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...
Sleep continues to gain momentum as an important component of health and sports performance. In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics patients often ask us how to improve their sleep quality or quantity. Previous research has shown athletes who sleep the recommended hours per night have better recovery and decreased risk of...
Interval cardiovascular training has been around at least since the 1930s when Swedish coaches introduced Fartlek training to their athletes. The alternating style of varying durations of high and low intensity exercise have been studied thoroughly in the research. One of the greatest strengths of interval training or high intensity interval training (HIIT) is its’...
Caffeine is a well established stimulant enjoyed by many adults, in many forms, around the world each day. Users have known about its’ performance effects since the beginning with researchers confirming its’ performance benefits over the last century. It is one of the few well established performance enhancing drugs and was previously restricted and is...
Is Exercise Performance in Female Athletes Impacted by the Menstrual Cycle? By Berrin Boyce PT, DPT, PRPC In recent decades as women collectively increase participation in all types of exercise, ranging from physical activity to elite sport, more questions arise about whether or not the cyclical hormonal changes that occur in women with healthy menstrual...
Team and individual athletes are always looking for an edge prior to their competition or race. The preceding days variable’s including rest, nutrition, training, and exercise are dialed in to create an optimal environment on game or race day. Most Physical Therapists and sports medicine professionals encourage an active dynamic warm up in the hour...
Previously it was thought Physical Therapists should withhold strength training from endurance athletes or have athletes perform exercises with high reps (>15) and low weights (30-45% 1 rep max). These incorrect guidelines and prescriptions created insufficient training loads in endurance athletes and even worse led many endurance coaches and athletes to avoid weight training all...
Ankle mobility, in particular dorsiflexion, is an essential mobility need for athletics and every day activities including stair climbing and squatting. Interestingly, authors have shown side to side asymmetries of 6 degrees, > 20% were greater than 10 degrees, are common between legs in both healthy and injured populations Prior research has demonstrated altered dynamic...
Strength and muscle hypertrophy (growth) are two separate benefits of strength training. In some participants these occur together, but in other participants (age, sex, training status, nutrition) strength gains often occur without significant increases in muscle size. This is an important point for individuals who refrain from weight training due to fear of “bulking up”...
Isometrics, muscle contractions without movement of a joint, have been utilized for many decades as a form of strength training and performance, but have recently been highlighted as an effective treatment for tendon pain. In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice, isometrics are helpful to initially load a tissue after surgery or injury, as well as,...