Athletico Health Resources

At first, hydration might seem like a dry topic, but there is more to it than just drinking water. Many people may not realize that hydration levels can affect everything from essential bodily functions to your mental and physical performance levels, making it an ideal topic to cover with hordes of athletes returning to their sports this week. (more…)

With the Olympics upon us, I am very excited to watch as some of the world’s premier athletes compete to win for their country. I am always in awe when watching the swimmers and how their lean and muscular bodies seem to glide through the water so effortlessly. You can tell that they are in great shape both on the outside and inside. For many years, I have been advising patients to try swimming or to perform some water aerobics as a form of exercise. I have always heard how good it is for individuals who may not tolerate pounding on the pavement due to joint pain or arthritis. (more…)

Editor's Note: Today's post is written by Mark Kaufman, PT, ATC, Athletico president and founder.

Every four years, we get to appreciate an event that ‘takes us away’ for a special 16-day period. I am speaking of the Olympic Games, of course. As we approach the London Olympic Games set to open this Friday, memories of past Olympic highlights flow through my mind and bring on the excitement of what I am sure is to come, the creation of more memories. (more…)

Before working as a clinical massage therapist in the physical therapy field, I had no idea how many people were walking around with shoulder pain and decreased range of motion in their shoulders. Now I find myself working on just as many shoulders as I do backs and necks. This blog post will give you the basics on shoulder pain/dysfunction and how massage therapy can help. (more…)

Editor’s Note: Today’s post is written by Athletico's Rachel Kowalczyk, PT, DPT. Many of you have probably heard of CrossFit, and you may be wondering exactly what it is, if it's safe, and more importantly, if it's for you. As a physical therapist as well as someone who trains with CrossFit, I'd thought I'd share my experience with this training program to help you decide if CrossFit is the workout program for your health and fitness needs. (more…)

Crash! That dreaded sound of your car hitting someone else’s car. After making sure you are okay and checking the damage to your car, you start to think about the headache (literally!) that will follow a car accident. Even in very minor car collisions, you may experience whiplash symptoms, which can easily turn to chronic pain if they are not addressed. (more…)

Working on your balance probably isn't an integral part of your everyday life, but I’m prepared to make the case that it should be. The benefits for improved balance range from a reduced risk of injury to improving intelligence and even potentially increasing one’s life span. With that in mind, here are my five reasons to work on improving your balance, as well as some ideas on how to get started. (more…)

As a massage therapist, I am often asked what the difference is between a ‘regular’ massage and a ‘clinical’ or ‘rehab’ massage. This is a great question, especially with the frequency of half-off massage deals that are being offered everyday. The result of these daily deals is that a lot of people are going for a massage wherever they can find the best deal. Is this bad? Not necessarily. What's important is to ask yourself, “Why do I need a massage?” If you are getting a massage because you enjoy receiving them but don’t necessarily have a chronic injury or problem area, then this is probably fine. I do have to note that there are great benefits in seeing the same practitioner. A licensed massage therapist who sees you regularly will get to know your body and could help you identify potential issues. (more…)