Sports Medicine

Rehabilitation and Sports Performance is one of the many specialties that MMP Orthopedic & Sports Medicine offers. Located in the same building as the physicians of this practice, the rehabilitation department offers post-operative and non-operative treatment for conditions involving the shoulder, elbow, hip, knee, foot and ankle, and spine. Whether you are returning to professional sports or weekend recreation, our state-of-the-art clinic is fully equipped with an anti-gravity treadmill, a Woodway treadmill, a TechnoBody balance and stabilization system, IASTM tools, Shuttle systems and Life Fitness resistance and cardio equipment, and much more to ensure a fast, optimal and safe recovery after an injury.

Treatments we offer:

• Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) and various soft tissue mobilization techniques
• Manual therapy
• Dry needling
• Kinesiotaping
• Vasopneumatic compression for swelling and joint pain
• Cryotherapy
• Video gait/running analysis
• Concussion management and testing
• Return to running program on anti-gravity treadmill
• Return to sports training
• Strength and conditioning
• Biofeedback training
• Neuromuscular electric stimulation
• Golf assessments by a TPI certified clinician
• Pilates

Some of the conditions we treat, but are not limited to:

• Knee pain, stiffness and injuries to the knee
  • ACL injuries
  • patellofemoral syndrome
  • knee ligament injuries
  • patellar subluxation
  • knee arthrofibrosis (knee stiffness)
  • knee osteoarthritis
  • meniscus injuries
  • patellar tendinitis
  • quadriceps tendinitis 

• Hip pain
  • femoroacetabular impingement and labrum tears of the hip
  • greater trochanteric pain syndrome
  • hip sprains and strains
  • bursitis
  • athletic pubalgia (sports hernia)
  • hip osteoarthritis

• Shoulder injuries, pain, and stiffness
  • rotator cuff injuries
  • shoulder instability
  • shoulder impingement
  • adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder)
  • tears of the labrum (i.e. SLAP and Bankart lesions)
  • shoulder osteoarthritis
  • scapular dyskinesis
  • Thoracic Outlet Compression Syndrome (TOCS)

• Elbow pain and injuries
  • tennis elbow
  • golfer’s elbow
  • pronator teres syndrome
  • UCL injuries
  • elbow osteoarthritis

• Head and neck injuries and pain
  • concussion
  • neck pain
  • degenerative disc disease
  •  herniated disc
  • nerve impingement
  • facet joint pain/dysfunction
  • Thoracic Outlet Compression Syndrome (TOCS)
  • cervicogenic headaches

• Low back pain
  • degenerative disc disease
  • acute low back pain
  • low back strains
  • SI Joint pain and dysfunction
  • nerve entrapment
  • herniated disc

• Foot and ankle pain and injuries
  • ankle sprains
  • Achilles tendinitis
  • sesmoiditis
  • plantar fasciitis
  • running injuries to foot
  • ankle osteoarthritis

Our staff:

Dirk Kokmeyer, PT, DPT, SCS, COMT
Director of Rehabilitation and Sports Performance

After serving in the United States Army, Dirk went on to pursue a career in physical therapy. He graduated Cum Laude from the Hogeschool van Utrecht in the Netherlands in 1999 and moved to Vail, Colorado to work with the Steadman Clinic and Howard Head Sports Medicine, where he served as Director of Physical Therapy and team lead of shoulder rehabilitation. In 2013, he attained a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree and went on to pursue a PhD in orthopedics and sports medicine. He has published several book chapters and peer-reviewed journal articles on shoulder, hip and knee injuries, served as clinical instructor to physical therapy students and has lectured nationally. In 2016, he moved to Portland, Maine in order to be closer to family. He is currently the Director of Performance and Rehabilitation at Maine Medical Partners - Orthopedics & Sports Medicine, and also adjunct faculty at the University of New England school of Physical Therapy.

Cara Collins
Staff Physical Therapist

Cara graduated from Simmons College in Boston with a BS in Health Science in 1992. She went on to receive her masters in Physical Therapy from Simmons in 1994. After graduating she returned to NH and worked in an outpatient orthopedic clinic before moving to Maine in 1998. She continued to work in private practice until joining Maine Medical Partners - Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in 2016. Cara has a special interest in treatment of the lower extremity specifically patellofemoral dysfunction. She resides in Cumberland with her husband, daughter and 2 dogs. When not working she enjoys sailing, skiing, hiking, gardening, reading, cooking and exploring the Maine coast by foot, boat or paddle board.

Nick Lasarso
Staff Physical Therapist

Nick is originally from Upstate New York. He attended the University of New Hampshire (UNH) where he graduated in 2013 with a degree in Athletic Training. He then went on to the University of New England where he graduated in 2016 with his Doctorate of Physical Therapy. After graduating UNE, Nick became part of the team at Maine Medical Partners - Orthopedics & Sports Medicine in 2016 and currently works with our physicians to run a concussion program. This program helps to treat patients of all ages with both acute concussions and post-concussion syndrome. He is also a certified Titleist Performance Institute clinician with a passion for golf, strength and conditioning training.

Kristin O’Kelly
Staff Physical Therapist

Kristin is born and raised right here in Portland Maine. After graduating from Portland high school, Kristin attended the University of New Hampshire where she graduated with a BS in kinesiology: exercise science in 2013. She then returned to Maine to complete her studies in physical therapy at the University of New England, graduating with her doctorate in physical therapy in 2016. After graduating, Kristin has worked in outpatient orthopedics, where her desire to work with active individuals has grown, drawing off her own passions for sports and activity. When not working, Kristin enjoys staying active through running, playing soccer, skiing and hiking. 

Sport psychology services at Maine Medical Partners - Orthopedics & Sports Medicine focus on helping individuals get back to their optimal level of functioning, whether that’s in sports, work, or general life. Being injured, no matter how severe, can bring up a lot of emotions. Dr. Erin Hatch works closely with a team of providers at our practice to support patients in their adjustment to injury from a mental health perspective. From concussions to post-surgical recovery to chronic pain, learning how to adjust and cope with the life changes and challenges brought on by these issues can be difficult. But you don’t have to go through it alone.

Our sport psychology services also serve athletes of all ages who are not injured, but struggle with the emotional side of competition. Sports can be inherently stressful as pressure and expectations can lead to intense anxiety and negative self-judgment. Individuals are able to explore these issues in a safe, empathic environment and learn skills related to “mental toughness” that allow them to overcome these struggles.

Areas Addressed:

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Concussion-related adjustment issues
• Post-surgery or injury-related adjustment issues
• Chronic pain
• PTSD