About
Dr. Pothast is double-board certified in sports medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation. He has a special interest in working with runners, from the recreational to the elite. He is a native of Ohio and earned his undergraduate degree in exercise biology from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. He received his medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 2008. Afterwards, Dr. Pothast went on to finish a residency in physical medicine and rehabilitation from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia in 2012, where he served as chief resident. He then completed his Sports Medicine Fellowship in 2014 from the University of Florida, where he worked extensively with athletes of all ages from youth leagues to the NCAA Division 1 level. Dr. Pothast enjoys providing sideline coverage at local sporting events. In his spare time, he remains active by running road races with his wife, as well as playing chase with his golden retriever. His slower-paced interests include cooking for his family and watching college basketball.
Philosophy of Care:
No matter your sport or your activity, I strive to get you back to your love of life, whether that is running, swimming, biking, playing basketball, or gardening. I work alongside a variety of physical, occupational, and speech therapists to appropriately diagnose your problem, to get to the root of it, and to prevent it from coming back. I perform musculoskeletal ultrasound guided injections right in the office, as well as use that same ultrasound technology to analyze muscles, tendons, and nerves. In addition, I manage your diagnosis closely with therapists to correct biomechanical deficiencies with your running, swimming, and working technique. We want to add quality of life to you, not for the next few weeks, but for the next few years.
Credentials
Board Certification
- American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Education
- Fellowship Program University of Florida-Gainesville
- Residency Program Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
- Internship Program Riverside Methodist Hospital
- Medical School Ohio State University College of Medicine
Conditions Treated
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) Injuries
One of the most common knee injuries is a sprain or tear of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). The ACL, which runs diagonally in the middle of the knee, prevents the tibia from sliding out in front of the femur…
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Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is one of the four main ligaments that connect the femur (thighbone) to the tibia (shinbone). These ligaments are fibrous, like a rope, and hold the knee together, stabilizing the joint. Since the ACL is…
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Articular Cartilage Damage
Articular cartilage is the smooth, white tissue that covers the ends of bones where they come together to form joints. Healthy cartilage in our joints makes it easier to move. It allows the bones to glide over each other with…
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Hip Abductor Tear
The abductor muscles of the hip, gluteus medius, and gluteus minimus are located on the side of the hip. These muscles move the leg away from the midline of the body and support the pelvis during weight bearing. Abductor tears…
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Hip Impingement
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) Hip impingement is a condition where the bones of the hip do not fit together perfectly. They rub against each other resulting in the development of bone spurs and damage to the joint, causing pain and, potentially,…
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Rotator Cuff Tear
A variety of conditions and injuries can damage the shoulder’s rotator cuff, cause pain, and make it difficult for you to move your arm. A rotator cuff tear occurs in a spectrum that ranges from tendonitis to partial tears to…
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Knee Pain
Knee pain is a common problem that can originate in any of the bony structures compromising the knee joint, the kneecap, or the ligaments and cartilage of the knee. Knee pain can affect people of all ages. It may be…
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Knee Swelling
Knee swelling also called a knee effusion or water on the knee, can make the knee feel unstable by increasing the space between the femur, tibia, and patella. There are many causes of knee swelling including injuries such as ligament…
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Knee Instability
Knee instability is the sensation of the knee giving out and is usually the result of an injury to a ligament. Injuries to one or more ligaments can lead to the two sides of the joint not being held tightly…
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Meniscus Tear
The meniscus is a piece of cartilage in the knee that serves as a shock absorber between the ends of the leg bones, helps lubricate the joint, and distributes body weight across the joint. Meniscal tears are typically caused by…
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Bursitis
A bursa is a closed, fluid-filled sac that cushions and provides a gliding surface to reduce friction between tissues of the body around joints. When the bursa becomes inflamed, the condition is known as bursitis. Hip bursitis can occur if…
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Rotator Cuff Injuries
Rotator Cuff Tear A variety of conditions and injuries can damage the rotator cuff, cause shoulder pain, and make it difficult for you to move your arm. Rotator cuff injuries and tears occur in a spectrum that ranges from tendonitis…
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Tendon Injuries
There are several tendons in the hip area that attach the hip muscles to the bones. These tendons stabilize the joint and control hip and leg movements. Tendons are nonelastic connective tissue, which tends to become brittle with age or…
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Patella Instability
Patellar instability is a form of knee instability caused by an unstable kneecap. There are many causes of patellar instability such as an abnormally shaped femur or an abnormally aligned knee. Patellar dislocations can occur in an otherwise normal knee…
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Kyphosis
Kyphosis causes your spine to curve so much that your body is hunched and rounded. Postural kyphosis results from bad posture and slouching and is often less severe. Other types of kyphosis can cause deformities to individual vertebrae and more…
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Shoulder Pain, Instability and Dislocations
Shoulder pain is a common problem for many people, especially those who are active. You may feel pain only when you move your shoulder, or all of the time. The pain may be temporary or it may continue and require…
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Labral Tears
The labrum is a structure in the hip that provides some stability to the joint, but perhaps, more importantly, serves to maintain the normal fluid in the joint. A tear in the labrum can be caused by injury or overuse…
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Labrum Tear
The labrum is a soft fibrous tissue rim surrounding the shoulder socket that helps stabilize the joint. In addition, it serves as an attachment site for several ligaments. Injuries to the tissue rim, surrounding the shoulder socket, can occur from…
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Ligament Tear
Tears of the knee ligaments are common among active individuals. Twisting, hyper-extending and hyper-flexing the knee can all cause knee ligament injuries. In addition to swelling and pain, many patients complain of a sense of looseness, sloppiness or giving way…
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Non-Arthritic Hip Pain
There are a number of conditions not associated with arthritis that can cause hip pain. Some of the most common include fractures, inflammation in the hip joint and friction caused by abnormally shaped hip bones. How hip pain is treated…
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Osteoarthritis (Hip)
Osteoarthritis of the hip is a common condition that many people develop during middle age or older. It can occur in any joint in the body, but most often develops in weight-bearing joints, such as the hip. Hip arthritis causes…
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Osteoarthritis (Knee)
Many people develop osteoarthritis during middle age or older. A common condition, it can occur in any joint in the body, but most often develops in weight-bearing joints, such as the knee. Knee arthritis causes pain and stiffness. It can…
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Pinched Nerve
The nerves running along the thoracic and lumbar areas of your spine may become irritated due to disc material bulging out from between the vertebrae. The associated pain may or may not radiate out to other parts of the body.
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