Beyond the Arm: 3 Ways to Maximize Performance in Overhead Athletes
As the weather warms up, many athletes are heading to the baseball and softball fields for a summer packed with nonstop practices, games and tournaments. Regardless of their experience, these athletes want to perform at their highest possible level while also staying healthy. Luckily, performance enhancement and injury prevention go hand-in-hand in the throwing athlete.
What is a Ruptured Achilles Tendon?
Kevin Durant joined the likes of Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green in the starting lineup for Game 5 of the NBA Finals – this following a 33-day hiatus as he rehabbed a calf strain. His return came with inherent risk – concern for worsening of the initial calf injury or a more severe Achilles tendon injury. In the second quarter, the 30-year-old planted on his right leg to change direction and subsequently went down to the floor clutching the back of his right lower leg. The worst-case scenario for Durant had become a reality, a ruptured Achilles tendon. He underwent successful surgery to address the injury and is expected to miss 9-11 months.
Shoulder Strengthening Exercises for Male Gymnasts
Gymnastics is a sport with large demands on the upper body. Male gymnasts especially rely on the strength and stabilization of the upper body for many of their events such as rings, pommel horse, vault, high bar, parallel bar and floor. Research has shown that a gymnast can experience up to 16 times their body weight through their arms during gymnastics events.1 Injuries are often seen at the shoulders in the male gymnast. In addition to overall shoulder strength, male gymnasts need shoulder stability to perform their sport.
Common Wrist Injuries in Male Gymnasts
Male gymnasts encounter different stresses on their joints compared to their female counterparts due to differences in the events they compete. In men’s gymnastics, there are multiple events that place stress across the joints of the arm including the rings, high bar, parallel bars and pommel horse.
Concussions in Cheerleaders: Symptoms and Treatment
Cheerleaders are commonly seen on the sidelines of school and professional sporting events, but the sport is no longer reserved for the sidelines. Cheerleaders have their own competitions where they are in the spotlight. Competitive cheerleading participation is on the rise with teams ranging in age from 5 years old through college.
Pros and Cons of Wearing a Brace During Sports
When watching sporting events on TV, it is not uncommon to see an athlete wearing a brace – typically on the ankle or knee. Oftentimes the athlete is wearing the brace because they were previously injured and returning to active play. This could lead one to wonder why all athletes don’t wear braces to prevent injury. There is a lot of information out there about the use of braces in athletics, so let’s take a look at some of the pros and cons.
Will Injuries Impact Super Bowl LIII?
Super Bowl LIII will take place this Sunday when New England takes on Los Angeles. Both teams have dealt with injuries to key players over the course of their respective playoff runs. The question is – will any of these injuries have a significant impact on the outcome of the game? Let’s dive a little deeper and take a look! (more…)
A Team Approach to Concussion Care for Hockey Players
By Andrew Wyman, MS, ATC, ITAT and Kathryn Semlow, PT, DPT, FAAOMPT
It is no secret that the topic of concussions is at the forefront of athletics these days. With the Ice Hockey season already underway at the professional and youth levels, it is important to keep an eye on players following collisions, hits into the boards and impacts on the ice for possible concussions.
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