hockey, ballet, lacrosse, basketball, softball, gymnastics, martial arts, and figure skating – can put individuals at a higher risk for a labral tear and femoroacetabular impingement. The onset of hip pain can occur gradually over time o ..read more

The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, where the upper end of the femur (the ball) fits into the acetabulum (the socket), which is part of the pelvis. The labrum is fibrous tissue that lines the socket, protects the underlying cartilage, and provides a suction seal between the ball and socket joint. Problems can arise when the ball and socket don’t fit together properly, leading to labral tears or cartilage damage in the hip joint. Hip dysplasia is not the only condition that can cause a labral tear. Femoroacetabular impingement or FAI, as it is commonly called, is often the culprit behind a la ..read more

It is important to get to the bottom of hip pain because hip dysplasia is the number one cause of arthritis in women less than 50 years old and often it leads to pain and the eventual necessity for early hip replacement. Hip Dysplasia is a condition that is often diagnosed in babies at birth or during exams as they are infants and it can be treated non-operatively usually at that age. However, if diagnosed after the age of two, often surgery is necessary to correct the problem and properly align the bones of the hip joint. Milder cases of hip dysplasia may start causing symptoms as a teenager ..read more

When most people think about hip pain, they think of old age and arthritis, but hip pain can happen in younger, active people too. Hip pain in younger people can be caused by a labral tear. Unfortunately, those who have this condition often go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed for an extended period of time. Michaela’s Story of Bi-lateral Labral Repair Individuals with a labral tear usually have pain in the front of the hip or groin, and often times they are diagnosed with a muscle pull or a groin strain that doesn’t get better with rest and anti-inflammatory medication. So ..read more

Here are the steps you need to know  You’ve met with your primary care doctor, followed up with a specialist, and perhaps you’ve already tried physical therapy or other nonsurgical approaches.  After careful consideration, you’ve decided that surgery is the best option for you.  What are the next steps?   Depending on your insurance, procedure, and physician, it typically takes anywhere from 2 weeks to 2 months from your initial consultation to your surgery.  You also need to consider the timeline if you would like to schedule surgery after you have met your insur ..read more

This year’s Top Doctor nominations were more competitive than ever before. 5280 partnered with Castle Connolly, a health care research company, to conduct a rigorous selection process for the top doctors in each category. The nomination process is open to all licensed physicians in America to vote. Then, the Castle Connolly team asses the nominations according to the following criteria: Professional Qualifications Education Hospital & Faculty Appointments Research Reputation Disciplinary History Outcomes (if available) Interpersonal skills We are proud to announce the following physician ..read more