Benefits of an Arm Care Program for Overhead Athletes in the Off-Season
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. We’re hanging up our bats and gloves, coaches are making their rosters and checking them twice, and soon, our mounds and dugouts will be lightly covered in a fresh blanket of snow. ‘Tis the season – the off-season, that is.
While we’re filling our bellies with holiday cookies and taking that much-needed break from throwing, giving our arm the TLC it deserves after carrying us through the season is important. In fact, the best gift we could give our arm is a comprehensive arm care program.
The Road to Recovery: From ACL Tear to the Joffrey Ballet
ACL injuries are often talked about in contact sports, but ballet dancers are also at risk of a tear. Jumping is the most common mechanism of injury for a ballet dancer to tear their ACL. Max Dawe, of the Joffrey Ballet, learned this firsthand last summer. I had the pleasure of being Max’s Physical Therapist in the later stages of his rehab while Alyssa Hartley, PT, DPT, OCS worked with him during the first eight months. Recovering from an ACL reconstruction is a long and intense process focused on regaining strength, range of motion, neuromuscular control, and progression of agility and plyometrics tailored to specific sport demands. The general recommended timeline to return to sport is at least nine months due to the high risk of re-injury returning at the previously thought six months. I interviewed Max asking about his recovery process, and we are happy to share his experiences.
3 Hand Injuries Commonly Seen During The Football Season
The fall season is a wonderful time of year for annual traditions. With fall comes back to school, which also means football. Football is a sport that so many people love to rally around, as it offers opportunities for gatherings and helps create an identity for a team, school, and town. That is the beautiful truth about football. Like all sports, the ugly truth is that it can lead to injury. Here are three common upper extremity injuries football players face and the causes for each.
Arm Care For Quarterbacks
Are you ready for some football? The Friday night lights are upon us and the excitement of getting back to playing is in the air. Have you ever wondered what it takes to truly keep your arm healthy as a quarterback? Well, today we are going to talk a little bit about that and things that you can do to help keep your arm in shape so that you can get through the season unscathed.
5 Exercises To Decrease ACL Injury Risk
ACL injuries are one of the most impactful injuries in sports, often taking 9-12 months before an athlete can return to competition. Athletes who participate in change of direction sports such as soccer, basketball, and football tend to have the greatest risk of ACL injury.
Returning to Exercise After ACL Surgery
Having an ACL reconstruction can throw a major wrench into your life. The surgery is complicated, and the rehab program can feel daunting. With a projected return to sport timeline hovering around 9 months to a year depending on your injury, it can feel like you are destined for a year of struggle.
This is a common concern before surgery, and a common fear in the first few weeks after surgery. Your knee is swollen, walking is a chore, and sometimes you even need to wear a big bulky brace. The good news is, with proper rehabilitation, you should be back to the gym in a much shorter timeframe.
Hand Injuries Common To Rock Climbers
Rock climbers face many types of injuries to their bodies, be it from falling rock, or one’s worst fear, a trauma from a fall event. What many don’t realize is the risk to the entire body, especially the hands. Climbers can experience overuse when training, particularly when training indoors, repeating the same routes multiple times. This can lead to shoulder and elbow tendonitis. However, most climbers don’t fear these types of injuries, but rather finger injuries. Even though rock climbing is a full body exercise, fingers make the most contact with rocks or grips, thus taking more stress than other body parts.
Wrist Exercises To Help You Loosen Up For The Golfing Season
The sun and the temperature have steadily been increasing which means one thing, golf season is back! Now that you are able to get back out onto the course, let’s talk about a few stretches and exercises that you can add to your routine to make sure that you are able to make the most of your season while improving your game.
