About Dr. Press
Dr. Joel Press is the Physiatrist-in-Chief at Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City and Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. He has published and edited multiple articles and textbooks, chaired numerous courses, and lectures extensively nationally and internationally on the rehabilitation of spine and sports-related injuries.
Dr. Press graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Science Degree with Distinction in microbiology. He received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Illinois, College of Medicine and went to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Northwestern University Medical School for his internship. He then completed his residency at Northwestern University Medical School, Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago where he was Chief Resident.
Dr. Press was an Attending Physician at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago from 1988 to 2016. In 1989, he founded and directed the Spine and Sports Rehabilitation Centers at Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Dr. Press was also a professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation and the Reva and David Logan Distinguished Chair of Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. He was the Vice President of External Relations and the Executive Medical Director for Outpatient Physician Services at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.
Dr. Press is a Diplomat of the National Board of Medical Examiners and board certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine. He has been an Oral Board Examiner and Written Board Examination-item writer for the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and is a Past President of the following organizations: American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, North American Spine Society, and the Physiatric Association of Spine, Sports and Occupational Rehabilitation.
Profile Video
Departments
Special Expertise
Sports medicine
Spine disorders
Patient Stories
Insurance
If your insurance is not listed, please call our office if you have questions regarding your insurance coverage. If you have out-of-network benefits, then your insurance may reimburse you for a portion of your office visit. We will work with you and your insurance to minimize your out-of-pocket costs. Financial assistance may be available for patients in need.
Credentials
Appointments
Physiatrist-in-Chief, Hospital for Special Surgery
Attending Physiatrist, Hospital for Special Surgery
Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College
Certification
American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine
Sports Medicine Board Certificatio
Awards
Castle Connolly Top Doctor, 20 Years
Castle Connolly America's Top Doctors, 2002-2020
Castle Connolly Top Doctors in New York Metro Area, 2018-2022
New York Magazine Top Doctors, 2018-2022
Chicago Magazine Top Doctors, 2004-2016
Visiting Professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2007
John McCulloch Memorial Lecturer, Denver Spine Institute, Winter conference, 2008
Dr. Michael DeSilva Memorial Lecture. Medical Association of Jamaica. Kingston, Jamaica. June 7, 2009
Lambert Lecture, American Association of Neuromuscular and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, 2009
Patricia C. Gregory, M.D. Memorial Lecture in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of North Carolina, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2011
Singapore Ministry of Health Honorary Visiting Expert in Rehabilitation Medicine, 2013
Scott Nadler/PASSOR Legacy Award and Lecture, American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 2013
Gregory E. Lutz, M.D., Visiting Professor for Physiatry. Hospital for Special Surgery, 2015
Education
MD, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Internship
Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Chicago, IL
Residency
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago, Northwestern University Medical School, Chicago, IL
State Licensure
Languages
English
For My Patients
Publications by Dr. Press
Patient Education
Selected Journal Articles
For all publications, please see the PubMed listing.
Selected Books/Chapters
Press JM, Plastaras CT, Wiesner SL. Physical Modalities and Pain Management. In: Rehabilitation of Sports Injuries: Scientific Basis. Frontera, Walter (ed). Blackwell Publishing 2002 pp. 204-232
Press JM, Young JL. Electrodiagnostic Medicine. In: Low Back Pain Handbook: A Guide for the Practicing Clinician, eds. Cole and Herring, 2nd Edition, Hanley and Belfus, Philadelphia. pages. 263-277, 2003
Bucko CC, Young JL, Cole AJ, Stratton S, Press JM. In: Low Back Pain Handbook: A Guide for the Practicing Clinician, eds. Cole and Herring, 2nd Edition, Hanley and Belfus, Philadelphia. pages 151- 168, 2003
Sorosky B, Press J, Plastaras C, Rittenberg J. "The Practical Management of Achilles Tendinopathy" Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine, 14(1): 40-44, January 2004.
Press JM, Plastaras CT, Wiesner SL. Physical Modalities and Pain Management in Rehabilitation of Sports Injuries. Frontera, W (ed), 204-231
Mayer TG, Press JM. Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation. In- Orthopedic Knowledge Update 8, American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, Rosemont, Illinois 2005. pp. 655-663
Plastaras CT, Rittenberg JD, Rittenberg KE, Press JM, Akuthota V. Comprehensive Functional Evaluation of the Injured Runner. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America; Running Injuries. August 2005, Volume 16, Number 3pp. 623-649
Rittenberg JD, Ross AE, Press JM, Akuthota V. Spine Injuries. Chapter from Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation for Active Older Adults. Human Kinetics 2005.
Press JM, and Bergfeld DA, "Physical Modalities" In: Clinical Sports Medicine: Medical Management and Rehabilitation. Frontera WR, Herring SA, Micheli LJ, Silver JK (eds) Saunders, Elsevier. 2007. pp. 207-227
Kennedy DJ, Visco CJ, Press JM. Functional Rehabilitation of Painful Cervical Spine Disorders. 01/2011 pages 433-442ISBN: 978; 1-933864-71-6
Selected Presentations
Rehabilitation of Musculoskeletal and Sports Injuries, Uludag University Medical Center, Department of Sports Rehabilitation, Bursa, Turkey, October 10, 1995
Evidence Based Approach to Non-Operative Treatment of Low Back Pain. National Seoul University Hospital, Seoul, Korea,March 23, 2005
"The Kinetic Chain Examination and Case Presentations: A Workshop" England Institute of Sports Performance Center,Loughborough, England, February 8, 2006.
"Evaluation of Musculoskeletal Disorders"" Ironman Sports Medicine Conference, Kona, Hawaii. Oct 5, 2008
"Core Strength Training" – Does it Work? Trans-Act/ American College of Sports Medicine International Team Physician Course, Johannesburg, South Africa Feb 12-16, 2009
"Cervical Spine Rehabilitation" Medical Association of Jamaica, Annual Meeting, Kingston, Jamaica, June 6, 2009
"What is the Role of Exercise in Low Back Pain" Grand Rounds, Department of Rheumatology, Feinberg/Northwestern School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois Sept. 8, 2011
"The Role of Psychological and Mechanical Factors as Outcome Predictors for Low Back Pain" North American Spine Society, 27th Annual Meeting, Dallas, Texas, October 26, 2012
"The Cost of Low Back Pain" Singapore Ministry of Health Honorary Visiting Expert in Rehabilitation Medicine(Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation), January 10, 2013. Singapore
"Clinical Pearls in Back and Neck Pain" Singapore Ministry of Health Honorary Visiting Expert in Rehabilitation Medicine(Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation), January 10, 2013. Singapore
Research
Assessment of a novel pivoting/sliding elliptical machine for training subjects to improve neuromuscular control performance in the off-axes in patients with musculoskeletal disorders.
Industry Relationships
Industry Relationships
HSS has a long history of supporting appropriate relationships with industry because they advance HSS's mission to provide the highest quality patient care, improve patient mobility, and enhance the quality of life for all, and to advance the science of orthopedic surgery, rheumatology, and their related disciplines through research and education.
As of June 01, 2023, Dr. Press reported no relationships with the healthcare industry.
HSS and its physicians make this information available to patients and the public, thus creating a transparent environment for those who are interested in this information. Further, the HSS Conflicts of Interest and Commitment Policy prohibits physicians from collecting royalties on products they develop that are used on patients at HSS.