How to Safely Learn the Splits
Coaches, parents and athletes often ask me, “What is the best way to learn or improve upon doing the splits?” Gymnasts, cheerleaders and dancers are often the population that is interested, but lately this has become a great topic for baseball players, hurdlers and hockey players. Below are three great stretches to assist in gaining flexibility to improve your splits with some good reminders on how to stay safe while stretching.
The Basics of Foam Rolling
You have seen one at the gym, you have heard your friends talk about “foam rolling” but what benefits might foam rolling have for YOU.
Cheerleading: 10 Ways to Prevent a Sports Related Injury
Cheerleading takes athleticism. The sport necessitates strength, flexibility, endurance, and dedication. Injury is a risk in any sport. However, several methods of prevention can be implemented to assist in avoiding injury. Below is a list of 10 ways a cheerleading related injury may be prevented. (more…)
Adding 3D “Fun”ction to Your Walk or Run: Part 2
We hope you all had fun learning and applying “3D” as it relates to the human body. To quickly review we discussed the sagittal, frontal, and transverse planes of movement and demonstrated in words/video how each plane worked. (Did any of you take our 3D quiz for a chance to be entered into a raffle for some fun prizes?) As humans, we were meant and designed to move in all these directions; yet, with many modern conveniences and sedentary occupations, we seem to move less and less. Maximizing multi-planar motion will not only help your movement, flexibility, agility, fitness and strength, but it will also train your proprioceptors to better respond if you trip, slip, reach/lift at an awkward angle, or do a quick direction change when playing a recreational or competitive sport, oftentimes significantly lowering your potential injury risk. (more…)
Three Ways to Avoid Knee Pain at the Gym
Many patients come to physical therapy with knee pain as a result of gym workouts. Here are three ways to avoid knee pain while working out at the gym: (more…)
Adding 3D “Fun”ction to Your Walk or Run: Part 1
Now that warmer weather is finally here, we are all stir crazy to get outside and start having some fun in the sun. A simple and easy way to have fun in the sun with exercise is to start a walking or running program. In the spring and summer months you’ll see walkers or joggers on the lakefront, in the parks, on the sidewalks, along a forest or preserve trail, and sometimes even in the streets. Because walking and running are inherently familiar to most of us, we don’t often think outside the box and try to incorporate ways to make it better or safer. So today we will not only review some basics, but we will show you how and why to add a 3D component to not only your walk and run but also to your pre-activity warm-up and post-activity stretching routine. (more…)
Toe Walking Toddlers: Is it Normal?
Editor’s Note: Today’s post is written by Pam Lasky, PT, DPT, pediatric physical therapist and Pediatrics Program Manager.
Facebook, Twitter, and various blogs have made raising kids today a whole new ball game. We are inundated with new baby photos, “my child rolled at 2 months” Facebook statuses, and the baby genius who is walking, talking, and riding a bike by 12 months. As a physical therapist who works with a wide variety of children, I am constantly being asked what the “norms” are. I wanted to take this time to address one of the most common questions I receive as a pediatric physical therapist. (more…)
The Bump on Your Shin: What It Is and What to Do
As an athletic trainer that works with young, active populations, I get a lot of questions about injuries– some more common than others. One of the more common questions I get– especially adolescents – is “What is this bump below my knee?” The answer is almost always Osgood-Schlatter disease – a condition that sounds like the end of the world, but isn’t anything to lose sleep over. (more…)
