Athletico Health Resources

As humans, we are unique creatures for a couple of reasons - one for our ability to reason and two because we live life upright instead of on all fours. Living upright puts a pretty constant workload on our feet. Our feet can become painful or sensitive over time and foot pain is a common complaint in physical therapy. There are many basic strategies and self-treatments you can try if foot pain plagues you. (more…)

I hear this comment all the time from people, “Well, I really don’t eat that much sugar.” Today is American Diabetes Alert Day and here’s the thing about sugar - it’s hiding, it’s all around you, it’s calling from inside the house! Okay, that was a little bit dramatic, but sugar really is everywhere! (more…)

Whether you're at home training or returning to play with your team, there's no doubt that athletes put a significant amount of time and energy into their favorite sport. For the athletes involved at all levels, this means an increased demand on their bodies. During the average soccer game, a player could run up to 5 miles. Double headers can mean up to 7-8 hours in the field. I think it goes without saying, if you are not putting the right fuel in your body, it would be pretty easy to run out of gas. (more…)

It's the hap, happiest time of the year. No, not Christmas, although that one's good too! It's NCAA tournament time! A time when Cinderella’s find their shoes, champions rise to the occasion, and every team, fan, and bracket hope for their one shining moment. From the coaches and players to the fans, the NCAA tournament is a stressful, but exciting time for everyone associated with the teams. (more…)

Help Beyond Medications

Prostatitis is described as either an infection or an inflammation present in the prostate.  It can affect men of all ages. The primary symptom of prostatitis is repeated urinary tract infections (UTIs), however, more symptoms can be present. (more…)

Today’s blog post is written by guest blogger, Ryan Mertz, PT, DPT, CSCS. Ryan is also the Team Physical Therapist for the Chicago Cubs. Much has remained constant in the game of professional baseball over the last 100 years, such as the distance from the pitching rubber to the plate, but significantly more has changed. Players are bigger, faster and stronger. Spectators know the speed and break of every pitch and that a ballpark hotdog costs an arm and a leg. With the progression of the game through technology, research and physical development standards, much of the lessons learned at the pro level have now trickled down into amateur baseball. (more…)

The theory of “no pain, no gain” is a popular saying and belief that I address in the physical therapy setting on a daily basis. Some people believe that in order to improve pain, strength, or flexibility, pain must be involved. Many attend therapy with the impression that physical therapy will hurt immensely and will nickname their soon-to-be physical therapist the “physical torturer”. Some come to their first session with fear and some come with the attitude of “hurt me so I can get better!” These are the individuals who are often surprised and/or relieved when I say that the goal is to relieve the pain, not to create it.  Of course, there are times when I have to create some pain to help a patient get better, but for the majority of patients, I am looking to find a way to increase mobility and strength without pushing through pain. (more…)

As soon as I identify myself as an “ergonomist,” I’m confronted with the same questions regarding ergonomics. No, this question isn’t related to the repetitive nature of assembly line work or the awkward postures assumed by building engineers, but it’s in reference to the continuing debate: Is Standing really better than sitting? (more…)