Athletico Health Resources

As students have returned to school this semester, either learning onsite at school, learning remote at home, or in some form of a hybrid model, several changes must be made. Some of these include early wakeup, a longer commute, more formal dress code, and the return of carrying books and supplies in a backpack. While some of these changes may be difficult to adjust to, the least difficult, wearing a backpack, can occasionally be the most painful. Luckily, many schools are seeing an increased trend toward online books and tablets to minimize the carrying of heavy textbooks and supplies. If your child does have to wear a backpack, here are some helpful tips for backpack fit and wear.

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This time of year filled with sun drenched days and warming weather, combined with daylight lingering into the evening hours is known as the “golden” season of hiking. As a plethora of outdoor opportunities abound, it is the perfect time to get off the beaten path and enjoy a hike! Before you trot off on the trail, ensure you have the proper knowledge and injury prevention tips necessary to enjoy the golden days ahead.

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What’s not to love about man’s best friend? In addition to an unbreakable bond, dog ownership comes with many health benefits! Did you know adults that own dogs have fewer chronic diseases, fewer doctor visits and decreased limitations with daily activities?¹ Those who own dogs also walk fifty percent more on average, compared to non-dog owners.²

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As people continue to focus on their health and find new ways to work out and exercise throughout the pandemic, some may turn to boxing. Whether a newcomer to boxing or an experienced veteran, we could all use a reminder on form and safety to decrease the risk of injury.

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Trail running is a great way to spice up your running routine by getting a little closer to nature! However, trails are hardly ever forgiving. Often, they are teeming with treacherous inclines and declines, switchbacks, hairpin turns, fallen trees and branches, and errant rocks looking to sideline you. A review of 22 various studies regarding trail runners revealed that the most vulnerable anatomical sites to injury on the trail are the plantar foot, ankle, Achilles tendon, knee and lower back.¹

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Cheerleading is a potentially high risk sport and it involves extensive and consistent training.

Participation in cheerleading ranges from young kids through collegiate athletes. The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) estimates approximately 400,000 students participate in U.S. high school cheerleading annually, including competitive squads.¹ Cheerleaders can be found at the elementary, junior high, high school, and collegiate levels as well as at park districts or private competitive gyms. Cheerleading squads can be all-girl or co-ed.

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As a runner, I have been told by friends or family that running will “wear out your joints,” that “it causes osteoarthritis,” and that it “is bad for your knees.” Although most of these comments were few and far between, they stuck with me. Since becoming a physical therapist, I started to hear comments like this more frequently. However, this does not line up exactly with my understanding of the human body and how it responds to various stimuli. So I explored the question: Does running cause arthritis and should I be worried?

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“When things look worst, we run the most.” This is a quote from Christopher McDougall in the famous book Born to Run and how, in times of great stress, we run. McDougall mentions three times in this country’s history that there have been substantial running booms: the Great Depression, Vietnam, and September 11th¹. “Maybe it was a coincidence. Or maybe there’s a trigger in the human psyche, a coded response that activates our first and greatest survival skill when we sense the raptors approaching.” – Born to Run.

It is reasonable to think that we are currently in the midst of this country’s fourth running boom due to the uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus. So, now is the perfect opportunity to speak on one of the more common symptoms with running: the dreaded side stitch.

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