I highly recommend Michael as a PT for anyone working through an injury. I started to see Michael about a month before my first Half Iron Man and just after I hurt my hamstring training. I just completed the Muncie 70.3 race and owe Michael a huge thank you for his support.
This is the best i've felt running in two years!
I've had physical therapy at multiple places, but Michael is the first therapist who actually listens and considers what I am feeling each session, really watches me perform each exercise, and creates a plan that is completely individual to me.
When my recently pulled hamstring started to flare up at the beginning of my cross country season, I was recommended to visit Dr Michael. I have been around different therapy offices with my recurring muscle tightness and strains, and can say I have never felt stronger, or more injury safe than at Valiant PT.
I came to Dr Michael because of a tightness and numbness in my left thigh that has persisted for years. The numbness and tightness are now gone. I highly recommend Dr Michael to anyone with similar needs and a desire to feel better!
I hurt my knee in July and was worried I wasn’t going to be able to compete in the Chicago sprint triathlon at end of August. But with Dr. Michael’s excellent care, support, and guidance, I was able to safely ease back into running and successfully completed the race pain-free! I highly recommend him for his deep knowledge and personalized approach.
I started physical therapy with Dr. Michael in June 2024. This was the second time that my back went out. Since that was my second time with back pain, I wanted to see someone that works with and treats runners. Plus I knew other runners that were happy with his care. With Dr. Michael's help, I was able to run a 10K race in September. My back is feeling better and I am now gradually building my milage again.It is my pleasure to recommend Dr. Michael
One of the most effective tools Michael had in helping me was his ability to educate me on the big picture of what was going on with my persistent hamstring injury. I definitely would not have reached full recovery without his guidance and dedication to my healing process
Michael is a fantastic PT equipped with a thorough knowledge of running mechanics and a positive, motivational attitude.I greatly enjoyed working with Michael and am back on track with my training for the Chicago marathon.
Strained a calf 3 months before Chicago Marathon. I took all of August off and worked exclusively with Michael on rehab. After my race (see photo, it went well!) I reconnected with Michael and we reinvented my running form to make it higher cadence and less injury-prone. My pre- and post-run routine has been revolutionized with Michael's guidance. I am not only injury free but girded against injury in the future!
Michael has been great to work with and thanks to him I’m running pain free!
I came to Dr. Michael with severe knee pain from training for a half marathon. I'm happy to share that not only did I run my race pain-free, I obliterated my target pace, thanks to Dr. Michael.
I highly recommend Dr. Cortese . He is exceptional! The best physical therapist I have ever worked with. His approach and plan worked perfectly for me as you can see with the finishing medals! Thank you
No! Illinois is a direct access state for physical therapy evaluation and treatment and you do not need to see a physician prior to starting physical therapy
All evaluation and treatment sessions are one-on-one with the physical therapist for 1 hour
Yes! We’ve worked with non-runners, runners training for their first 5K, all across the spectrum to full Ironman triathlons and Ultramarathons.
Scheduling a free 15-20 minute discovery phone call with Dr. Michael Cortese is the first step for any patient seeking treatment or any client seeking coaching
Expect Dr. Michael to call you at the number you provide to ask you questions about your situation for 15-20 minutes. Please try not to be distracted, driving, or completing other tasks while on the call.
The initial evaluation begins with an indepth conversation about your specific issue(s), your medical history, athletic history, and goals for treatment. After that is the comprehensive orthopedic evaluation on the treatment table followed by the running gait analysis (as needed). After all that, you will be given simple exercises, stretches, or drills you can perform at home to get you started on your road to recovery. At the very end, you will establish a plan of care with the physical therapist and set up subsequent treatment sessions as needed based on the findings of your evaluation.
The frequency of treatment sessions is highly dependent on your specific needs and goals. Some patients are seen at a 1x/month frequency while others are seen 3x/week
Treatment of the injured runner includes detailed analysis and correction of running form, overall training structure, and prescription of corrective exercises. At Valiant Physical Therapy, we focus heavily on the holistic picture of someone’s running and create treatment plans that support a patient's unique athletic goals. Whether that is running for general health or training for an Ironman. Dr. Michael’s personal experience with endurance sports gives him a unique perspective on what is needed for the injured runner to achieve their goals.
Yes! Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO is the only insurance that is accepted at Valiant Physical Therapy.
This can be done! The running gait analysis is a service open to all runners, not just those who are injured.
Yes! We’ve worked with plenty of patients who have had surgeries on various body regions.
No! Dr. Michael is an orthopedic physical therapist and can treat all joints, muscles, and tendons of the body. His specialty is runners and endurance athletes but can work with anyone experiencing pain.
