Skillz Physical Therapy

09/01/2026

What does “No-Guesswork” mean at Skillz Physical Therapy?

You deserve to understand why a treatment is being recommended.

That starts with an evaluation. Before choosing exercises or hands-on treatment, we examine your symptoms, how you move, and what changes your pain.

Our PinPoint Evaluation gives us 60 minutes to:

• Hear your history, including what you have already tried and how you responded.
• Assess movement and strength, and investigate whether another area may be contributing to your symptoms.
• Explain what the findings suggest and how they guide your treatment.

Aime Maranan brings over 17 years of physical therapy experience and continued advanced training, including the McKenzie Method, to that process.

“No-Guesswork” describes our commitment to making treatment decisions based on examination findings and reassessing your response as care progresses. When something remains uncertain, we explain that, too.

You should leave your evaluation understanding what we found, what we recommend, and how we will assess your progress.

If you have tried treatment but still do not understand why you hurt, bring those questions to your first visit.

Schedule a PinPoint Evaluation at Skillz Physical Therapy, 839 Dodge Avenue in Evanston.

08/26/2026

5 ways to evaluate a dry needling provider

Dry needling training and clinical experience can vary. Consider asking:

1). What training have they completed?
- Look for advanced dry needling education and professional credentials, such as CMTPT (Certified Myofascial Trigger Point Therapist).

2). Do they hold advanced certification?
- Skillz Physical Therapy, clinician holds the CMTPT/DN credential, which includes multiple levels of education plus theoretical and practical competency exams.

3). Have they continued their education beyond the initial course?
- Continued training can expand knowledge of anatomy, trigger points, precautions, clinical reasoning, and treatment techniques.

4). Do they evaluate why the muscle may be irritated before treating it?
- Ask whether they assess nearby joints, muscles, movement patterns, and other contributors.

5). How do they determine whether dry needling is appropriate?
- Ask how it fits into the overall treatment plan.

At Skillz Physical Therapy, we first identify what may be contributing to the problem, then select the treatment techniques that fit those findings.

08/19/2026

Big summer win for this Marquette University D1 soccer player.

The 2026 Preseason All-BIG EAST Conference Team honoree and BIG EAST All-Academic Team athlete came in during summer break to fine-tune her movement and head into the season ready to compete.

When you are the team’s leading scorer, every detail matters.

Proud of the work #10 put in.

Good luck today on the home opener!

Wishing #10 a strong season!!!

08/14/2026

Fuel your Sunday morning with great cars and great coffee!

Join Skillz Physical Therapy and Downtown Evanston for Evanston Cars + Coffee! Come check out an incredible lineup of vintage classics, muscle cars, rare exotics, and more.

📅 When: Sunday, August 16 | 9:30 AM – NOON

📍 Where: Sherman Avenue (between Church & Clark Streets)

Bring your family, grab a coffee, and spend your Sunday morning admiring some amazing rides. We can’t wait to see you there!

08/06/2026

08/05/2026

At 65, 70, or 75, staying active is not about proving anything. It is about keeping your routine, your independence, your confidence, and the life you have built.

You may still be playing pickleball, tennis, exercising, traveling, golfing, gardening, taking classes, caring for grandchildren, attending Pilates or staying active in your community.

But maybe you have also started doing small calculations you never used to make:

How far is the parking lot?
What if I lose my balance?
Will my family start worrying?

These changes can be easy to dismiss because you are not “inactive.” You are not fragile. You are still doing a lot.

But small changes in balance, strength, pain, or confidence can quietly start removing pieces of your routine: a shorter walk, a skipped outing, a different staircase, a little less trust in your body.

Physical therapy is not about slowing you down. It is about understanding what is changing before it limits more of your life.

At Skillz Physical Therapy, we help adults 65yrs and up build practical plans around real goals: walking with confidence, using stairs safely, traveling comfortably, playing pickleball, exercising, golfing, gardening, keeping up with family, and staying independent.

You deserve care that respects how active you still are and helps you stay in control of the routine you want to keep.

If your balance, mobility, or pain has started changing your choices, schedule a Pinpoint Evaluation today.

What is one activity you want to keep doing with confidence this year?

Stay active. Stay steady. Stay in control.

07/29/2026

PinPoint Evaluation vs. traditional physical therapy: what’s the difference?

In many traditional physical therapy clinics, the evaluation can feel rushed.

You point to where it hurts. A few movements are checked. Then treatment begins.

But what if the place that hurts is not the true source of the problem?

That is where the PinPoint Evaluation is different.

At Skillz Physical Therapy, the PinPoint Evaluation is a thorough, detailed assessment designed to find and treat the true source of your pain or discomfort, even if that source is not where you feel it.

We take the time to ask better questions, test beyond the obvious area, and understand what is actually causing the problem before treatment starts.

Because if the source is missed, the pain can keep coming back. Even one-on-one care can miss the mark if it is focused on the painful area instead of the true source.

Skillz Physical Therapy is located at 839 Dodge Ave in Evanston, near West End neighborhood.

Book a PinPoint Evaluation and start with the source.

07/29/2026

Recovering after orthopedic surgery can be a lot to manage.

You may be wondering:
Am I moving enough?
Am I doing too much?
Is this stiffness normal?
When should walking, stairs, work, or exercise start feeling easier?

After a knee, hip, shoulder, ankle, ACL, meniscus, tendon, or fracture procedure, your body has to rebuild motion, strength, balance, coordination, and confidence. The right physical therapy plan helps you know what to work on, when to progress, and when something needs to be modified.

At Skillz Physical Therapy in Evanston, post-surgical rehab starts with a PinPoint Evaluation. We look at your procedure, your surgeon’s precautions, your stage of healing, your pain, swelling, movement, strength, and daily goals so your plan is built around what your recovery actually needs.

Treatment may include guided exercise, manual therapy, walking and stair training, balance work, scar mobility when appropriate, and advanced options like laser therapy, dry needling, or shockwave therapy when they fit your stage of healing.

The goal is not to rush recovery. The goal is to help you move forward safely, clearly, and with less guesswork.

Call Skillz Physical Therapy to request your PinPoint Evaluation today.

07/27/2026

You were fine sitting.

Then you stood up… and your back had other plans.

That little “catch” after a long meeting, drive, or dinner out is easy to brush off, especially if it settles once you move around. But the pattern matters.

At Skillz Physical Therapy, we do not just ask where it hurts. We look at when it happens, what changes it, and what your body is having trouble tolerating.

Because the answer is not always “stretch more.”

Sometimes your back needs strength.
Sometimes it needs better movement options.
Sometimes it needs a smarter plan for sitting, standing, walking, and loading.

Pain that keeps coming back deserves a closer look.

Does your back feel worse when you first stand, after walking, or later in the day?

07/20/2026

Don’t let an injury sideline your season!
Whether you’re a student-athlete, weekend warrior, or just love staying active, proper warm-ups and movement techniques are key to staying healthy on the court and field.

Join Skillz Physical Therapy and the Evanston Public Library for an interactive workshop.

How to register: Scan the QR code to secure your spot today! Need ADA accommodations? Please call 847-866-2919.