What is Functional Threshold Power (FTP)? FTP is a critical metric in cycling that represents the highest average power output you can sustain for approximately one hour without fatiguing. We often use this metric in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics because it serves as a benchmark for gauging a patient’s aerobic...
Meniscal tears, either traumatic or degenerative in nature, are a common source of knee pain in patients presenting to our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics. Degenerative tears most commonly observed in middle or older aged adults have become a recent topic of interest in the media and medical research. Authors and researchers...
We have written numerous blogs on the benefits of strength training for our Boulder Physical Therapy clinic and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinic runners including improved health and performance, as well as, a lower risk of running related injury. While far from a silver bullet, emerging evidence has shown strength training can reduce a runner’s risk...
Cycling is a fantastic way to stay active, improve cardiovascular health, and enjoy the great outdoors. However, for some cyclists presenting to our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics, low back pain can be a significant obstacle that hinders their enjoyment of this activity. Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just starting out,...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics we commonly prescribe mobility or stretching exercises to reduce pain and restore lost function. Accelerating a patient’s return to the activities they enjoy. When combined with other forms of exercise, in particular strength training, stretching is an effective method of restoring lost motion in joints...
The majority of patients presenting to our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics have used internet search engines on their symptoms. Looking for quick answers they have asked questions on their diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options including Physical Therapy. The internet remains a fantastic tool for free information given its’ seemingly endless webpages...
Waking up with a stiff neck or struggling through the day with persistent neck pain can be incredibly frustrating, not to mention disruptive to your daily schedule. If you can’t even turn your head without wincing in pain, even simple tasks like driving to the grocery store become monumental hurdles. Naturally, the best way to...
The ACL is the most commonly injured ligament in the knee. ACL tears are one of the most common sports injuries and post operative conditions we see in our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics. This ligament can be injured during cutting, pivoting sports requiring high speed or high load movements across the...
I can remember reading the exercise literature over 20 years ago and learning the impact of mental imagery on strength gains. Participants who solely thought about their strength training workouts over a study period demonstrated strength gains compared to a control group. In addition, these mental workouts could also limit the amount of atrophy observed...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics cardio is king for many of our patients. Although gaining in popularity, weight training unfortunately falls behind cardiovascular training in training frequency, intensity, and duration. Patients not performing strength training can run the risk of reduced bone density, loss of muscle mass, reduced performance, and...