Recently, Next Level Physical Therapy had the opportunity to join PHL17’s Positively Philly for a live in-studio movement assessment and discussion on physical therapy, movement, and pain.
During the segment, Next Level co-founder Dr. Mike Wehrhahn and physical therapist Dr. Artem Imnadze walked hosts Rachel Malak and Abby Urban through part of the assessment process we use to help patients better understand the deeper causes of pain and movement limitations.
You can watch the full segment here:
Watch the Positively Philly segment on PHL17
A Different Approach to Physical Therapy
One of the biggest ideas highlighted during the segment was that pain is not always coming from where you feel it.
During the live demonstration, Rachel presented with limitations around her shoulder and shoulder blade movement. But rather than simply focusing on the shoulder itself, Dr. Mike and Dr. Artem assessed how the rest of the body was contributing to the issue.
One of the key findings involved rib cage expansion and how the body was moving through the trunk and rib cage.
Once those areas were addressed, shoulder movement immediately improved.
This is a core part of the Next Level philosophy.
Many people spend months or years trying to stretch, strengthen, or massage the area that hurts without ever understanding why the body developed that limitation in the first place.
Our goal is to help identify the deeper movement patterns contributing to pain, stiffness, or compensation so treatment can be more targeted and effective.
Why Movement Assessments Matter
Movement is connected.
The shoulder does not function independently from the rib cage, spine, hips, or breathing mechanics. The same is true throughout the rest of the body.
That means limitations in one area often show up as symptoms somewhere else.
This is why movement assessments can be such an important part of physical therapy. Instead of only chasing symptoms, we look at how the body moves as a system.
For some people, that may mean identifying mobility restrictions. For others, it may involve breathing mechanics, stability limitations, or compensation patterns that developed over time.
Understanding those relationships often creates a clearer path toward long-term improvement.
Thank You to PHL17 and Positively Philly
We are incredibly grateful to PHL17, Positively Philly, Rachel Malak, and Abby Urban for welcoming us onto the show and giving us the opportunity to share our approach with the Philadelphia community.
We appreciate the chance to discuss movement, physical therapy, and the importance of looking deeper than symptoms alone when helping people feel and move better.
Interested in Learning More?
At Next Level Physical Therapy, we help active adults and athletes better understand their movement, address pain at the source, and improve long-term performance and resilience.
If you are dealing with ongoing pain, stiffness, or movement limitations, our team can help guide the process.
Request an appointment here to learn more about our approach to physical therapy and movement assessment.
