6 Warm-Up Stretches for Overhead Athletes Before a Game
“Go get your arm warmed up!” This is a phrase I hear all the time for overhead athlete sports, whether it’s the relief pitcher in baseball, the center fielder in softball, the ACE server in volleyball, or the star QB. This is solid advice; it’s never a good idea to go into aggressive overhead activity without a proper warm-up, but what makes a good warm-up? That can be a very loaded question! Fortunately, by understanding the anatomy of the shoulder and the requirement by its muscles to work optimally overhead, it can be simple to get an athlete ready for action and, more importantly, lower their risk for injury.
No Big Toe, No Big Deal?
Walking, running, jogging, dancing, are all functional activities we do daily without thinking about it. They simply come second nature to us and are essential to a healthy life. What if your big toe, also known as the hallux, was amputated? Would you still be able to do what you love at all or even with ease?
Returning To Sports After Quarantine
As we continue to navigate the current pandemic, athletes, coaches and teams alike have been closely monitoring whether or not they’ll be able to return to their sport. Many athletes may find themselves excited to return to sports but are they physically ready to jump right back in? These are some considerations for athletes, parents and coaches should they be allowed to return to sports after this break.
(more…)
How to Reduce Your Risk of ACL Injuries
Co-author: Dylan Webster, SPT, XPS
If you have been following sports over the past few years you may have noticed there has been an increase in anterior cruciate ligament or ACL tears in both men’s and women’s sports. You may be asking yourself if there is anything they can be doing to reduce their risk of a knee injury especially if you have young athletes in your home participating in sports such as football, soccer and basketball. Is it even possible to reduce your risk of a knee injury in general? Luckily the answer is…absolutely!
Concussions in High School Sports – Can Football be Saved?
The Chicago Tribune recently reported that high school football participation in Illinois has reached a 26-year low. For the first time since 1993, fewer than 40,000 high school students in Illinois will be participating in football.1 Furthermore, the National Federation of State High School Associations states the number of high school students playing football has dropped 8 percent since 2007, more than any other sport. However, this is small compared to Illinois’ 25 percent drop in the same timeframe.1
Best of Luck: Recovering from Injury and Retiring at 29
The sports world was caught off guard last Saturday night when news broke that Indianapolis’ quarterback Andrew Luck was retiring effective immediately from professional football. What made the situation even more interesting was Indianapolis was in the middle of their third preseason game against Chicago when reports of Luck’s retirement surfaced. The 29-year-old signal caller addressed the media after the game citing his health and quality of life as the reasons for his decision to call it quits on his football career.
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…)
Athletico Fantasy Football Injury Report: Week 13
The playoffs are finally here for many Fantasy Football leagues, which means that starting lineups must be flawless this week in order to advance to the next round.
To help Fantasy Football owners decide who to sit and who to start, Athletico’s Athletic Trainer Jacob Dailey is offering insights into the player injuries that are impacting teams around the NFL. These insights are put together to form the Athletico Fantasy Football Injury Report.
