Best Sports Injury Recovery Programs in Chicago

Chicago’s sports culture goes beyond its dynastic franchises. The Second City is home to many providers of world-class sports rehabilitation programs that extend careers and improve quality of life. Athletes and active individuals love the choice and diversity of specialized medical services it offers. Learn what factors to consider when sizing up specialty health care facilities and discover the best sports injury recovery programs in Chicago.

How to Compare Sports Injury Recovery Program Providers

Consider the following when judging the merits of health care organizations offering sports rehabilitation services.

Treatments

Learn about a facility’s services. Clinics use different medical interventions to rehabilitate specific injuries. Health care professionals develop personalized treatment plans to match your unique genetic, biomechanical, and lifestyle requirements, which helps speed up recovery, restore function more quickly, boost athletic performance, and prevent reinjury.

Specialists

Check out an organization’s team. These specialty health care facilities employ various clinicians — including sports medicine physicians, physical therapists, and registered dietitians — to perform effective medical interventions.

Amenities

Know the technologies a practice uses. The quality of equipment influences treatment plan efficacy. Highly regarded sports rehab centers invest in cutting-edge technologies and modern facilities to deliver the highest level of care.

Philosophy

Understand an organization’s distinct approach to sports injury rehabilitation. Health care companies swear by a set of techniques to provide outstanding care, define their brand identity, and stand out from the competition.

Locations

Note your prospective provider’s locations. Health care businesses usually have multiple branches across the city to serve as many patients as possible and operate more efficiently. Amenities can vary by location, and some treatments may be unavailable in certain branches.

Insurance Networks

Determine whether a practice has a contract with your health insurance company. Using an in-network provider allows you to maximize your coverage, minimize your potential out-of-pocket expenses, and afford the most suitable treatments to address your injury.

10 Providers of the Best Chicago Sports Injury Recovery Programs

Here are the 10 highly regarded practices offering Chicagoland’s best sports injury recovery programs.

1. FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers^®

FYZICAL Chicago is an outpatient physical therapy organization that uses a personalized, specialized whole-body approach to sports rehabilitation.

The company’s comprehensive evaluation helps reveal your body’s underlying needs, providing your physical therapist crucial insights for connecting your diagnosis with a customized treatment plan. FYZICAL Chicago clinicians assist one to two patients at a time to ensure undivided attention and hands-on care.

The practice’s broad range of amenities helps sports medicine professionals tailor evidence-based treatment plans to achieve different health goals, including alleviating chronic pain, correcting imbalances, increasing stability, maximizing range of motion, and demonstrating proper body mechanics when performing sports exercises.

Key Features

• Comprehensive assessment
• Personalized and specialized approach
• Hands-on care

2. Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush

Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush is an established orthopedic practice that welcomes patients of all ages and fitness levels. It offers pediatric and women’s sports medicine programs and delivers elite care to athletes of all levels.

The company consists of fellow-trained sports medicine specialists to ensure you receive treatment from the best in their fields. Its specialists can treat a wide range of injuries using advanced assessment methods, therapies, and surgical procedures. The physicians are at the forefront of orthopedic research and master scientific breakthroughs before they become industry standards.

The clinic has seven full-service and 18 physical therapy locations. However, only one branch specializes in sports performance.

Key Features

• Subspecialized care
• Fellowship-trained specialists
• Groundbreaking orthopedic research

3. Chicago Sports & Spine

Chicago Sports & Spine has been a leader in sports medicine for 20 years. This clinic specializes in interventional pain management, which helps diagnose and alleviate various conditions and improve overall quality of life.

The practice focuses on localized pain relief and treats each patient as an individual. Its physicians personalize treatment plans using a wide selection of procedures, including conservative nonsurgical options and regenerative therapy, which has proved to have a therapeutic impact on musculoskeletal injury rehab.

Dr. Baljinder Bathla leads Chicago Sports & Spine’s team of experts in sports medicine, pain management, and spine care. He is double board-certified in physical medicine and rehabilitation and pain management. Dr. Bathla also holds board eligibility in acupuncture.

Key Features

• Interventional procedures
• Localized pain relief
• 20 years of experience

4. NovaCare Rehabilitation

NovaCare Rehabilitation is under the Select Medical umbrella, a nationally recognized authority in community-based outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation. The brand collaborates with RUSH Physical Therapy to lend sports medicine expertise to athletes across Chicago’s metro area.

The practice’s Select Sports – Sports Medicine program may suit you if you live with or are recovering from a musculoskeletal injury. Many agree that this data-driven sports injury recovery program is one of Chicago’s best for preparing for surgery, dealing with undiagnosed physical limitations, and overcoming physical and mental roadblocks to returning to the game.

NovaCare Rehabilitation helps you file a claim with your health insurance provider and rarely requires a doctor’s referral to begin treatment.

Key Features

• Data-based approach
• Expansive clinic network
• Typically requires no doctor’s referral 

5. Movement Physical Therapy & Wellness

Movement Physical Therapy & Wellness provides individualized physical therapy treatment plans and personalized, one-on-one care. Its specialists are experts in various disciplines and equipped with state-of-the-art tools. They are practitioners of Applied Functional Science (AFS), a transformative approach to understanding and optimizing human movement.

This practice’s treatments include blood flow restriction, dry needling, gait analysis, Kinesio taping, and the Graston technique. You can schedule your free 15-minute screening and see any of the clinic’s therapists without a prescription. Each 60-minute session blends therapeutic activity and hands-on treatment.

Movement Physical Therapy works with most insurance carriers. Its staff will verify your coverage and explain your benefits in detail.

Key Features

• Individualized treatment plans
• AFS approach
• No prescription requirement

6. Sports and Ortho Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine

Sports and Ortho Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine is home to fellowship-trained physical therapists who believe in treating the athlete, not the injury. This woman-owned practice offers an array of sports injury recovery programs designed for specific body parts, conditions, athletes, and athletic goals.

The company can help you rehabilitate an injured ACL or rotator cuff, recuperate after shoulder replacement surgery, or improve the alignment of your spine through corrective scoliosis procedures. This practice also has a dedicated injury rehab regimen if your domain is tennis, golf, gymnastics, or soccer.

Sports and Ortho Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine can help you get back in the game. The clinic’s throwing program helps lower your risk of injury while playing baseball or softball.

Key Features

• Woman-owned practice
• Fellowship-trained physical therapists
• Specialized sports rehabilitation programs

7. Athletico Physical Therapy

Athletico Physical Therapy has expertise in a variety of treatments to alleviate almost any sports-related injuries. You can visit this clinic to recover from a concussion, vestibular disorder, torn ACL, back pain, mobility challenges related to hands and upper extremities, and more.

This practice has specialists in men’s health, women’s health, and pediatric physical therapy. Its therapists are also trained in diagnosing, treating, and educating transgender, nonbinary, and intersex individuals about common pelvic health conditions.

Undergoing athletic training at Athletico Physical Therapy allows you to receive urgent care to manage any sudden or chronic conditions that hamper your performance. Its golf, gymnastics, cheerleading, and performance arts rehabilitation regimens are some of the best specialized sports injury recovery programs in Chicago.

Key Features

• Diverse sports medicine expertise
• Gender-inclusive therapies
• Specialized rehab programs

8. RESPORT Chicago

RESPORT Chicago is a chiropractic care and physical therapy practice dedicated to both professional and everyday athletes. Its team includes sports chiropractors, trauma-informed massage therapists, personal trainers, and nutritionists.

The clinic primarily treats sprains, strains, back pain, neck pain, headaches, migraines, and disc injuries. Its clinicians also specialize in nutrition counseling, personalized weight loss training, and unorthodox techniques like dry needling to fast-track your rehab journey, especially after surgery.

The organization views itself as a lifetime wellness partner of physically active individuals. Its patient-centered care approach lets you actively participate in your treatment. RESPORT Chicago offers maintenance plans to reduce injury proneness and elevate performance.

Key Features

• Sports chiropractic care
• Holistic physical therapy
• Maintenance plans

9. IMPACT Physical Therapy & Sports Recovery

The physical therapists and athletic trainers at IMPACT Physical Therapy & Sports Recovery work with various athletes recovering from injury and hoping to be more durable once they get better.

The team develops a personalized treatment plan to shorten your healing time postsurgery as safely as possible. Its credentialed clinicians use dozens of tried-and-true techniques to help you manage chronic pain and bounce back from an ACL tear, concussion, orthopedic condition, or overhead sports-related injury. Its rehab programs allow you to return to the weight room, baseball or softball field, tennis court, golf course, or dance floor.

IMPACT Physical Therapy & Sports Recovery’s athletic training and performance enhancement programs can take you to the next level and lower your risk of injury. Its bike fitting service ensures you pedal ergonomically when training and competing.

Key Features

• Certified clinicians
• 30-plus specialty techniques
• Specialized sports rehab programs

10. Free Body Physical Therapy

Free Body Physical Therapy takes pride in providing a sports rehab program centered on evidence-based physical therapy and patient education. This practice treats common athletic conditions, including concussions, sprains, joint problems, strains, dislocations, fractures, tendonitis, repetitive stress disorders, and neck and back injuries. It leverages physical therapy to prepare your body pre-surgery and boost your recovery post-surgery.

The company prioritizes one-on-one care. Its team does not use low-efficacy modalities and favors treatments that solid research finds to deliver concrete health outcomes.

Free Body Physical Therapy clinicians are globally and fellowship-trained. Their goal is to help you regain strength, enhance athletic performance, minimize pain, and increase flexibility and range of motion in fewer sessions. These physical therapists empower you to understand your condition to help accelerate your healing at home through practices like watching what you eat to ensure proper energy intake during immobilization.

Key Features

• One-on-one care
• Fellowship-trained physical therapists
• Presurgery and postsurgery rehabilitation

Comparing Chicago’s Top Sports Injury Recovery Programs

All of these clinics provide quality treatment options and customer service and are backed by years of expertise. However, when it comes to picking the right program for you, accessibility and affordability are also key factors. 

Provider	Locations	Health Insurance Partners
FYZICAL Chicago	Arlington HeightsBuffalo GroveGarfield RidgeHoffman EstatesIrving ParkJefferson ParkLa GrangeLincoln ParkLogan SquareMount ProspectNapervilleNilesOak BrookOak LawnOld TownOrland ParkSchaumburgWheaton	AetnaAlign NetworkAllied BenefitsAllied NationalAmerican Specialty HealthAARPAssurant HealthBankers Life and CasualtyBardavonBlue Cross Blue ShieldChamp VAChesterfield ResourcesCignaCoreSourceCountry FinancialEnvision HealthcareFirst HealthGallagher BassetGEHAGroup Administrators, LtdHarken HealthHartfordHealthLinkHumanaMedRiskMeritain HealthNetwork Synergy GroupOptum HealthOrthonetSedgwickTri-CareUnited Healthcare
Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush	Bensenville	AetnaBeech StreetBlue Cross Blue Shield – HMO IllinoisBlue Cross Blue Shield of IllinoisBlue Cross Blue Shield Medicare Advantage PPOCIGNA Healthplan of Illinois, Inc.Great WestHealth NetworkHealthcare’s Finest NetworkHFNHumanaMultiplanPPONextPreferred Network AccessPrivate Healthcare SystemsThree River Provider NetworkUnitedHealthcareUnited Healthcare Group Medicare Advantage
Chicago Sports & Spine	South Loop	Unspecified
NovaCare Rehabilitation	Andersonville – EdgewaterBeverlyBronzevilleBurr RidgeCumberlandChicago – Harrison StreetDeerfield Park DistrictDePaul Fullerton – AdultDePaul Ray MeyerElmhurstElmhurst FFCElmwood ParkEvanstonGold Coast FFCHammondHyde ParkLa Grange AdultLakeview FFCLincoln Park Athletic ClubLincoln Square Athletic ClubLogan SquareLoop – Millennium ParkMokenaMount ProspectNaperville OgdenNaperville – Route 59South Loop FFCNorth Avenue FFCOak Park MapleOak Park FFCOak Lawn – 95th StreetOak Park – Madison StreetOakbrook TerraceOrland ParkPalatinePalos Hills – Moraine ValleyPark Ridge FFCPilsenRogers Park – Loyola UniversityRUSH South LoopScherervilleStreamwoodStreetervilleTinley ParkUnion Station FFCVernon HillsWest Loop FFCWicker ParkWrigleyville FFC	Unspecified
Movement Physical Therapy	RavenswoodRiver NorthStreetervilleWest Loop	Unspecified
Sports and Ortho Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine	Hyde ParkLake BluffLakeviewMidwayMount GreenwoodNorthbrookPark RidgeSauganashSkokie	AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCoventryDefinity HealthFirst HealthFiserv HealthGolden RuleGreat WestHumanaMedicarePHCSSouthcareTricareUnicareWorkers’ compensation plans
Athletico Physical Therapy	Albany ParkAndersonville NorthAndersonville SouthBrickyardBridgeportBronzevilleBucktownChatham CentralChatham SouthChatham WestDaley PlazaDunningEvergreen ParkFoster and PulaskiGarfield RidgeGold CoastHyde Park EastHyde Park WestIrving ParkKelvyn ParkLakeview EastLakeview WestLincoln Park EastLincoln Park NorthLincoln Park SoNoLincoln Park SouthLincoln SquareLincolnwoodLittle ItalyLogan SquareLogan Square NorthLoop – Jackson and FranklinLoop – Michigan AvenueMcKinley ParkMerchandise MartMidtown Lincoln ParkMidwayMorgan Park – Blue IslandMount GreenwoodNiles – Northwest ChicagoNorridgeNorth LoopNorwood ParkOgilvie StationOld TownPilsenPortage Park – Six CornersPrinters RowPrudential BuildingRavenswoodRiver North – East Bank ClubRiver North – Wabash and KinzieRiver WestRogers Park – LoyolaRogers Park – Touhy and WesternRogers Park – West RidgeRoscoe Village – ChicagoSouth ChicagoSouth Loop – ArcherSouth Loop – Michigan AvenueStreeterville EastStreeterville NorthUnion League ClubWashington ParkWest Loop – MorganWest Loop – United CenterWest TownWicker ParkWrigleyville North	Access HealthNetACTIN Care GroupAdvocate Health Centers CapAetnaAetna Medicare AdvantageAither HealthASH/CignaASH/Cigna Connect HMOBCBS Medicare AdvantageBCBS of IllinoisChampvaCigna HealthspringsCoventry Health Care of IllinoisCoventry NationalCustom Design BenefitsDevoted Health Medicare AdvantageDuPage Medical GroupEHP/Essential Health PartnersEssence HealthcareFox Valley MedicineGolden RuleHealth AllianceHealthlinkHealthlink SOIImagine HealthIndependent Physicians at MercyIU HealthJP FarleyLoyola Physicians GroupMedicareMutual of OmahaNorthShore Physician AssociatesNorthwest Community HealthcareNorthwestern Medicine Physician PartnersOakStreet HealthPartners Direct HealthSurestSwedish Covenant Physician PartnersTheramatrixTricareTrilogy Health SolutionsUIC Physician GroupUnified Physicians NetworkUnitedHealthcareUnitedHealthcare AARP Medicare AdvantageUnitedHealthcare Medicare AdvantageUnitedHealthOneVA CCNVelocity National Provider NetworkVelocity National Provider Network Medicare AdvantageVeterans AdministrationWEA TrustWorkers’ compensation plans
RESPORT Chicago	Old Town	AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCignaUnited Healthcare
IMPACT Physical Therapy & Sports Recovery	ChampaignHinsdaleLakeviewNapervilleNorridgeOak LawnOrland ParkSouth Loop	AARPAetnaAlign/One Call Anthem/Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Cross Blue ShieldCignaCoventryFirst Health HealthLinkHealth Alliance through CPHPHumanaMedicareMedriskMultiplanPHCSTricareUnitedHealthcareWorkers’ compensation plans
Free Body Physical Therapy	Humboldt ParkRoscoe Village	AetnaBlue Cross Blue ShieldCorvelMedicareMedRiskWorkers’ compensation plans

Sign up for the Best Sports Injury Recovery Program in Chicago

These clinics offer different pathways to rehabilitation. Learn more about each company’s treatments and specialists to find the perfect fit.