Cycling is one of the most popular outdoor activities in Boulder. Cyclists we encounter in our Boulder Physical Therapy practice most commonly complain of pain on the front of their knee or anterior knee pain. Research shows 1 in 2 competitive cyclists have experienced this knee pain resulting in lost training and competitions in over...
Resistance training is an essential part of any training program due to its’ ability to reduce injury risk and improve sports performance. Adolescents can safely resistance train if they are properly supervised and can perform movements correctly. One of the foundations of any strengthening program is the squat. The squat is an incredible training tool...
Achilles tendon ruptures mainly occurs in middle aged adults, males > females, participating in sports with high levels of jumping or high force activity. The repair and recovery time of these tendon ruptures is lengthy due to the post operative immobilization, weight bearing, and exercise restrictions. Prior research has shown only 1 in 2 athletes...
Athletes often return to sports around 6-9 months after ACL reconstruction and Physical Therapy. In a previous ACL post we described how important these Physical Therapy sessions are to an athlete’s recovery. Each session after surgery is designed to move the athlete closer to the all important return to play. New research is showing how...
The knee is one of most commonly injured areas among our Boulder County student athletes. Injuries range from the traumatic (ligament tears) to overuse (tendonitis) across a variety of indoor and outdoor sports. Prior research has shown overuse injuries to be the most common knee injury affecting our student athletes but data regarding the risk...
In our previous blog posts we have written on the limitations of MRI for many injuries and conditions. In general, these expensive tests have high rates of false positives where patients without pain often have positive results including ligament/labrum tears or tendon changes. The incidence of false of positives increases in athletes with the majority...
Among Boulder endurance athletes many training variables are utilized to promote beneficial adaptations within our bodies. These adaptations to the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems lead to improved future performances in practice and competitions. One training variable includes interval training where athletes complete portions of endurance exercise at a high intensity followed by a recovery period....
Compression garments including shorts, tights, and socks have gained in popularity among both amateur and professional runners. Manufacturers and athletes claim improved circulation, recovery, and performance can be found using these products either during or after a run. As with many products in health, fitness, and performance these claims should be taken with a grain...
The treadmill remains a necessary evil when completing run training allowing athletes to escape inclement weather to complete their workouts. Thankfully, in Boulder we have few inclement days as we move through the Spring and Summer months allowing athletes to train outside. Prior research has noted significant bio-mechanical differences in treadmill vs. ground running including...
ACL injuries are on the rise across the United States as more individuals participate in athletic activities. As described in prior posts, the majority of these ligament injuries do not involve contact but rather occur with deceleration and directional changes in sports. Athletes with decreased strength, balance, and coordination are unable to dissipate forces placing...