Institute for Musculoskeletal Advancement

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Institute for Musculoskeletal Advancement

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The Institute for Musculoskeletal Advancement (iMSKA) was created to engage in scientific research to determine the causes of injuries, disorders, and diseases of the musculoskeletal system; to inform, improve, and advance the diagnosis, treatment.

02/18/2026

We are thrilled to congratulate, iMSKA Board of Directors member and Sr. Director of Care Delivery Optimization ATI Physical Therapy, Ellen Shanley on receiving the American Academy of Sports Physical Therapy Excellence in Research Award at American Physical Therapy Association (APTA)CSM this past week!

This well-deserved recognition reflects her outstanding contributions to advancing orthopaedic and sports physical therapy through meaningful, high-quality research. Ellen’s work continues to elevate clinical practice, mentor future researchers, and strengthen the connection between evidence and patient care.

Congratulations on this incredible achievement, thank you for your leadership and lasting impact on the profession!

02/11/2026

We’re fired up for American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) !

This week speakers from iMSKA are bringing research to life.

From translating science into real-world practice to challenging how we evaluate and manage conditions, their sessions are all about advancing evidence-based care and clinical reasoning.

Check out their topics and see them in person!

If you’re at , don’t miss these talks, join the conversation shaping the future of physical therapy.

02/10/2026

A new publication featured in International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy highlights how humeral retrotorsion influences glenohumeral ROM in healthy collegiate softball players; reinforcing that shoulder ROM adaptations in overhead athletes are often normal, not pathological.

Understanding these sport-specific adaptations is critical for accurate assessment, injury prevention, and performance-focused care.

Congratulations to ATI Physical Therapy UE Fellow Kendall Henry, and iMSKA's Director of Research, Natalie Myers for this manuscript; supporting a more precise, evidence-informed approach to upper extremity evaluation specifically for softball athletes.

Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/dgNYnHFY

01/28/2026

Our Research Fellows are taking the stage at American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) CSM2026!

Catch cutting-edge presentations on:
- Dry needling for lateral hip pain
- Care fidelity and clinical outcomes in pelvic health PT
- Atypical presentation of celiac artery compression syndrome in adolescent athletes
- Dry needling for neck pain

These emerging researchers are advancing care, pushing the boundaries of evidence-based practice, and showing how research translates directly into better outcomes for patients.

Don’t miss their sessions, join us at and see the next generation of innovators in action!

01/21/2026

Can handheld ultrasound accurately measure humeral retrotorsion?

This new validation study says yes, with big implications for overhead athletes.

Key takeaways
• Handheld ultrasound showed excellent reliability (ICC = 0.98)
• Strong agreement with traditional MSK ultrasound—no meaningful bias
• < 2 minutes for bilateral measurements
• Lower cost + portable, making clinical assessment far more accessible

Shout out to the research team including our very own Director of Research, Natalie Myers, for delivering clinically meaningful research that truly bridges research and practice.

Well worth a read, particularly for anyone working with throwing athletes: https://tinyurl.com/mxsybdvk

01/16/2026

Next month at the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) CSM conference, we will have many representatives presenting their work that advances clinical reasoning, implementation, and evidence-based care.

From translating research into practice to challenging how we evaluate and treat conditions, our speakers are contributing to the conversations shaping the future of physical therapy.

If you’re attending CSM 2026, make sure to check out these sessions and join us in pushing research forward

01/07/2026

Ready to elevate your clinical expertise?

The ATI Physical Therapyy Upper Extremity Athlete Fellowship offers a 12-month advanced experience combining mentorship, hands-on patient care, and professional sports exposure.

Spend 5 months in Greenville, SC with expert faculty, then 7 months embedded with MLB team affiliates, gaining unparalleled experience managing upper extremity injuries.

Requirements: PT license, completion of a Sports or Orthopedic Residency (or board certification), and a passion for growth and advanced practice.

Apply via RF‑PTCAS by March 1st, 2026: https://tinyurl.com/2b6bcxdt

01/05/2026

We’re proud to introduce our newest cohort of Research Fellows who joined iMSKA in December 2025. They will be contributing to both new and ongoing research projects that are shaping the future of care.

These fellows are also practicing clinicians with ATI Physical Therapy, representing Texas and Washington. Their dedication to advancing health through research, clinical insight, and collaboration reflects the heart of our mission at iMSKA.

Help us celebrate their work and officially welcome them to the iMSKA community.

If you're interested in becoming a Research Fellow, you can learn more: https://i-mska.org

01/02/2026

As we step into a new year, we’re energized to continue advancing research, supporting clinicians, and driving evidence-based care forward. Thanks to our incredible team, research fellows, advisory board, and community, your dedication makes progress possible!

Here’s to a year of innovation, collaboration, and meaningful impact. Together, we’re shaping the future of physical therapy!

12/30/2025

A 2024 article in Journal of Shoulder and Elbow SurgeryThe Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery by Hawkins et al. calls attention to an important issue in outcomes research: are our shoulder measures truly capturing what matters most to patients?

Rather than relying on lengthy, multi-item tools, the authors highlight how SANE, an efficient, patient-centered metric, can meaningfully capture functional status and change over time. This piece challenges researchers and clinicians alike to prioritize outcome measures that balance measurement rigor with real-world relevance.

This work reinforces the need for thoughtful outcome selection in shoulder research, particularly when balancing methodological rigor with feasibility and patient-centeredness. An important read for researchers and clinicians engaged in study design, outcomes assessment, and evidence-informed shoulder care.

Assess the article here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38295936/

12/29/2025

As we wrap up another remarkable year, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our partners, community, and everyone who has supported us along the way. Your commitment and collaboration have been essential in driving the progress we've made in advancing orthopedics and health.

We remain dedicated to pushing the boundaries of research and clinical excellence, and we couldn’t have achieved this without you. Looking ahead to 2026, we’re excited about the opportunities to further our mission and build on the momentum we’ve created together.

Wishing you all a joyful holiday season, filled with peace, happiness, and cherished moments with those who matter most!

12/19/2025

How we measure shoulder range of motion in throwing athletes matters.

In this study, published in Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery International the researchers examined glenohumeral rotation within the context of humeral retrotorsion in collegiate baseball players with and without MUCL injuries. When osseous adaptations were accounted for, rotational motion did not differ between injured and uninjured athletes and external rotation deficits were more common than internal rotation deficits in both groups.

These findings challenge long-held assumptions about GIRD and reinforce the need for osseous-informed interpretation of shoulder ROM in overhead athletes.

If you work with throwers, this paper is worth your time.

Congratulations to our Director of Research, Natalie Myers and the research team on these impactful contributions.

Address

Downers Grove, IL

Website

https://i-mska.org/

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