Personalized Physical Therapy in Chicago, IL

Patient Testimonials

I was told there was nothing more they could do for me. It felt like a hopeless situation.They also gave me great tools so I can progress at home. I have achieved goals that I thought were not possible.

Gail B.
Grateful for the all the attention I received from Al (my physical therapist) and Maggie (receptionist). Al takes your recovery very serious and his attention to detail helped me recover from a torn Patella tendon.

Jose M.
I can't recommend this clinic enough! PTs and supportive staff are knowledgeable, supportive, kind, and timely. If you find yourself needing physical therapy, I urge you to choose Function 1st!

Kornelia F.

Why You Should Consider Us Over
Corporate Clinics Or Hospitals:

Function 1st Physical Therapy

Corporate

Hospital

Same-Day Appointments Possible
Family-Friendly Clinic Serving the Area Since 2011
One-on-One Treatment with Your Therapist
McKenzie Experts
FCE/Work Hardening Experts
Deep Tissue Laser Therapy
Multilingual - English,Spanish, Polish
Free Screenings
Most Affordable

No
No
No
Maybe
Maybe
No
Maybe
No
No

No
No
Maybe
Maybe
Maybe
No
Maybe
No
No

Function 1st Physical Therapy
Same-Day Appointments Possible	Yes
Family-Friendly Clinic Serving the Area Since 2011	Yes
One-on-One Treatment with Your Therapist	Yes
McKenzie Experts	Yes
FCE/Work Hardening Experts	Yes
Deep Tissue Laser Therapy	Yes
Multilingual - English,Spanish, Polish	Yes
Free Screenings	Yes
Most Affordable	Yes

Corporate
Same-Day Appointments Possible	No
Family-Friendly Clinic Serving the Area Since 2011	No
One-on-One Treatment with Your Therapist	No
McKenzie Experts	Maybe
FCE/Work Hardening Experts	Maybe
Deep Tissue Laser Therapy	No
Multilingual - English,Spanish, Polish	Maybe
Free Screenings	No
Most Affordable	No

Hospital
Same-Day Appointments Possible	No
Family-Friendly Clinic Serving the Area Since 2011	No
One-on-One Treatment with Your Therapist	Maybe
McKenzie Experts	Maybe
FCE/Work Hardening Experts	Maybe
Deep Tissue Laser Therapy	No
Multilingual - English,Spanish, Polish	Maybe
Free Screenings	No
Most Affordable	No

The Recovery Process

Click on a step to learn more.

- Pain Relief
  
  Reducing pain, swelling, and inflammation are common goals in this phase of recovery. Injury protection, elevation, appropriate medications, compression, and patient education are important.
- Introduce Movement
  
  Pain-free passive, manual therapy, active range of motion, and cardiorespiratory exercises, are indicated here. Education about pain and a positive attitude may help.
- Strengthening
  
  Progressive loading of healing soft tissues, the reintroduction of low-stress neuromuscular reeducation, balance training, and basic functional activities are part of this rehabilitation phase.
- Functional Retraining
  
  Progressing strengthening exercises, improving flexibility, and advanced balance exercises are part of phase 4. Resuming functional movement (e.g. sports movements) occurs in this phase.
- Recovery & Prevention
  
  Functional movements are progressed, a controlled re-introduction to sports or challenging environments is initiated. Continued strengthening, flexibility, balance, endurance, and goal-specific training occurs during this phase. Education and future injury prevention are discussed.

Blog

November 6, 2024

Early PT is Likely The Best Choice for Acute Low Back Pain

Low back pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal disorders in the U.S., affecting nearly 40% of adults each year. Whether it is due to poor posture, work-related activities, or injury, back pain can drastically reduce your quality of life and abili

Read More
October 23, 2024

For Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Physical Therapy is More Cost-Effective

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a common condition affecting about 5% of the US population. It arises when the median nerve in the wrist becomes compressed, leading to numbness, pain, and reduced hand function. Many people at risk for CTS are office worke

Read More
October 16, 2024

How Therapeutic Exercise Can Assist with Musculoskeletal Disorders

A musculoskeletal disorder is a painful condition that involves the muscles, joints, tendons, ligaments, or other structures of the body. These disorders most commonly occur in joints like the spine, ankles, knees, hips, and shoulders, resulting in pain a

Read More
October 9, 2024

Hands-On Therapy Can Improve Patients with Common Ankle Sprains

About 25,000 people people sprain their ankle every day, and sports are involved in most of these incidents. Ankle sprains represent the most common injury in athletic activities, as they account for a whopping 45% of all sports-related injuries. But this

Read More
October 2, 2024

Regularly Engaging in Physical Activity May Extend Your Lifespan

It's no secret that regular physical activity is essential for maintaining optimal health, but did you know that it can also extend your life expectancy? According to a comprehensive study conducted as part of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, engaging in

Read More
September 25, 2024

Alleviating Neck Pain: The Power of Manual Therapy Over Medications

Neck pain is like an unwelcome guest that just won’t leave, and nearly everyone will experience it at some point in their lives. It can stem from various causes like poor posture, an injury, or a chronic condition, and the resulting pain can range from mi

Read More
September 18, 2024

The Amazing Benefits of Meditation: A Journey to Better Health

Meditation is a practice that involves focusing or clearing the mind with different techniques to reach a mentally clear and emotionally calm state. It's often associated with mindfulness, which involves being present and fully engaging with whatever one

Read More
September 11, 2024

Difference Between Surgery and Physical Therapy for Treating Meniscal

A meniscus is a wedge-shaped piece of cartilage within your knee joints. There are two menisci (plural of meniscus) in each of your knees, and the job of each of these structures is to stabilize the knee joint and absorb shock. If you've ever experienced

Read More
September 4, 2024

Physical Therapy Can Significantly Improve Outcomes After Hip Surgery

Femoroacetabular impingement (FAI), or hip impingement, is a condition in which the ball and socket of the hip don't fit together properly. This causes the bones to rub against each other during movement, which can lead to pain and limited hip motion.

Read More
August 28, 2024

The Importance of Preventing Falls in Older Adults

Falls are a major concern for older adults, as they can lead to serious injuries such as hip and wrist fractures. In the course of the natural aging process, older adults may experience reduced muscle strength, balance issues, and other bodily changes tha

Read More

Expert Physical Therapy For Pain Relief & Functional Recovery

Welcome to
Function 1st Physical Therapy in Chicago, IL

Are You Having Trouble with Daily Activities?

We Will Help You Get Your Life Back

Getting Started is Fast & Easy

Conditions We Treat

Orthopedic Physical Therapy

Manual Therapy

Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)

Work Conditioning / Hardening

Laser
Therapy

McKenzie Technique For Low Back & Neck Pain

Therapeutic Exercise

Joint
Mobilization / Manipulation

Cervical
Traction

Balance
Programs

Flexion / Distraction Table

Heat / Ice / Electrical Stimulation

Patient Testimonials

We are In-Network with Most Insurance Plans

NOTE: No Prescription No Problem - We Can See Patients Without a Physician’s Referral

We also offer affordable cash based options.

If you don’t see your plan listed, please give us a call.
We make every effort to verify your insurance benefits before your first visit with us.

Why You Should Consider Us Over
Corporate Clinics Or Hospitals:

The Recovery Process

Expert Physical Therapy For Pain Relief & Functional Recovery

Welcome toFunction 1st Physical Therapy in Chicago, IL

Are You Having Trouble with Daily Activities?

We Will Help You Get Your Life Back

Getting Started is Fast & Easy

Conditions We Treat

Orthopedic Physical Therapy

Manual Therapy

Functional Capacity Evaluations (FCE)

Work Conditioning / Hardening

Laser Therapy

McKenzie Technique For Low Back & Neck Pain

Therapeutic Exercise

Joint Mobilization / Manipulation

Cervical Traction

Balance Programs

Flexion / Distraction Table

Heat / Ice / Electrical Stimulation

Patient Testimonials

We are In-Network with Most Insurance Plans

NOTE: No Prescription No Problem - We Can See Patients Without a Physician’s Referral

We also offer affordable cash based options.

If you don’t see your plan listed, please give us a call. We make every effort to verify your insurance benefits before your first visit with us.

Why You Should Consider Us Over Corporate Clinics Or Hospitals:

The Recovery Process

Welcome to
Function 1st Physical Therapy in Chicago, IL

Laser
Therapy

Joint
Mobilization / Manipulation

Cervical
Traction

Balance
Programs

If you don’t see your plan listed, please give us a call.
We make every effort to verify your insurance benefits before your first visit with us.

Why You Should Consider Us Over
Corporate Clinics Or Hospitals: