Read more about the article From Oversplits to Strength: Safer Stretching Strategies for Dancers

From Oversplits to Strength: Safer Stretching Strategies for Dancers

Recently, in the dance world, more people have been discussing appropriate vs. harmful stretching habits. Stretching oversplits has become a hot topic within this umbrella of harmful stretching practices. In this blog, we will cover why you should avoid stretching your oversplits and what are the better options for improving your flexibility.  Anatomy of Stretching  When you are stretching your splits, you are stretching the muscles in your legs, tendons, and ligaments. Tendons connect muscle to the bones around them, and ligaments connect bone to other bones. Tendons are best…

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Read more about the article Taking Control of Your IC/BPS: Tips & Tricks from a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

Taking Control of Your IC/BPS: Tips & Tricks from a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

By: Rachael Reuter, PT, DPT, IDN-C Managing Interstitial Cystitis (IC) or Bladder Pain Syndrome (BPS) can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can alleviate symptoms and improve your quality of life. Here are some tips and tricks from a physical therapy perspective to help manage IC/BPS: 1. Pelvic Floor Relaxation Techniques Breathing Exercises: Practice diaphragmatic breathing to help relax the pelvic floor muscles. Focus on slow, deep breaths, allowing your abdomen to rise as you inhale and fall as you exhale. This can reduce tension in the pelvic…

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Read more about the article The Road to Recovery: How Physical Therapy Guides Overhead Athletes Back to the Game

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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Read more about the article Importance of Plyometric and Multi-Planar Training for Field Sport Athletes

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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Read more about the article RED-S and Postpartum Return to Running

RED-S and Postpartum Return to Running

Written By: Corinne Howe, PT, DPT What is RED-S? RED-S, or Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport, results in impaired functions such as metabolic rate, menstrual function, bone health, immunity, protein synthesis, and cardiovascular health. This condition arises when an individual’s caloric intake does not meet the energy demands of daily activities and exercise habits. Key Symptoms of RED-S in Postpartum Women The energy demands of postpartum women differ significantly from those at other life stages. Factors to consider include daily activity energy demands, breastfeeding status, sleep quality, and exercise-related energy…

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Read more about the article Tips and Tricks to Prevent Injuries in Pickleball

Tips and Tricks to Prevent Injuries in Pickleball

Written By: Dr. Allison Funk, PT, DPT, ATC Pickleball is a sport that combines skills from badminton, ping pong and tennis that can be played on indoor and outdoor courts. Participants are often attracted to pickleball as it is a great form of low-impact exercise that promotes socialization and competitiveness for all ages. But before you grab a paddle, it's worth knowing how to keep yourself injury-free on the court. As much fun as pickleball is, it does come with some risks, especially for those over 60. Injuries like sprains,…

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Read more about the article The FACTS About Low Back Pain and Golf

The FACTS About Low Back Pain and Golf

Golf often has the reputation of being a low intensity sport which places little stress upon the body. Those who play golf will tell you that is far from the case. As an avid golfer myself and Physical Therapist, I can testify that golf is a demanding sport on the body and golf health is something that is important to address for anyone who plans to pursue the lifelong game. The most common golf-related injury is low back pain (LBP) with 15-35% of amateurs and 55% of professionals experiencing LBP…

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Read more about the article Importance of Strength Training for the Young Female Athlete

Importance of Strength Training for the Young Female Athlete

Written by: Allison Scheller, PT, DPT Physical therapy can help when you are injured, but we can also help prevent injuries, especially when it comes to young female athletes. Female athletes are more susceptible to injuries, such as ACL injuries, ankle sprains, and concussions. They also are at risk for developing female athlete triad. It is important to screen these athletes for strength imbalances that may cause these individuals to be more at risk for developing these injuries. Some other contributing factors to increased injury rate includes: Wider pelvis- which…

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Read more about the article Importance of Strength Training in Youth Athletes

Importance of Strength Training in Youth Athletes

As an athlete, you’re at the top of your game, right? You train, you practice, and you work out. There’s no need for you to strength train – you’re essentially training the muscles you need to perform your best as you play. Incorrect! It is imperative that youth athletes, especially high school athletes, participate in strength/resistance training as part of their off-season and in-season training schedule, regardless of their sport. Strength training has a huge number of benefits, examples include, but not limited to, reduced risk of injury, increased strength,…

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Read more about the article <strong>Desk Job Mobility</strong>

Desk Job Mobility

If you spend hours per day on a computer or at a desk, take a look at the photo below. We all used to deem the body on the right as having “bad posture,” but the truth is that this is merely our body’s response to the repetitive positioning demands placed on it. Good news! It is retrainable, and the concept is simple: stretch the structures that are tight, activate/strengthen the structures that are inhibited/weak. Below are some movements that you can incorporate into your work day to supplement all…

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