From Rehab to Power: The Overhead Athlete Progression

How to safely return to high-performance throwing, serving, and lifting Overhead athletes—baseball players, swimmers, tennis players, volleyball athletes, and CrossFitters—place unique and repeated stress on the shoulder complex. Whether you’re coming back from injury or trying to level up performance, the transition from rehab to power is where outcomes are won or lost. At FX Physical Therapy, we don’t just get you out of pain—we build you back to high-level capacity, resilience, and power. Why Overhead Athletes Are Different Watch our Playlist on YouTube The shoulder isn’t just a joint—it’s…

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Spring Sports Injury Prevention: What Athletes Get Wrong in Preseason Training

Every spring, athletes return to sport with motivation, energy—and a high risk of preventable injury. At FX Physical Therapy, we consistently see early-season breakdowns:ACL injuries, baseball shoulder pain, muscle strains, and athletes who “did everything right”… except prepare the right way. The truth?Most preseason conditioning programs miss the most important step: preparing your body to tolerate and perform under load. The Real Problem: Conditioning Without Preparation Most athletes think preseason =➡️ Run more➡️ Lift more➡️ Practice more But spring sports injury prevention isn’t about doing more—it’s about doing the right…

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Olympic-Level ACL Testing at FXPT

The Same Return-to-Sport Standards Used for Elite Athletes — Available to You When elite athletes prepare for international competition and Olympic cycles, return-to-sport (RTS) testing isn’t optional. It’s objective.It’s measurable.It’s non-negotiable. At FX Physical Therapy, we apply those same objective ACL testing standards to every athlete we treat — from youth competitors and high school standouts to recreational runners and elite performers. There isn’t a “pro-level” testing battery and an “everyday” one. There’s the right standard.And that’s what we use. Why Objective ACL Testing Matters After an ACL reconstruction, time…

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Sport-Specific Injury Prevention: How Runners, Golfers, Picklers, CrossFitters, and Field/Court Athletes Can Stay Strong and Perform Their Best

Every sport places unique demands on the body. Runners need efficient stride mechanics. Golfers need rotational power and mobility. Pickleball athletes require quick lateral movement and reaction speed. CrossFitters train across multiple strength and conditioning domains. Field and court athletes rely on acceleration, deceleration, and change of direction. Whether recreational or competitive, athletes often get injured not because they’re doing too much—but because their movement foundation doesn’t match the demands of their sport. At FX Physical Therapy, our 1:1 model allows us to assess sport-specific biomechanics, identify strength or mobility…

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Athlete Movement Screen vs. School Physical: Why Every Student-Athlete Needs Both

By: FX Physical Therapy School Physicals: Cleared to Play A school sports physical is required for most student-athletes. It provides a general health screen to make sure it’s safe to participate. These exams are: Focused on overall health, not performance Designed to clear you for participation Quick and efficient, but not sport-specific While essential, a school physical doesn’t reveal subtle issues that can affect speed, strength, agility, or injury risk. In short: it ensures you’re healthy enough to play, but it doesn’t prepare you to excel. Athlete Movement Screen: Prepared…

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Stronger Tendons, Stronger Lifts

By: Ryan Bibeau, DPT, CSCS, CCPC Tendon pain can sideline your lifts—and your progress. But what if the key to hitting your next PR wasn't just muscles, mobility, or your recovery routine, but the strength and resilience of your tendons? At FX Physical Therapy, we help athletes reclaim pain-free movement and build stronger, more resilient tissue through evidence-based rehab and performance strategies. Here's what you need to know about tendon health—and what to do if your elbows, knees, or shoulders are holding you back. What Are Tendons and Why Do…

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Returning to Winter Sports After an ACL Injury

By: Kaitlyn Smith, PT, DPT As an avid skier who has experienced both the icy slopes of the East Coast and the powdery trails out West, one thing remains constant: knee injuries are a leading concern in skiing and snowboarding accidents. In 2024, these injuries accounted for 27-41% of incidents at ski resorts, commonly involving ACL or MCL sprains. Unfortunately, following ACL repair surgery, the risk of re-injury—either at the repair site or the opposite knee—increases due to natural compensations. To address this, physical therapists have developed detailed return-to-sport protocols…

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Integrating Cycling into Your Running Routine: A Path to Becoming a Stronger Endurance Athlete

When incorporated into a well-rounded running training program, cycling can enhance your overall performance and endurance. Whether your goal is a 5K, half marathon, or full marathon, cross-training with cycling helps improve cardiovascular fitness, minimize injury risk, and stave off mental burnout.  At FX Physical Therapy, we’ve compiled five compelling reasons why hopping on a bike can make you a better runner. 1. Boost Cardiovascular Fitness for More Efficient Running Cycling is a powerful tool for maintaining and enhancing your cardiovascular endurance, which directly benefits your running performance. A 2018…

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The Road to Recovery: How Physical Therapy Guides Overhead Athletes Back to the Game

By Pat Griffin, PT, DPT, SCSOverhead athletes - throwers, pitchers, spikers, and racquet athletes - frequently encounter injuries stemming from repetitive motions, overuse, and the high-impact nature of their sports. Participating in overhead sports can leave these athletes vulnerable to injuries disruptive to their performance - particularly concerning the shoulders and arms.  In the journey of any injured overhead athlete returning to the field or court, physical therapy emerges as pivotal and essential. It’s necessary to understand the role of physical therapy in rehabilitating overhead athletes, by offering insights into…

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Importance of Plyometric and Multi-Planar Training for Field Sport Athletes

Written By: Jacob Myers, PT, DPT, CSCS When designing a fitness routine or strength & conditioning program, many athletes and trainers emphasize the importance of training “functional movement patterns.” These patterns refer to the global movements we commonly perform in daily life, and therefore, it is crucial to develop strength and endurance in these areas. The primary functional movement patterns include: Horizontal & Vertical Pushing: Examples include bench press, push-ups, and military press. Horizontal & Vertical Pulling: Exercises like rows and pull-ups. Squat: A staple movement such as the barbell…

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