A full hour, one-on-one
Every visit is an hour with a Doctor of Physical Therapy. No aides, no rushed table time, no bouncing between machines.
Sound familiar?
You’ve tried some things but it still hurts.
Maybe you’ve rested it, iced it, taped it, worn a brace, or already tried physical therapy. Some of it may have helped for a while.
Then you went back to the trail, the court, the field, or a long day on your feet, and it started bothering you again. Now you’re somewhere between managing it and slowly doing less, without a clear sense of what actually needs to change.
That’s the part we care about.
Who we help
If any of this sounds like you
These are some of the patterns we see most often.
Pain after a sprain The swelling improved, but the ankle still does not feel normal +
A sprain can settle while stiffness, weakness, and loss of control remain. Those unfinished pieces often show up when activity increases again.
An ankle that gives way It feels unstable or keeps rolling on uneven ground +
Repeated ankle rolling is not always just a loose ligament. Strength, balance, reaction time, and confidence can all affect how stable the ankle feels.
Stiffness with squats or stairs The ankle feels blocked when your knee moves forward +
Limited ankle motion can change how you squat, climb stairs, land, and run. We look at the joint, calf, and foot to find where the restriction is coming from.
Pain with running or jumping It feels fine at first, then aches as impact adds up +
When pain builds with repetition, we assess how the ankle absorbs force and whether its strength and endurance match the amount of activity you are asking from it.
Returning to sport Straight-line running is fine, but cutting and landing are not +
Returning to sport requires more than pain-free walking. Hopping, direction changes, repeated effort, and confidence all need to hold up.
Recovery after a boot or surgery The injury healed, but the ankle still feels weak and unfamiliar +
Time in a boot or after surgery can leave behind stiffness, calf weakness, and reduced tolerance. We rebuild from basic motion to the demands of work, training, and sport.
An ankle can stop hurting before it is ready for everything you want to do. We assess motion, strength, balance, and real-world function before building the plan.
What’s different
The process only works if the care supports it
A plan is only as good as the care running it. These three things are how we deliver it.
Benchmarks before progressions
You move forward by clearing the standards tied to your goals, not simply because another week passed on the calendar.
Always in your pocket
Your plan, your progressions, and a line to your clinician live in the EVO app, so you are never guessing between sessions.
First, we understand
We measure before we build
Where it hurts matters. It just does not tell us enough. Before we build your plan, we look at how your ankle and foot move, how much load they can handle, how well you control them, and what you need it to do in real life.
Ankle mobility
Strength & capacity
Balance & reaction
Daily demands
Your goals
These measures give us a starting point. We return to them throughout rehab to decide what needs work, when to progress, and whether your ankle is ready for the demands you want back.
How our approach is supported by current guidelines +
An ankle can calm down before it has regained the motion, strength, balance, and confidence needed for uneven ground, running, or sport. Current guidelines support the same core principles we work from: restore, rebuild, and test the real demand.
Restore motion and strength
The ankle has to move well and produce force before it can handle speed.
Rebuild balance and control
Stability is not just a ligament. It is also how quickly the body senses and responds.
Test the real demand
Hops, changes of direction, training tolerance, and confidence all matter before a full return.
That is the logic behind EVO’s 10-step process: establish the starting point, build the qualities that are missing, and earn the next level through measurable progress.
- Lateral Ankle Sprain Clinical Practice Guideline, 2021 · Martin et al., JOSPT
- PAASS Return-to-Sport Consensus, 2021 · Smith et al., British Journal of Sports Medicine
- Exercise and Recurrent Ankle Sprains, 2022 · Wagemans et al., PLOS ONE
Then comes the plan
We build for the demands of your life
Your assessment shows where you start. The demands of your life show where you finish, whether that is walking a trail without thinking about it, getting through a long day on your feet, or getting back on the field. The ten steps are the path between, each one building the fitness needed to get you there.
01
Regulate
Calm pain and swelling so the ankle can move.
02
Restore
Get the ankle motion you need back.
03
Activate
Rebuild the muscle around the ankle and foot.
04
Coordinate
Use that strength in real movement.
05
Endure
Repeat good movement without breaking down.
06
Strengthen
Build meaningful lower-body and full-body strength.
07
Absorb
Control landing, impact, and deceleration.
08
Produce
Build force, speed, and power.
09
Integrate
Handle fatigue, change, and the unexpected.
10
Perform
Return to life or sport—and stay there.
The people in your corner
A Doctor of Physical Therapy, every session
Dr. TJ Martino, PT, DPT, CSCS
Founder · Physical Therapist
TJ started as a strength coach before earning his doctorate in physical therapy. For more than 15 years, he has worked with active adults, runners, lifters, and professional and Olympic athletes.
That background shapes how we approach ankle pain at EVO. We look beyond where it hurts to understand what you need to move, train, and get back to the things that matter to you.
In their words
What progress can look like
★★★★★
“He has helped me through injuries that I had been battling with other PTs for years. His approach is about fixing the root of the problem for a sustainable long-term solution. I love that I’m no longer in pain.”
Lindsay D.
Years of recurring injuries
★★★★★
“I went to several traditional PT places, but EVO’s route was the best for me. They found the root cause of my injury cycle. A few months later, I’m finally back to living life pain-free.”
Grace M.
Recurring injuries
★★★★★
“His treatment lets me keep a vigorous work schedule and still train safely. He coordinates with my trainer so my program is right for me and I can hit my goals.”
Joanne Z.
Patient & member
★★★★★ 5.0 on Google
Read more reviews on Google →
From our team
More on ankle pain
Straight answers
The questions people ask first
Do I need a referral to start physical therapy for ankle pain? +
In most cases, no. New Jersey allows direct access to physical therapy, which means you can usually begin without seeing another provider first. Some insurance plans have their own requirements, and we will help you understand those before you start.
How long does ankle rehabilitation usually take? +
It depends on what is contributing to the symptoms, how long it has been going on, and what you are trying to return to. We do not put everyone on the same timeline. Your evaluation establishes the starting point, and measured checkpoints show when you are ready to progress.
My ankle sprain was months ago and it still is not right. Is it too late? +
No. A ligament can heal while motion, strength, balance, and load tolerance have not come back. Those are trainable at any point, and they are usually what is missing when an ankle stays stiff, sore, or unreliable months later.
Do you treat ankles after surgery or a fracture? +
Yes. We work within the surgeon’s precautions and then progressively rebuild mobility, strength, walking capacity, and the activities you want to return to.
My ankle keeps rolling. Does that mean the ligament is loose? +
Not necessarily. Repeated rolling is usually a force, timing, and control problem more than a purely structural one. Rebuilding strength and the speed at which the ankle senses and responds is what changes it.
What to expect
Getting started with us is simple
1
A conversation
A complimentary discovery call to hear what is going on, what you have tried, and whether we are the right fit.
2
An evaluation
A full 60-to-90-minute assessment to establish your starting point and what needs attention first.
3
Your plan, in motion
One-on-one treatment and a progressive plan built around the demands of your life.
On the house
The free six-week Ankle Reset
A six-week program inside the EVO Health App, with guided sessions and a real clinician to message when you get stuck. Start on your own, at your own pace. Tell us where to send it.
- ✓A clear place to start without another generic PDF
- ✓Day-by-day guidance inside the EVO Health App
- ✓A real EVO clinician available when you need help
