Athletico Health Resources

Gymnasts participate in their sport all year round and multiple days per week. A gymnast performs multiple repetitions of skills and their routines on equipment such as uneven or high bar, beam, floor, vault, pommel horse, or rings within each training session. Due to the nature of their training schedule, gymnasts may not have time for full recovery between events or between training sessions. We know the benefits of rest days, but what about the benefits of active recovery? Active recovery can include recovery between events during one practice as well as recovery between practices.

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We all understand that sometimes injuries can happen. Most people have experienced pain or an injury at some point in their lives. Although injuries can happen to anyone, how we choose to manage them determines our outcomes. Injuries are often underestimated in severity, and people feel they can “give it time” and wait to see if it will get better. This may work for some injuries, but often people are searching the internet or coming into our clinics looking for more guidance on how to get better, quicker.

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If you’re like us, you may find it hard to believe we have reached the end of the year! Like 2020, this past year was heavily influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Vaccines were rolled out globally, and a few significant events, like the 2020 Summer Olympics, were hosted to make up for the year prior.

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Congratulations on finishing the marathon – what an accomplishment! 26.2 miles is an incredible feat by the human body and mind. We know that after the race, our body and mind can be in a state of disarray. Not only is 26.2 taxing on our legs, but it takes its toll on our blood flow, digestion, and our ability to function in the coming hours, days, and weeks.

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60-80% of adults will experience low back pain at some point. Back pain is linked to increased health care costs and missed work. There is a lot of information out there about the causes of and best ways to treat back pain. It may not be easy to distinguish what is myth and reality amongst this abundance of information. Here are five myths about low back pain and more information about what is true.

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The Tokyo Paralympic Games will feature around 4,400 athletes who will compete in 539 medal events. Paralympic athletes have a range of disabilities that include but are not limited to impaired muscle power, impaired range of movement, limb deficiency, vision impairment, and intellectual impairment. Due to the wide variety of disabilities that Para athletes have, there are several categories in which the athletes compete. These categories are broken down into classifications which can vary from sport to sport. As with any athlete, Paralympians are at the top of their field. Here are just some Paralympians to watch for in Tokyo this year:

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If you’ve ever felt a nagging pain or tingling along the inside of your shinbone (tibia), you may have what’s known as shin splints. The good news is with proper recovery and tips from your physical therapist; this injury doesn’t have to keep you from doing what you love. Read below to learn more about shin splints and how they’re treated.

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As an Athletico physical therapist and competitive cyclist, I am eager to share my love for cycling with others. Right now, I’m super excited about the Tour de France. Over the past several years, it’s been gratifying to see cycling grow in the United States as a competitive sport, a fun way to exercise, and an environmentally-friendly way to commute. All outdoor cyclists, from the Tour de France riders to the city commuters in Chicago, are at risk of crash-related injuries. One of the most common is concussions. In this blog, I will discuss what you can do, as well as what physical therapists can do, to help you protect yourself.

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