Athletico Health Resources

In 2019, 37.3 million Americans, or 11.3 % of the population, had diagnosed or undiagnosed diabetes.  Diabetes is also a significant contributor to national healthcare costs. In 2017 the national cost of diabetes was more than $327 billion, up from $245 billion in 2012¹. Diabetes is the most expensive chronic condition to treat in the US, as $1 out of every $4 healthcare dollars is spent on care for people with diabetes². Despite these staggering statistics, our nation’s diabetic future isn’t looking any brighter. (more…)

Male and female gymnasts compete in similar but different events. Men’s gymnastics events place different demands on the body, especially the upper body, for events such as rings, high bar, parallel bars, and pommel horse. Therefore, the top injuries for male and female gymnasts may be different. Current research has shown that adolescent male gymnasts tend to have more lower-body injuries, whereas elite male gymnasts have more upper-body injuries. In general, male gymnasts tend to have more upper body injuries than female gymnasts. (more…)

Planks are a great way to increase strength and stability in your core musculature. Although there is debate about what muscles are included in the “core,” most people can agree that it at least includes the abdominals. I’ve always believed that the core consists of every muscle in the torso, as they all contribute to some degree to movements that target the “core.” The muscles are fluid in their definition based upon what movement is being performed. The traditional plank is the most known plank exercise, though there are countless other varieties to use depending on your goals. (more…)

Stretching is an often overlooked yet vital component of any fitness routine or lifestyle routine. The truth is most of us are guilty of not stretching enough. Stretching increases muscle flexibility & length, which increases the range of motion of joints. Muscles that are not at the proper length prohibit the joints from moving as they should, leading to muscle damage, strains, and joint pain. (more…)

In 2018, Bunt and his colleagues found “knee pain affects approximately 25% of adults, and its prevalence has increased almost 65% over the past 20 years, accounting for nearly 4 million primary care visits annually.”¹ There are a number of causes for knee pain, and in many cases, physical therapy and exercise can help address the pain. Let’s take a look at five common exercises that can help reduce knee pain. (more…)

Have you considered the link between your sleep and pain you may be experiencing? Recent research suggests that sleep and chronic pain are more closely linked than you might think. Not only does sleep deprivation affect your energy, concentration, and general health, it also can predict and even worsen your pain. (more…)

Contrary to what the snow on the ground has told you, spring sports are ramping up at the high school level across the states. And we all know what that means- beginning of season aches and pains. I'll let you in on a little secret, we athletic trainers see a lot of the same injuries year after year at this time. In the first few weeks of spring sports, there is a rise in visitors to the Athletic Training Room for overuse injuries. Let's dig into some of the most common overuse injuries we see in spring and ways to prevent or manage them. (more…)

Dry needling is a technique that is gaining in popularity. We understand that there is a lot of information available, sometimes this information is conflicting or confusing. We hope to be able to answer your questions as simply as we can. Let's take a look at some common questions about dry needling. (more…)