November 2025 PULSE

The PULSE NOVEMBER 2025

D4Ds begin in December. Learn why we do them and how to prepare now!

Dialogue for Development

Address

Juliann Chacko, Director of the Student Program and Assistant Director in Orange, showcased the work in progress of Clinical Pathways. The work she is October Management Meeting 2025 leading to create a road map for new clinical hires to be successful is going to be a great tool for growth PTSMC’s fall management meeting is the biggest and development. leadership meeting of the year. October 23rd -24th the vast majority of PTSMC’s partners, directors and The Clinical Excellence Update and revisions to the senior management spent a day and a half at DOCS program were spearheaded by Danielle Dunn, Mohegan Sun! Director of Clinical Excellence & PTSMC Orthopaedic Residency Program and Wallingford PT. Danielle and The full day on the 23rd featured a jam-packed her team have made recommendations to improve agenda. Coming out of the gates the team was the quality and effectiveness of both programs. divided into four smaller groups, that rotated through round tables of “Hot Topics” for discuss.

After a lunch break, a DEI training session was provided to leadership by Marilex Harwood, DEI Melissa Boutagy, PTSMC’s Clinical Compliance Lead & Administrative Coordinator. The team Officer & Guilford PT, lead the Compliance and Risk explored the use of the REACT model.

Reduction session. As we grow it is imperative to be working to remain compliant with documentation We also covered Marketing Content, Prediction and billing practices.

Health, Sidekick, SR Fax vs. Kno2, and cash based Credentialing Rules were covered by Jenn Detlefsen, Director of Billing. We reviewed our policies and procedures related to documentation and credentialing and adopted changes based on Jenn’s recommendations.

TDN to round out the afternoon.

In the evening, we mixed in some fun at the Bowling Lanes. I can say with great confidence that no one in the PBA (Professional Bowlers Association) is at risk of losing their place on the tour! On the other hand, the uniforms were professional grade. It was a lot of Stevie Fell, Operations Coordinator and “the Wizard” fun and re-energized the crowd. We closed the long of PROMPT, helped us better utilize the capabilities and productive day with a late dinner at Ballo Italian. of PROMPT. We constantly learning how to leverage and maximize its potential.

Mallory Mason, Director of Culture & Engagement, provided analysis and feedback on the Employee Value Perception Study. We gained insight into what our people value in employee benefits and will use this learning with the goal of improving ours.

Senior Director of Operations, Kristen Forster spoke to three topics: success of the Prompt Kiosk, update on the collection of deductible and coinsurance pilot and discussed the concept of a call center for PTSMC. We reviewed the Recruitment Project Update with John Demitrus, our Director of Marketing. The data and implications of geo fencing and targeting campaigns designed to recruit more people to join PTSMC was fascinating.

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In the morning, we honored the 25 years spirit day, all sporting our “25 Years Strong” t-shirts! After breakfast, we began day two by breaking into two groups and attended two concurrent sessions. In one of the sessions, Marilex Harwood was back in action, this time joined by Chris Chimento, PTSMC’s Clinical Talent Recruitment Leader, to educated us on ways to be more involved in building the PTSMC LinkedIn Network.

As I review the above summary, we covered a lot of important ground in a very packed 16 or so hours.

The summary lacks a few key elements... this team gets together as a full group only three times per year and this one is special. The amount of concentrated time we get to spend together renews and reinforces the personal relationships that have formed through the years.

The concurrent session focused on clarifying questions The meeting always reminds me of how fortunate and discussion about the pre-read documents all PTSMC is to have such an engaged and committed Partners and Director receive prior to the weekend. group of leaders who care deeply about their people, Time was spent on an array of topics including but not our people, and this organization. limited to meeting cadence, student hiring, salaries, Thanks for all you do. holiday gifts, and incentive programs.

We ended the second day at noon to “get back to the real world”.

Announcements

Go Ahead

BRAG

A Little!

Do you have a co-worker that goes above and beyond?

Recognize your coworker in a“BRAG”!

A BRAG is a chance to highlight a colleague who goes above and beyond for patients and staff. Share a moment where they exceeded expectations or made a positive impact. You can choose to be named or anonymous.

Recognitions will appear in the December PULSE. Click HERE to submit by November 19.

Note, supervisors cannot brag about employees they supervise.

Email Mallory Mason with any questions.

401(k) Updates

On November 17, PTSMC will make Safe Harbor Contributions to employee 401(k) accounts.

The contribution reflects 3% of eligible earnings between January 2025- June 2025.

BI-ANNUAL SAFE HARBOR EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS

Employees who were active in the 401(k) plan between January and June will receive this contribution.

If you have any questions reach out via email or phone to Mallory Mason.

IN THIS ISSUE Employee Spotlight pg 6 Andrew Varcoe, Orange PSC Main Feature pg 7-8 D4D...

Highlights & Happenings pg 9-17 CIA Report pg 18 Tips & Tricks for Writing an Effective Progress Note Lifebeat pg 19 Having Gratitude in the Workplace Clinicians Corner pg 20-21 Practical Running Analysis for the Clinic

DEI MONTHLY FORUM Nov. 20 at 2:30 pm via Teams meeting

GRATITUDE & BELONGING: CREATING SPACES WHERE PEOPLE FEEL SEEN

2025 Holiday Drives ‘Tis the season for Annual Holiday Drives Pick any dates through the end of the year to run a food, coat, toy, sock, you make it drive to support a group local to your clinic. Click to submit your clinic’s drive details.

TO SIGN UP EMAIL: MARILEX.HARWOOD@PTSMC.COM

Monthly

Spirit Days Flannel Day Tuesday, November 25

Welcome

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Tori Anderson Verification Rep.

Sean Apostalon Essex PT Aide

Amari Boyd Bristol PSC

Jacqueline Maldonado Waterbury PSC

Xhulia Mekshi New Haven PT Aide

Sarah Redle Authorization Rep.

Not Pictured New Employees

kc

Harry Georges Allison Ewelllindley Industrial & Tactical AT Workers Comp.

Authorization Rep.

Matteo Tillona Windsor PT Aide

Leigh Ronald Fairfield PT

November Anniversaries

Seth Cherwin, Norwich PT Aide Daniel Driscoll, Westbrook PT Aide Hope Hagen, Waterbury PT Aide

ck

ome Ba c l e

W

W

ptsmc employees

Years

Vladimir Smolgovskiy

PT

West Hartford

Michael Smarrelli Chris Petrosino Abigail Koonankeil Leah Best Jane Silva Lexi Shafman Wilberto Lopez Kyla Weiss Camille Cortes Evelyn Villarreal Laclede Robert Saraidarian

PT Aide PT PT Aide PT Aide PTA PSC PT Aide PT Aide PT Aide PT PT Aide

Avon Fairfield New Haven Shelton Shelton Westbrook Windsor Newington Groton Virtual Care Putnam

Hedy Hartley, Glastonbury PSC Joshua McMinn, Windsor PT Aide Ashlynn Witt, New Haven PT Aide

Year

Stars are referred by current employees!

Welcome Monroe & Newtown!

Welcome Monroe & Newtown!

Welcome to our newest PTSMC teams! The acquisition of Churchill Physical Therapy, in Newtown, and Monroe Physical Therapy & Sports Rehabilitation is official, and we welcome the amazing staff to PTSMC! Since 2003, both clinics have outstanding clinical reputations, under the ownership and leadership of Ray Weitekamp MS, PT, OCS and Tom DiNicola PTA, BS. Both locations open their doors as PTSMC to patients November 4, 2025.

Congratulations to Casey DeLucia on her promotion to Patient Services Administrator! Casey joined PTSMC in August 2018 as a PT Aide and has consistently exemplified our PT for Life culture through her outstanding customer service and dedication to the Branford team. In 2021, her hard work and commitment earned her a transition to Part-Time Patient Services Coordinator. Now, in 2025, Branford is thrilled to celebrate her promotion to Full-Time Patient Services Administrator!

Promotion!

Promotion!

Branford Partner, Ted Raczka, shares, “Since joining our team over five and a half years ago as a part-time aide, Casey has been a consistent pillar of support and positivity in the clinic. Her dedication, compassion, and strong work ethic have helped us provide the highest level of care for our patients and have made a lasting impact on our team. Congratulations, Casey, on this well-deserved achievement! We are all so proud of your growth and excited to see all that you’ll continue to accomplish — we’re lucky to have you!

Outside of work, Casey enjoys evening walks with her husband and daughter—and she’s excited to share that she and her husband are expecting their second child in May 2026!

With this promotion, Casey looks forward to taking her support of the Branford clinic, Ted, and the team to the next level. She takes great pride in ensuring that patients feel welcome and that the clinic runs smoothly each day. We’re so excited to see Casey continue to grow and thrive in this next chapter with PTSMC!

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w e r d n A SPOT LIGHT V a r c o e

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rew coe

Patient Services Coordinator Andrew Varcoe joined the Orange team in 2022.

His ties to the Orange community go way back; he is a native of the town, he grew up attending school, participating in community and church groups and making friends along the way. One of those friendships even led to his now wife, Starr, who he’s known since elementary school! Andrew had also become more engrained in the Orange community from his time working at popular hot spots such as Jamba Juice, Bruegger’s Bagels, and Trader Joes. These roles introduced him to the world of customer service, and he met quite a few “regulars” over the years. While Andrew no longer resides in Orange, some of his community connections have come full circle- he and patients will recognize each! Makes for a fun ice breaker, and a great “PT For Life” moment.

When Andrew joined PTSMC, he was ready to step into a more administrative role that combine his skills with his interest in fitness and physical therapy. Then, working in the healthcare environment was relatively new to Andrew. He loved learning form the Orange and Operations teams, remembering how supportive with troubleshooting and streamlining processes they were. He enjoys the pace of the clinic, and that no two days are the same in the PSC role!

Over the last five years, Andrew and Starr have moved to West Haven and started a family. Three years ago, they added chihuahua, Ziggy, who is now a proud big brother to two human siblings! Goldie turned two in October (Happy Birthday Goldie!) and August, was born in August! Their summer and fall were spent at home getting used to life as a family of four.

They were able to enjoy a few “staycations” spending time at their pool and enjoying walk in their neighborhood and at Woodmont Beach. Andrew took advantage of his time at home this summer by expanding his gardening skills.

He grew lots of tomatoes, raspberries and even grew his own asparagus.

Andrew has always loved music, movies, and shows. “The Office” is one of his all-time favorite shows. He plays the guitar and always dedicates some time to keep playing. He’s really looking forward to seeing Dave Matthews Band with his friends at Madison Square Garden this month!

Andrew has 2 middle names!

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Dialogue for Development

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"Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." – Benjamin Franklin

Dialogue for Development: a PTSMC term for a formal meeting that is a two part process to “dialogue” about past performance and future performance.

The name indicates, our process is in fact, a dialogue. It is a conversation focused on employee personal and professional development in the workplace.

It is an opportunity for an employee to self-reflect and a commitment by PTSMC leaders to provide feedback to reveal an employees strengths, areas for development and provide motivation.

The look back process includes completing a performance feedback sheet, reviewing annual goals and objectives and contributions to the clinic or department development.

The look forward is a dialogue about 1-3-5 year plans for the employee and the plans for the clinic or department in the years ahead. From this dialogue, annual goals and objectives are established for the employee; a roadmap for personal and professional growth and development.

Annually, between December to February, is D4D season! PTSMC leadership commits time to meet with each eligible employee for an hour that is literally, all about them! Many organizations have one sided performance reviews delivered to employees by management. Others neglect the importance of feedback and don’t do performance reviews! The D4D process is an open, transparent communication process that is positive and is focused on having employees be the best version of themselves.

Heading into the D4D season, embrace the opportunity to self reflect on your performance:

What are you proud of?

Did you exceed your own expectations?

If you accomplished less than you thought, how can that improve?

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Did you accomplish what you wanted?

What type of support might you need from others to achieve your desired results?

As you set your goals and objectives, be realistic and focused. One goal with 2-4 objectives in a SMART format sets a roadmap for growth and success.

Careers and jobs represent a large slice of time in our lives.

Embrace the journey of continuous personal and professional growth!

Enjoy your Dialogue for Development process!

Key Takeaways!

Dialogue for Development (D4D) is a two way conversation The process blends reflection and planning D4D reinforces PTSMC’s commitment to employee growth

"In the absence of feedback, people will fill in the blanks with a negative."

–Pat Summit

PUMPKIN DECORATING CONTEST

West Hartford

Lock Street

Middletown

Admin

Southington

Southbury

Danielson

Manchester Guilford

Westbrook

New London

Simsbury

Wallingford

Essex

Newington

Branford

Watertown

New Milford

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Wethersfield

Shelton

Groton Danbury Avon Fairfield

Windsor Waterbury

Hamden

Bristol Putnam

Orange

East Hampton New Haven

Norwich

Glastonbury

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25 YEARS STRONG

HIGHLIGHTS

HAMDEN OPEN HOUSE Hamden celebrated its first year in business with an open house and ribbon cutting. The PTSMC team was joined by the Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce, patients, colleagues, and family & friends.

Congrats to Partner Pat Kinsella for a successful first year!

At the CT SHRM Inclusion Conference, DEI Lead Marilex Harwood and Director of HR Sandra Boccialetti connected with leaders and peers dedicated to fostering belonging and equity in the workplace. The event offered fresh insights and renewed energy for continuing this important work.

Fab 5

Very welcoming and friendly atmosphere. Cory (Wolski), my therapist, listened very attentively at my first visit to fully understand my condition that needed therapy. Since I needed therapy for this problem years ago, I knew that he was doing the right exercises and therapy for me – Avon The staff from the front desk whether remotely or in person to the therapists themselves are all fantastic.

They listen to my concerns, help me achieve my goals and return me back to be able to do all the things I love.

– East Hampton I have been treated for elbow pain, back and knee pain. I have always received relief and had ways to support my recovery after treatment had finished.

Because of treatment at PTSMC I was able to avoid back surgery.

- Guilford Pat (Kinsella), KJ (Stewart), and PT Students Jess & Regan, have been instrumental in getting me back to full strength. First after hip replacement surgery and now PT on my shoulder. Everyone has been awesome…caring, thorough, friendly and very informative. What a great group!!

– Hamden My physical therapist Meg (McCollum) got to know me and my strengths and weaknesses. She knew to push me just enough in all the right ways and put me on a path to success.

- Windsor

Student Program Update CI’s with September Students Erik Schmitt, Westbrook, will host Abbie Bagnoli from UHart

Share How You’re Special!

PT Students are looking for experiences that showcase unique niches in terms of patient populations and treatment techniques. For example, are you working with a local high school track program? Did you just complete a course on treatment for patients with oncology? Please share your special interests with the Student Program team, Juliann Chacko and Kevin Howard, so that we can best connect you with students sharing similar interests!

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CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

11 PTSMC clinicians attend Myopain Seminars Dry Needling 3 Advanced course hosted by PTSMC at QU. This was their final course in the CMTPT certification series! Congrats!

Daniel Vala, has been busy these days! In Sept. he completed his residency community project, “Stay in the Game-How to Prevent ACL Injuries In Soccer”.

He utilized the to He educated and instructed a premier soccer team of middle school boys, at __ CT, on a pregame warmup based on the FIFA 11+ framework to reduce injury. As a former player and coach the team loved working with Dan.

Daniel Vala, shared his poster presentation, at the annual CT APTA Conference. His presentation was “Fear and Anxiety After Patellar Dislocation: Addressing Kinesiophobia After Traumatic Injury”

Danielle Dunn presented a learning session, “Motion Meets Hormones: PT’s Vital Role in Perimenopause & Menopause Health,” education on how PTs can play a transformative role in supporting women through the perimenopausal and menopausal transition.

ECNELLECXE LACINILC

CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

Katherine Fan recently published a case report in JOSPT Cases! Her work, “Differential Diagnosis of Dorsal Wrist Pain in a Recreational Tennis Player: A Case Report,” showcases her clinical expertise and commitment to advancing physical therapy research.

Click here to read her publication!

SIPTA Congrats to the following PT Aides who completed the Skills Introduction for PT Aides Program:

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Manchester hosted spine surgeon Dr. Alex Ha, from Advanced Orthopedics New England, for a “Doc Talk” in October. The session focused on spine care, surgical techniques, and collaborative strategies to enhance patient outcomes.

GADUATES

Tayma Abdulkareem, West Hartford Sean Apostalon, Essex Tori Chorzepa, New Haven Meera Das, Middletown Abigail Fishbien, Southington Amanda Funari, Glastonbury Jonathan Levit, Naugatuck Patricia Li, Orange

Matthew Luongo, Guilford Emily Macedo, Guilford Joshua McMinn, Windsor Xhulia Mekshi, New Haven Kiely Raucci, Shelton Matteo Tillona, Windsor Ashlynn Witt, New Haven

November Fun Facts Bristol opened 2023 Hamden opened 2024

In 2000, the average cost of a turkey was $0.78 to $0.89 per pound.

The 2025 projected cost is around $2.05 per pound!

Norwich and Westbrook are raising funds for Honor Flight Connecticut, whose mission is to honor veterans by transporting them to Washington, DC to visit and reflect at their memorials. For many veterans this trip is their first - sometimes only - opportunity to see the monuments built in their honor. They return home to a momentous celebration. Reach out to either Adam Rosenblatt or Scott Cameron to help support!

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Happenings!

Christine Raffone got engaged on Sept. 20 to her fiancé Ray!

Cait Ayotte welcomed baby girl Amelia Ayotte Arnold on Sept. 18.

Putnam WON the Putnam Business Association scarecrow contest, in Rotary Park out of 40 businesses!

Admin office social

Over the summer Admin had a fun filled social with food, drinks, and connection!

Amanda Kell celebrated a patient win on Instagram. Her patient crushed the Chicago Marathon!

Who’s got spirit?! Glastonbury celebrated their own spirit week leading up to Halloween!

Kasey Adinolfi and her son Liam at Mikey’s Place 5k in Wethersfield.

Avon, Newington & Janet were out representing at the Big Sky 5k!

The Bristol Mum-A-Thon Road Race featured appearances from Janet Tarasuk, Matt Baronowski and his son guet Simon!

The Simsbury team was out on a beautiful day for the annual Simsbury River Run.

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CIA Report Tips & Tricks for Writing an Effective Progress Note Progress notes are a REQUIRED part of documenting patient care and ensuring appropriateness of continued treatment. This note type should be completed every 10 visits or every 60 days, whichever occurs first.

Progress notes completed at the 10th visit are equally critical as those required for authorization. They play a key role in medically justifying the continuation of care, highlighting patient progress and the effectiveness of our interventions.

Keep in mind: In the event of an audit, if the 10th visit progress note is not as thorough or clinically supportive as an authorization note, services may be retroactively denied. Strong documentation is essential to protect both patient care and reimbursement.

When updating a Plan of Care (POC), complete a progress note concurrently or within a few visits.

This ensures timely, objective data supports the extended plan and clearly documents the medical necessity for ongoing treatment.

Time-Saving Tips: Plan ahead: Review your schedule weekly and identify patients approaching their 10th visit. Send out FLRs in advance to stay on track.

Use PROMPT shortcuts to save time when making updates and ensuring consistency.

Click the three vertical dots on the right of the toolbar and select “Repeat Prior Measurements” to automatically bring forward previous objective data OR “Repeat measures” in the Objective box

Remember to: Summarize progress since the last reporting period.

Include both improvements and continued limitations in functional activities.

Clearly document how these changes impact the patient’s goals and ongoing PT needs.

Want to learn about getting the most out of Sidekick?

Join our virtual meeting, November 7th at 12:00 PM

Small steps, big impact—boost your workflow, stay compliant, and deliver quality documentation that supports better patient outcomes.

Questions about Sidekick or Prediction Health? Ask your clinic Prediction Health Champion or email predictionhealthquestions@ptsmc.com

Lifebeat: Having Gratitude in the Workplace Gratitude goes beyond recognition – it's about creating genuine human connections. It reinforces a sense of belonging, value, and shared purpose. Expressing gratitude brings humanity into the workplace, recognizing not only what someone has accomplished but also who they are and the role they contribute to the team. In doing so, it strengthens alignment, partnership, and dignity – the intersection of strategy and psychology.

Research confirms that being recognized drives measurable outcomes. A study conducted by the John Templeton Foundation found that 70% of employees would feel better about themselves if their boss was more grateful, and according to a Glassdoor survey, 81% of employees say they'd work harder for a grateful boss.

Neuroscience offers deeper insight into how recognition shapes behavior. When someone receives sincere appreciation, their brain releases dopamine – the neurotransmitter linked to reward and motivation. This response doesn’t just create a pleasant feeling; it reinforces the desire to repeat the behaviors that prompted it.

This dopamine-driven cycle is known as behavioral reinforcement. Each time an employee is acknowledged in a specific and timely way, their brain essentially registers, “do that again.” Over time, recognition becomes part of a person’s self-concept—not out of a need for praise, but because it affirms their value and significance.

Train your brain to naturally recognize and reinforce positive behaviors in others.

The outcome? Recognition becomes instinctive, your team feels valued, and your mind learns to see the best in people.

4 Ways to Practice Gratitude Be Immediate & Specific tion promptly.

Share apprecia supporting “Thank you for r exercises XXX during thei tentiveness today – your at fference.” really made a di

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Name the p erson its ef , thei fect. r ef “XXX patie w elcom fort and nt wi ed ev th w busy ery day, s armth dur posit i t n a g y i a ng ca ive – and i t lifte lm and d clinic the w ’s ene hole rgy.”

r Encourage Pee Recognition tion both in Show apprecia line – our person and on is S in the PULSE biannual BRAG recognize your a great way to eck out the colleagues! Ch ts page for Announcemen details.

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Clinicians Corner

Practical Running Analysis for the Clinic Galen Thomas PT, DPT West Hartford Physical Therapist

Running analysis doesn’t need a motion-capture lab to be clinically useful — with a simple, repeatable 2-D video setup, you can reliably detect gait events and several meaningful kinematic patterns. This process was inspired by an online running course from The Science PT (Running Injuries Course), which dives into running biomechanics and step-by-step analysis in even greater detail. Combining that framework with the reliability work of Pipkin et al. and other evidence-based approaches provides a strong foundation for clinically relevant running assessments.

Equipment (Keep it Simple, but Precise): High-speed camera (≥120 frames/sec) mounted on a tripod. In Pipkin’s study, a 120-fps camera provided excellent reliability for gait-event detection. iPhone/iPad slow motion video are adequate.

Tripod(s) and fixed camera heights: set up frontal, sagittal, and close-up frontal (feet) views. Label these for consistent replication between sessions.

Treadmill with a stiff deck: this is key — a stiff-deck treadmill better mimics overground mechanics, while softer, cushioned decks dampen impact and distort lower-limb loading patterns.

Video-editing or analysis software to trim 5–10 second clips and a standardized scoring sheet. Pipkin used a 15-item qualitative sheet; Souza’s 2-D framework is also adaptable for clinic use. This is highly recommended but not required.

Procedure — Step by Step: 1.Prep the runner: have them wear shorts, a fitted top (to visualize landmarks), and their typical running shoes.

Record injury history, pace, and preferred surface. The runner should warm up for 3-6 minutes at self-selected speed prior to recording.

2.Camera setup: sagittal plane camera at mid-pelvis height, frontal plane camera centered on the runner.

Keep all cameras perpendicular to the plane of motion.

3.Recording: capture at a consistent, self-selected pace.

Collect several strides and extract three usable 5second clips. If using an iPhone, you can record 10 second clips in slow motion.

4.Identify gait events: initial contact, midstance, and midflight — frame-by-frame. Pipkin et al. reported strong intrarater reliability (ICCs 0.77–1.00) for gaitevent detection.

5.Score systematically: use a repeatable checklist and focus on three primary mechanical flaws — overstriding, bounce, and excessive compliance.

The 3 Key Flaws to Screen 1. Overstriding (Sagittal Plane) Overstriding increases braking forces and loading rate.

Evaluate: Foot inclination angle at initial contact (degree of dorsiflexion or heel-first strike) Heel-to-center of mass (COM) distance (how far ahead of the pelvis the foot lands) Knee flexion angle at initial contact Tibial angle relative to vertical

Tip: Place greater emphasis on knee flexion angle and tibial angle — they’re more reliable and less affected by parallax or out-of-plane motion.

2. Bounce (Vertical Excursion, Sagittal Plane) Excessive vertical oscillation can indicate an inefficient pattern. Too little bounce may indicate poor load tolerance from the knee in a post-op limb. Look for: Center of mass vertical displacement, estimated via pelvis or waistband motion from midstance to midflight.

Minimal bounce generally indicates better efficiency and load management.

3. Excessive Compliance (Frontal Plane) Represents poor frontal-plane control, often linked to hip and trunk weakness. Examine: Joint center alignment (hip–knee–ankle stacking) Lateral pelvic tilt (pelvic drop during stance) Knee separation (crossing or adduction pattern) Foot-to-COM placement (whether the foot lands excessively lateral or medial to pelvis) What to Trust (Based on Reliability): Highly reliable measures: foot-strike pattern, tibial inclination, knee flexion at initial contact, trunk lean, and event timing.

Use cautiously: ankle dorsiflexion at midstance, COM vertical excursion, and foot-to-COM placement, which are more sensitive to camera position and image resolution.

Interpretation & Limitations: A 2-D video setup paired with the “big three” flaw framework allows for efficient, reproducible running assessment in the clinic. Be mindful of potential errors: out-of-plane motion, soft treadmills, and inconsistent camera angles which can all affect results. The Pipkin et al. and Souza et al. articles referenced for this article provide further visual references for running gait assessment. For detailed joint kinematics or multiplanar mechanics, a 3-D motion lab remains the gold standard.

Click Here for References & Supporting Articles

2025 PTSMC Remaining Courses

2026 DOCS Program Courses

DOCS Program: Cervicothoracic November 15, 2025 PTSMC Wallingford Instructed by Danielle Dunn, PT, DPT, OCS, MTC

April 18, 2026 Upper Extremity August 1, 2026 Lower Extremity November 7, 2026 Intro. to the Assessment & Treatment of the Concussed Patient

Editorial Team & Content Contributors Co-Editor Marilex Harwood

Director of Human Resources

Contributor Juliann Chacko

Contributor Emily Fillion

Orange Assistant Director & Director of Student Program

Senior Marketing Coordinator

Contributor

Contributor Kristen Forster

Sandy Wickman Mason VP of Operations

Senior Director of Operations

Contributor Caty Mulligan

Administrative Assistant

JOB OPPORTUNITIES

PCC Westbrook PSA Guilford

How many pumpkins can you find? (Not counting the competition!)

Contributor Bri Rivera

HR Coordinator & Sports Medicine Coordinator

PSC Westbrook

West Hartford Physical Therapist

Contributor Sandra Boccialetti

Clinical Excellence Coordinator & Naugatuck PT

PTA Danbury

Clinicians Corner Galen Thomas

Director of Culture & Engagement

Contributor Meghan Blanusa

PT Bristol Danbury East Hampton Essex Glastonbury Groton Hamden New Haven Orange Plainville Wallingford Westbrook Windsor

Featured:

Co-Editor Mallory Mason

DEI Lead Administrative Coordinator

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PT AIDE Branford Danbury Essex Fairfield Middletown New Haven New Milford Newtown Norwich Plainville Westbrook Windsor

Admin IT Technician

Contact Karen Havlicek if you are interested in a position

Referral Bonus Opportunities ADMIN Hourly: $500 ADMIN Salary: $1000 ADMIN Director: $2000 AT: $1000 PT/OT: $2000

PTA: $1000 PSC: $500 PT Aide: $25 at time of hire, $100 after 180 days of employment.

Contact Us! Comments, suggestions, or questions?

Want to contribute to the Pulse?

Have photos to share?

Email Mallory Mason or Marilex Harwood.

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