The sports medicine and orthopedic specialists at Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics focus on returning patients back to active lifestyles, sport and daily activities. Whether recovering from an injury or surgical procedure, our team of physicians and clinicians uses a variety of treatment options to provide rehabilitative care.
Force Plates for Metric Evaluation
Force plates are highly sensitive platforms used to measure a variety of metrics that indicate functional progression of patients. Like a scale that measures movement the plates help Forté physical therapists make data-driven decisions that assist in our exercise prescription, streamline progressions and make sense of biomechanical function toward everyday activities. For example, the data provides the ability to determine asymmetries, power production and landing forces that directly influence what our physical therapy sessions need to include.
What are the benefits of using force plates in physical therapy?
Force plates decrease the grey in decision making and shows true deficits that clinician's eyes may not always pick up to create a more comprehensive and inclusive plan of care. Our team can compare patients to normative data to give context to status and progression. This provides objective data that can be tracked over time, establish individualized baselines and provide feedback.
Who benefits from using force plates?
All patients can benefit from using force plates: pre-op versus post-op testing, preseason versus post-season testing, occupational assessment for job requirements and people that just want to understand how effectively and efficiently they move.
What injuries/surgeries utilize the force plates?
Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics is currently working hand in hand with VALD to establish total joint replacement normative data. This includes:
How is Forté using force plates to help patients get back to their sport faster?
Our team of clinicians is using the force plates in conjunction with other testing measures to create a comprehensive approach. The data helps us have a better understanding of applied strength.
While traditional strength testing shows what a patient can do, force plate testing shows how they are doing it. Assessments include squat patterns, jumping, landing, balance and isometrics. With this, our team is more clearly able to determine where patients are at in their rehabilitation process, what milestones they need to hit to ensure safety and when to push or pull back.
How does force plate testing differ from Functional Movement Screening?
Force plate testing is more dynamic and captures everyday movements that are statistically recorded. There is no judgement, room for clinician interpretation and reliability is more consistent compared to FMS grading. FMS assesses movement, force plates quantify how you produce force during movement.
Recover from Injury or Surgery with Precision
At Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics, we are committed to understanding the unique needs and recovery milestones for our patients. Through personalized care utilizing technologies, such as force places, and other rehabilitation methods, our clinicians determine the best, most customized care plan to provide the best possible outcome to recovery. We have provide exceptional orthopedic care offers convenient locations in Carmel, Greenwood, Mooresville, Noblesville and Tipton. Contact us today to get back to your forté.
Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics now offers Stryker HipMap. HipMap takes your traditional CT scan to the next level by creating a detailed, 3D, color-coded map of your hip, that includes areas of bone overgrowth and joint mechanics.
HipMap is rooted in literature and utilizes complex analytics to provide you with an advanced approach to pre-operative clinical decision making.
Plan the surgery
HipMap leverages advanced imaging to create a patient-specific, interactive 3D representation of the hip. The full report is delivered in a consumable format complete with cam and pincer analysis, version/torsion measurements, indications for potential instability, 3D heat maps, measurement scales and other visual tools.
Educate patients
HipMap will help patients understand the pathology affecting their hip joint and will contribute to a more robust discussion on the surgical approach.
This personalized imaging can help identify areas of concern, provide precise anatomical measurements and support an individualized surgical plan tailored to your unique anatomy.
Benefits to the HipMap:
Sarah Eaton, Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics physical therapist and avid fitness enthusiast, works with joint replacement patients in their recoveries to sport, daily activities and active lifestyles every day. When faced with her own hip pain, she chartered a new path as becoming a patient herself.
In 2022, Sarah was training for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon and began experiencing random, but sharp, pains in the front of her hip. While she was still able to train and run without issues, Sarah woke up one evening about two weeks prior to the race with intense, throbbing pain in her hip. She first came to Forté and met with a physician assistant and had imaging of her hip. Upon evaluation, it was determined Sarah had hip dysplasia, impingement and mild-moderate signs of arthritic change. “I admit I was surprised by these findings,” said Sarah. “I had never experienced an injury or considered myself to have any problems with either hip.” Sarah was given permission by the hip specialist to continue with her usual activities but was told that due to the arthritic nature of her hip, she would likely find herself doing less and experience more pain over time.
Over the course of the next year, Sarah’s hip was becoming more painful and limiting. Her last race prior to total hip replacement was the Indy Mini 5k in 2023. She had promised her then 9-year-old that they would run the race together, but felt sharp, stabbing hip pains with every step. The pain had become constant in nature limiting even the most basic daily activities such as walking around the grocery store, playing with her kids or sleeping comfortably at night.
It was this change in the severity of the pain that led Sarah back to Forté to meet with Dr. Lucian Warth, Forté orthopedic surgeon specializing in the knee and hip. After an MRI scan showed an area of full thickness wear of the cartilage on her femur, Dr. Warth discussed the best treatment option was a total hip replacement surgery.
"It is certainly unfortunate when anyone, let alone an active, athletic individual develops debilitating hip arthritis,” said Dr. Warth. “In my younger patients it often comes as quite a shock, however most are even more surprised to find out that after a well-done hip replacement and appropriate rehabilitation they can return to an unrestricted and active lifestyle. As a kid I remember watching Bo Jackson play professional baseball for the White Sox after hip replacement in the 1990’s. His return to professional sports was impressive back then, and surgical technique, implant quality, and longevity have only improved in the last 30 years. Nobody is excited about surgery… but modern total hip replacement is not a death sentence, it is an opportunity to get back to your high-quality lifestyle. And that is exciting."
From THA to Recovery
Although Sarah expected Dr. Warth to tell her that running was not recommended after surgery, he instead told her that, because she was already a runner, if she ran gradually and limited her mileage per week, he was okay with her running. Sarah’s total hip replacement surgery was in September of 2023. “I could tell as soon as I got to the recovery room, the pre-op pain was gone,” said Sarah. “I did PT on my own for the first two weeks, then transitioned to outpatient PT at Forté Noblesville with Nate and Melissa.” As Sarah helps her patients return to running or sport with specific weekly goals for progression, she too recovered from her hip replacement with structured stretching, icing, exercises and physical therapy and attention to running form. She gradually built mobility and strength and worked on her cardio/conditioning through low impact methods like biking and elliptical. “I did my first ‘run’ about four months post-op,” said Sarah. “It was a light jog and did just a mile, but the sharp stabbing pain was gone.”
Sarah’s first official race after surgery was the Indy Mini 5k in 2024, about eight months post-op. “I was so happy I was able to run without feeling like someone was stabbing me in the front of my hip,” said Sarah. “I continued to run shorter distances and doing occasional 5k races but worked up to a 10k race in September 2025.”
With the success Sarah had in these races, she signed up for the 500 Festival Mini Marathon in October, knowing she would have several months to keep increasing cardiovascular endurance and building up mileage. She also ran the Miler Series, a series of runs which builds in distance across several months to assess where a runner is in his or her training. This included a 3-mile race in February, a 6-mile race in March and a 10-mile race in April. In addition to this series, Sarah would typically run three to four miles, one to two times during the week and then a long run on the weekend, increasing by one mile each week leading up to two weeks before race day. She also supplemented with bike or elliptical.
The Day of Her Personal Best Run
On May 2, 2026, Sarah laced up her running shoes and ran the 50th running of the IU Health 500 Festival Mini Marathon downtown Indianapolis. Her initial goal for the 13.1 mile race was two hours, but as she started ramping up into February and March, she was consistently running 8:30 to 8:45 minute miles so she updated her Mini goal to 1:55.
“I ran the 10-mile race at an 8:25 pace, which I was completely not expecting, but I wasn’t sure if I could maintain it for another three miles, so I still kept my goal between 1:50-1:55,” said Sarah. “My previous PR was in 2018 at 1:49:21 and I ended up shaving four seconds off this year. I likely would have shaved off even more time, but I cramped up in the last 1.5 miles of the race, so I had to keep stopping to stretch (unrelated to my hip).”
Sarah said some tears were shed when she met up with her family after the race because she never thought she’d be able to run a mini again and run such a good time in the process. “I’m so grateful to Dr. Warth for giving me a new hip that allows me to do the things I want to do and not feel limited in any way,” Sarah said.
How an Orthopedic Specialist Can Help with Hip Pain
Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics is an integrated orthopedic practice which offers patients access to not only joint replacement physicians who perform hundreds of surgeries each year but also in-house physical therapy and interventional pain management teams. This comprehensive approach allows physicians and rehabilitation clinicians to have direct communication to aid in returning patients to their activities and lifestyles.
Get Started with Orthopedic Care to Return to Sport
When hip pain interferes with daily life, look to Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics for help. Serving patients in Carmel, Greenwood, Mooresville, Noblesville and Tipton, IN, our orthopedic and sports medicine specialists provide exceptional care. From aches and pains to sharp pains that interfere with walking or performing daily activities, be assured our team of fellowship trained physicians will work to get to the root of the hip pain. Contact us today to achieve a better, faster outcome.
Our team of sports medicine physicians focuses on treating and preventing injuries related to physical activity and exercise. Sports medicine physicians receive additional training beyond their primary medical education to understand the unique demands that physical activity places on the body. From biomechanics, exercise physiology and injury patterns to understanding the emotional side of recovery, our Forté sports medicine team provides comprehensive care to our patients.
For athletes and everyday active adults who face injury, returning to sport and daily activities, without pain, is the goal. An integral part of the healing process, alongside physical therapy, is the mental aspect of recovery. With orthopedic surgery resulting from injury comes some physical pain and certainly mental frustration. The surgical procedure may limit mobility and require assistance for daily movement and self-care tasks.
Though frustration, even depression, can occur postoperatively, a positive mindset is key.
Staying optimistic will provide a mindset better suited for physical therapy and likely even improve the overall surgical outcome.
Surgeries for ACL and meniscus are commonly performed by our team or orthopedic surgeons. Forté outcomes are monitored by our partnership with CODE TECHNOLOGY. According to our patient-reported outcome data, before surgery, 35% of acute knee patients reported being affected by emotional problems—such as anxiety, depression, or irritability—at least sometimes, often, or always. At 6 months post-op, only 25% of patients report this.
“In my 21 years of experience, those patients who positively attack their ACL tear as a hurdle to overcome recover quicker and tend to do better than those who act victimized by their ACL tear,” said Dr. Mark Ritter, Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics orthopedic surgeon, sports medicine specialist. “A good attitude certainly helps!”
How Stress Negatively Impacts Recovery after Surgery
The body-mind relationship after having orthopedic surgery can significantly affect the recovery outcome. The body’s ability to heal slows when experiencing stress, anxiety and depression. Chronic stress reduces the body’s ability to fight infections, grow new tissue and increases risks of postoperative complications such as high blood pressure, nausea and reduced appetite. Stress and anxiety also lead to altered pain perception, causing post-op pain to feel more intense than it truly is. Lastly, ongoing stress weakens immune function, which may lead to wound infections or other complications.
Benefits of a Positive Mindset and Healing from Surgery
Studies have shown that an optimistic mindset leads to improved surgical outcomes. Patients who remain positive are often able to:
Tips to Reduce Stress after Surgery
The most common strategies for stress reduction include surrounding yourself with positive people and creating an environment which fosters healing. Here are a few tips to do so:
How Forté Performs in Returning Patients to Activities
Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics returns athletes to sport and our rehab specialists are highly experienced at their subspecialities. CODE TECHNOLOGY reported that at six months after acute knee surgery, 85% of patients rated their quality of life as "excellent" or "very good." At one year post-op, 91% of those same Forté patients reported having returned to sport at some level of participation.
Schedule a Consultation at Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Today
Our sports medicine physicians have decades of experience treating athletes with injuries. From professional and collegiate athletes to the everyday athlete or individuals with active lifestyles, this specialized field of care focuses on preventing, diagnosing and treating physical activity and exercise injuries. We have convenient locations in Carmel, Greenwood, Mooresville, Noblesville and Tipton. Don’t let an injury keep you sidelined. Contact us today to schedule an appointment with one of our sports medicine physicians.
Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics follows an outcome-based approach to join replacement. Our physicians follow each patient’s results and study the data to identify ways to keep improving our already high success and outcomes. Planning for your recovery from an orthopedic surgical procedure, such as joint replacement, will provide a smoother experience and improved outcome. From advanced planning for medications and medical equipment to caregivers and meals, follow these easy and practical tips before surgery to be even better set up for postoperative success.
Your choice to reach joint replacement has likely come after experiencing long-term joint pain. After seeking a consultation from a joint specialist, you recognize the benefits of joint replacement to improve your quality of life. Take time to understand the surgical procedure, anesthesia and post-op care, as well as physical therapy and recovery expectations
Your physician has provided you a list of durable medical equipment and cryotherapy items that you will need to assist in your recovery. Forté offers many of these items in our DME store or items can be found online, at a local pharmacy or medical home supply store. Purchasing these items before your surgery will allow you to be fully prepared upon returning home from your procedure.
To provide a safe recovery at home, take preventative measures such as removing throw rugs which could slip and cause a fall risk, installing grab bars in your shower/tub to assist in bathing needs and keeping pathways clear of items and pets. Have items you use daily in easy to reach areas and have an easy-to-access area devoted to your medical equipment.
Plan for a driver to transport you to and from the hospital the day of surgery as well your outpatient physical therapy and doctor’s appointments for the first three to four weeks post-op. You might also arrange for a person/caregiver to stay two to five nights after surgery. It is a good idea to schedule assistance with meals, laundry, house, pet and yard care assistance for a few weeks. Having help planned for these tasks will allow you to better focus on your recovery and healing.
A few hours after surgery, an inpatient physical therapist will come to your room to teach you gentle exercises. For example, with a knee replacement, these exercises will promote leg circulation to reduce blood clot risk and reduce postoperative swelling and pain. This would include walking with a walker and learning how to safely walk up and down a short set of stairs.
Once home, a home health physical therapist will visit you two to three times a week for up to two weeks, depending on your surgeon’s recommendation. The physical therapy exercises during these visits will work with you to regain motion and stability of the affected joint. Mobility will be addressed with specific range of motions exercises. For example, with a hip or knee replacement, the therapist will teach you normal walking patterns and how to safely ambulate steps.
When the at-home therapy is completed, you will move to outpatient physical therapy. The length of this therapy will be dependent upon your ability to successfully restore functional joint motion as well as increased strength and balance to safely return to daily living and activities. Your surgeon or therapist will guide you on returning to low to high impact exercise, swimming or aquatic exercise.
Schedule a Consultation at Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Today
If you are experiencing chronic joint pain or are preparing for a joint replacement, Forté offers some of the area’s most experienced joint replacement surgeons who perform hundreds of joint replacements each year, in-office physical therapy as well as interventional pain management. We have convenient locations in Carmel, Greenwood, Mooresville, Noblesville and Tipton. Don’t let joint pain keep you from your daily activities. Contact us today to get started to get you back to your forté.
Inflammation causes dozens of health problems ranging from frustrating, but not fatal, things such as acne to serious diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Inflammation is the body’s healing response, but when it becomes prolonged or unresolved, it can trigger chronic pain by irritating nerves and altering pain pathways, leading to heightened sensitivity and pain from non-painful stimuli. Over time, the brain may continue to interpret signals as pain, even if there’s no ongoing tissue damage.
The Causes of Joint Pain
Joint pain often develops due to arthritis or after an injury to a joint such as a fracture, sprain (ligament) or strain (muscle or tendon). Long-term inflammation in the joints can cause constant pain and tenderness. Such joint pain could stem from inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis.
“Food has everything to do with how we feel and our diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis,” said Dr. John Hur, Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Orthopedic Surgeon specializing in joint replacement in the knee and hip. “The right foods can have an anti-inflammatory effect and make us healthy and feel better overall. The wrong foods, such as sugar, can cause disease and make our bodies hurt more.”
Foods to Help Reduce Inflammation and Provide Joint Support
The good news is that some inflammation can be avoided simply by changing your diet to include anti-inflammatory foods—and there are many from which to choose.
To help prevent inflammation, increase the intake of:
Also, by eating your last meal two hours before bedtime, you can reduce inflammation. Supplements such as turmeric / curcumin, fish oil, ginger and garlic can also provide anti-inflammatory benefits.
Foods to Avoid in an Anti-Inflammatory Diet
To achieve the best results, minimize or eliminate the consumption of foods that fuel inflammation. The most common culprits to avoid include:
Special Considerations to Note for Those with Pre-Existing Conditions
As with any healthy diet, people with diabetes, high blood pressure or those who take blood thinners have special considerations and should consult their physician with any questions and/or before making significant changes.
Stay Fit and Active to Maintain Overall Joint Health
For those with arthritis, low-impact activity, in conjunction with an anti-inflammatory diet, is encouraged. By combining these, better weight and joint range of motion is maintained, and strength is built to help the way the body functions.
Examples of low-impact exercises include biking, swimming, water aerobics, walking on the treadmill or elliptical, rowing and yoga. Most studies suggest that running does not appear to accelerate the progress of osteoarthritis, so long as you allow adequate rest between runs.
Schedule a Consultation at Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics Today
If you are experiencing joint pain that is interfering with your ability to perform your daily activities, look to our team of orthopedic and interventional pain medicine physicians for assistance. We have convenient locations in Carmel, Greenwood, Mooresville, Noblesville and Tipton to serve you. Following a consultation, we will create a treatment plan to address your pain and provide the best possible outcome. Contact us today to get started.
Sources and Anti-Inflammatory Tips: Arthritis Foundation, Mindbodygreen and Heathline.
We invite you to join Dr. Tyler McCarroll, Hip and Knee Surgeon for a free breakfast and a discussion on knee injuries and ACL tears. Dr. McCarroll will discuss how to prevent knee injuries, what happens during an ACL tear and new treatment options.
We invite you to join Dr. Michael Del Busto, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician for a free breakfast and a discussion on chronic pain and how it can occur in anyone at any age. Dr. Del Busto will discuss the areas of chronic pain such as neck, back and knees, and how Peripheral Nerve Stimulation can offer relief.
Achilles tendon ruptures seem to be the most common injury along with ACL tears for professional athletes these days. The Achilles tendon goes down the back of your leg to your heel. It is formed by three separate muscles from your calf that come together and attach to the heel bone. When you jump, climb or even push off for your next run, you’re activating your Achilles. We discussed how to treat and prevent Achilles tendon injuries with Dr. Andrew Wohler, foot and ankle surgeon in Carmel and Greenwood.
What is an Achilles rupture?
How does an Achilles rupture happen?
What are the signs and symptoms of an Achilles injury?
How are Achilles tendon ruptures treated?
What is the process with surgery?
Are there any risk factors with surgery?
How long is the recovery period?
Are men more likely to tear their Achilles versus women?
Do you see more Achilles injuries in basketball vs football?
How can you prevent an Achilles injury?
If you’re struggling with calf or Achilles pain, our Forté Sports Medicine and Orthopedics foot and ankle team in Carmel, Greenwood or Noblesville are here to help. Contact us today! Our experts will create a treatment plan tailored to your needs so you can get back on your feet pain-free!
* PARS Achilles Midsubstance SpeedBridge™ Implant System with Arthrex
