Lakeshore Physical Therapy Blog

Recover Faster: The Role of Post-Surgical Rehab in Healing and Strength

Whether you’ve had a joint replaced, a torn ligament repaired, or just survived your first (and hopefully last) dance with anesthesia, post-op physical therapy is often the secret sauce in your healing journey. It’s not just about stretching muscles—it’s about rewiring your body’s movement patterns and sticking to the right recovery timeline so you bounce back stronger, not stiffer.

Physical therapist guiding a patient through a lunge exercise during a rehabilitation session at a physical therapy clinic.
Pregnant woman sitting on a bed holding her lower back due to pregnancy-related back pain

Diastasis Rectus Abdominis: Dealing with the Post-Partum Bulge

Diastasis rectus abdominis (DRA) is a separation of the two muscle bellies of the rectus abdominis muscle. Commonly referred to as the “six-pack” area, it is the main and largest abdominal muscle on the front side of the body.

DRA most often occurs in women during pregnancy: the expanding uterus stretches the abdominals, which can cause a separation in the line alba (the connective tissue between the two sides of the muscle). While it can also occur in men and non-pregnant women due to inappropriate loading and pressure within the abdominal and pelvic regions, it is rare.

Patient Centered Articles

Advice from experienced therapist using evidence-based techniques so you understand our approach to your treatment.

Woman lifting dumbbells for muscle preservation and strength training during GLP-1 weight loss

On a GLP-1? Your Muscles Need a Plan Too

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are everywhere right now, and so is the concern about what they can do to muscle mass. A meaningful chunk of GLP-1 weight loss can come from lean tissue, not just fat. The fix

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Man holding his painful shoulder while playing padel on a court.

Pickleball Elbow, Meet Your Match

Pickleball has taken over Chicago parks faster than you can say “kitchen,” and our schedule proves it. We’re seeing a steady wave of pickleball elbow, rotator cuff irritation, low back pain, knee pain, ankle sprains, and Achilles tightness walk through

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