Blog

A couple of things are known when reading the research on low back pain.  First, it is common with 9 out of 10 adults experiencing symptoms over their lifetime.  Second, patients with low back pain are very different and require a specific, individualized treatment vs. a one size fits all approach.  Medical research has identified...

Strength training is an essential part of an individual’s weekly exercise program.  It’s numerous benefits include reduced injury risk, increased sports performance, and improved function in life activities.  Time is finite resource and a commonly cited barrier to exercise.  In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice we strive to prescribe the most effective and efficient exercises...

Strength training in endurance athletes is an essential part of any injury prevention and conditioning program.  Our previous blogs have highlighted the importance of these exercises for improving an athlete’s efficiency during training and competition.  Endurance athletes who strength train are more economical and therefore faster than their weaker peers.  Strength training exercises should involve...

Squats remain one of the most effective exercises for strengthening the lower quarter and improving sports performance.  It also is a very efficient exercise in the gym because it targets most of the important leg muscles and works them through a large range of motion.  The downside of a squat is its’ difficulty.  Many people...

The squat remains one the best overall exercises for strength development in both healthy and injured patients.  Squatting strength has been correlated with both functional and athletic performance.  Our previous blog posts documented the safety concerns of squatting through a partial or full range of motion.  In short, in a healthy knee there is no...

Many athletes enjoy a cold beer or drink after a long workout or on the weekend after a long work/training week.  The acute, short term effects of these alcoholic drinks are well established, but new research is looking into the impact of alcohol on hydration levels, future athletic performance, and recovery.  Alcohol effects all of...

We have previously written on the effectiveness of foam rolling as a warm up or cool down technique, as well as, a treatment for muscle pain and soreness.  Utilizing a foam roller for 1-2 minutes on major muscle groups can lead to immediate changes in range of motion and flexibility likely due to improvements in...