When Chicago, Ill., resident and physical therapist Maria Kronk landed a spot in Minnesota Sports Medicine’s Sports Physical Therapy Residency in 2004, she had no inclination to call Minneapolis home beyond her one-year commitment.

Fast forward two years and you’ll find Kronk in a bustling sports therapy practice at Minnesota Sports Medicine (MSM) in Eden Prairie, the recipient of regular patient referrals from non-surgical and surgical orthopedic physicians, chiropractors and athletic trainers she met during her Residency. Now happy to call Minnesota home, she serves as an instructor at a local downhill ski resort and regularly consults with area running clubs on injury prevention and treatment.

According to MSM leadership, it’s no surprise that Kronk chose to stay in Minnesota and at Minnesota Sports Medicine. As the area’s largest network of sports medicine physicians, physical therapists and certified athletic trainers, MSM’s legacy and commitment to the highest quality of athletic care and return to sport is well established. “Since 1985, our physicians and rehabilitation specialists have positively impacted the lives of thousands of athletes and active people, locally and statewide. Patient care, professional education and research are the cornerstones of our business and are our passion,” says Dennis O’Donnell, MHA, PT, and executive director of MSM.

O’Donnell sums it up: “MSM’s one-year Sports Physical Therapy Residency is but one of example of our long-standing commitment to advancing the field of sports medicine.” MSM also offers an ACGME-accredited Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship to physicians, and is the largest provider in the state of sports medicine continuing education for physicians, physical therapists and athletic trainers.

“The Residency experience was rewarding and fulfilled my expectation of learning how to successfully cultivate and implement a sports physical therapy practice,” says Kronk, who completed the program in July 2005.  “The Residency exposes you to an array of sports injuries beyond those incurred in traditional sports such as football and basketball. Cross-country and downhill skiing, kayaking, cycling and many other activities have a seasonal connection and associated injuries. This afforded me a unique learning opportunity,” she says. Kronk is continuing the research project she started during the Residency, which is examining the relationship of gluteal medius weakness to Achilles tendonipathy.

MSM’s current Resident, Paul Solie, M.P.T., agrees. Adds Solie, “Residents work side-by-side sports medicine and orthopedic physicians, sports physical therapists and experienced athletic trainers who bring advanced training in sports medicine. As a team, we constantly learn from each other.” Solie sees patients at MSM’s Eden Prairie clinic, which integrates an array of musculoskeletal providers under one roof, including physical therapists, sports medicine and orthopedic physicians, chiropractors and athletic trainers.

The one-year Residency was recently credentialed by the American Physical Therapy Association as a post-professional residency program for physical therapists in sports medicine. The accredited program begins in the first week of August, coinciding with the start of the fall sports season. Ending July 31, it runs parallel to the physician fellowship and shares in such key learning opportunities as cadaver and biomechanics labs, weekly sports medicine conferences and basic science lectures.

The program accepts just one Resident annually, according to Mike Muffenbier, MPT, CSCS, SCS, Residency Director. “This allows the Resident to work closely with the Director and up to 10 faculty who bring long time experience in treating a full spectrum of sports-related injuries. Such mentoring is a critical piece of the program.”

Beyond clinic care, labs and other skill-building activities, Residents are required to conduct research and complete a community sports medicine project. Of the latter, the project gives Residents an educational experience that offers the chance to move beyond the traditional role of physical therapist to that of a provider who plays a distinguished role in the multidisciplinary sports medicine team. The Resident chooses a project that is a match with professional and/or personal interests in sports medicine and can be used by MSM, faculty or staff following Residency completion.
Kronk developed a running-specific brochure and complementary community presentation for use with local running clubs. Solie helped a team of physical therapists and certified personal trainers develop a day-long conference for fitness trainers designed to improve posture and functional assessment skills and post-rehabilitation care in a fitness setting. More than 80 area trainers attended the successful conference and MSM plans to offer the conference again in fall 2006.

“We’re a community-focused organization and our Residency experience reflects our mission. We want to continue our legacy of high quality care and make a difference in the lives of athletes and active people at the local level,” says O’Donnell.

For information about the Residency, application requirements or deadlines, visit www.mnsportsmed.org or call 612-273-4802.