By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS If you want your overhead squats, snatches, and handstand push-ups to feel effortless in the CrossFit Open, it’s not just about strength it’s about stability. Most athletes fail under fatigue not because they aren’t strong enough, but because their shoulders, elbows, and core aren’t fully prepared to hold under...
By: Ian Nay, PT, DPT, OCS CrossFit, Olympic weightlifting, and powerlifting are highly effective for developing strength, power output, and work capacity, but from a biomechanical perspective, these three training styles are heavily biased toward the sagittal plane of motion. The sagittal plane involves forward-and-backward or vertical movement patterns, which dominate foundational lifts such as...
By: Megan Davis, PT, DPT, OCS A common question I get asked when I am working out at CrossFit or working with my patients who also participate in Crossfit is how to keep our shoulders more stable to withstand the demands of CrossFit? It is recommended to have at least 1-3 strict pull ups before...
Low back pain is a frequent challenge for athletes who place high demands on their bodies, especially gymnasts, CrossFit athletes, golfers, climbers, and those involved in team sports. These athletes often combine heavy loading, explosive power, rotation, and end-range positions — all of which require the spine to transfer force efficiently. When mobility, strength, or...
Aerobic exercise continues to be our best intervention to improve cardiovascular fitness/VO2 max, metabolic health, and disease risk. Over 20 diseases have been shown to benefit from properly prescribed aerobic exercise. Despite the health benefits only 25% of Americans reach the recommended amount of exercise each week. The number one barrier for exercise participation in...
By: Lucas Glomb, PT, DPT, OCS High-quality ACL rehabilitation should be criterion-based, not time-based. Most people recovering from ACL surgery are told they’ll return to sport in 6–9 months. While healing timelines matter, time alone does not determine readiness. Two people at the same point on the calendar can have completely different strength, movement quality,...
By: John Crawley, PT, DPT, OCS In rock climbing, your “engine” is actually three separate systems working in concert. Whether you are sticking a desperate dyno or grinding through a multi-pitch day, your body chooses a specific chemical pathway to create Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)—the molecule that powers every muscle contraction. Each discipline has differing demands...
At 9 to 12 months out of ACL reconstruction surgery athletes begin to plan their return to competition. The preceding 9 months of post operative ACL Physical Therapy has re established mobility, strength, biomechanics, power, and endurance. The 8 and 9th months also allow a gradual return to full practice including scrimmages. Post operative return...
By: Rani Helvey-Byers, PT, DPT, OCS If you’ve been told you have osteopenia or osteoporosis, it’s natural to feel cautious about movement—especially anything involving weights. Many women are advised to “be careful,” “avoid heavy lifting,” or stick to walking and light exercise. In reality, this advice is not only outdated, but may be doing you...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Background For most of my life, osteoporosis felt like something I would deal with later. Something for my future self. Something that showed up in your 60s after a doctor ordered a DEXA scan and told you your bones were fragile. But bone loss does not suddenly appear at...
