Athletico Health Resources

Today’s blog post is written by guest blogger Jennifer Short, PT at Athletico Garfield Ridge/Midway

Congratulations! You are registered for a Marathon, but now what? Running 26.2 miles at once seems daunting but with a plan and dedication you can accomplish this goal. Here are 5 tips to get you off and running on the right foot: (more…)

Spring is in the Air! After a harsh winter, spring has finally sprung and the official start to the Chicago running season has begun with the completion of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle this past weekend. Were you out there among the thousands running on Sunday? Were you standing on the sidelines cheering on the runners thinking to yourself, “I want that to be me…”  that CAN be you. Follow these basic tips to help you complete your first running road race. (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…)

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…)

With pitchers and catchers reporting for duty, people cramming in marathon gym sessions before spring break, and warm weather making people more active, I can guarantee the number of people seeing doctors, athletic trainers, and physical therapists for shoulder pain will soon rise. Luckily, one cause of shoulder pain, shoulder impingement, is often avoidable with some reasonable preventive strategies. (more…)

The official start to the Chicago running season with the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle is right around the corner. With the frigid temperatures and abundant snowfall that Chicago has endured this winter, you may have logged in fewer miles these past few months outside than in previous winters. Warmer temperatures are predicted for later this week and spring is right around the corner and we encourage you to consider these tips to safely transition from the treadmill to outdoor running. (more…)