Atlanta & Marietta Physical Therapist Maxwell Ji PT, DPT, CSCS
Educational Background and Early Career
Maxwell Ji is a Doctor of Physical Therapy from Emory University where he was heavily involved in sports medicine including, but not limited to assisting athletic trainers ranging from local high school football games to AllMetroHoops Underclassmen All-American games; volunteering in the athletic training room at the Georgia Institute of Technology; creating strength & conditioning programs for in-season soccer athletes at Southern Soccer Academy.
During one of his clinical experiences at Elite OrthoSport in Los Angeles, California, he gained experience working alongside highly-experienced sports physical therapists in managing athletes from elite high school to the professional level. There, he gained interests in the intricacies in the rehabilitation of athletes post-op ACL reconstruction.
Constantly battling injuries in high school as a track & field sprinter brought realization of the needs of a multidisciplinary approach for effective rehabilitation.
Advanced Training and Residency
Sports Residency at Johns Hopkins Medicine where he received comprehensive training with acute injury management on the field as well as early, mid, and late-stage sports rehabilitation with athletes at the high school, collegiate, and professional-level. During his time in residency, he gained experience managing athletes with sports-related injuries such as ACL reconstruction, Achilles tendon repairs, meniscus pathologies, etc. Additionally, he developed knowledge and experience utilizing highly-advanced technology such as Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy, Class IV Laser Therapy, Tecar Therapy, and much more.
IMG Academy – During this residency, he had the opportunity to complete an internship at the world-renowned IMG Academy where he fully-immersed himself with the nationally-ranked football program that were crowned the 2023 National Champions. There, he developed skills managing acute injuries on the field and athletic training room, and coordinated care with athletic trainers, team physicians, strength & conditioning coaches, sports scientists and other members on the sports medicine team, to ensure the highest level of care for these athletes. At the end of his internship, he had the opportunity to assist with courtside coverage for the 2023 NBA Academy World Tour & Sunshine Prep Showcase hosting nationally ranked high school prospects.
Strength & Conditioning Intern at Johns Hopkins University working mainly with Division III football and exposure in Division I girls’ lacrosse, he gained experience in program development utilizing athlete- and sports-specific needs analysis. He also gained experience utilizing advanced technology (velocity-based training, GPS system, force plate testing and wireless timing systems) to more effectively create programs based on the athlete’s deficits.
Research
University of Kansas: Jayhawk Athletic Performance Laboratory He was involved in analyzing muscular contributions required for a single-leg countermovement jump in female collegiate volleyball athletes utilizing a markerless motion capture system. This movement was analyzed because it is considered to be one of the best predictors of rehabilitation status for athletes following post-operative ACL reconstruction. The research was later presented at the 16th Annual Emory Sports Medicine Symposium.
Certifications
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
- EXOS Performance Specialist (XPS)
- Emergency Medical Responder (American Red Cross)
- Dry Needling Certified Level 1 & 2 (Emory University)
- Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization Level 1 & 2 (HawkGrips)
- Blood Flow Restriction Training Level 1 & 2 (SmartTools)
- Spinal Manipulation Therapy (American Academy of Manipulative Therapy)
Personal Life and Interests
Outside of professional obligations, Max enjoys spending time with friends & family and maintains an active lifestyle with strength training and competes in sports recreationally (beach volleyball, pickleball, football, basketball, etc.). He also has an interest in street photography and carries his camera everywhere he goes.
Conclusion
Between the combination of training in sports residency and his involvement in extracurricular opportunities, Maxwell Ji’s passion and dedication for sports medicine and the athletes is evident. As a life-long learner, he will ensure that every athlete will attain the highest and most comprehensive level of care to achieve the athlete’s dream, the highest level of performance.
