By: Kristin Carpenter, PT, DPT, OCS, FAAOMPT Low back pain affects 60–80% of people at some point in their lives (Roth, 2022). For athletes and active adults in Boulder County, back pain can be especially frustrating because it interferes with training, outdoor activities, and performance. Whether you enjoy barbell training, cycling, running, skiing, or CrossFit,...
Low back pain is a frequent challenge for athletes who place high demands on their bodies, especially gymnasts, CrossFit athletes, golfers, climbers, and those involved in team sports. These athletes often combine heavy loading, explosive power, rotation, and end-range positions — all of which require the spine to transfer force efficiently. When mobility, strength, or...
By: Emily Fuller, DPT If your shoulder has started complaining during muscle-up transitions or deep hangs, you’re not alone, and there’s still time to do something about it before the 2026 Koda Iron Games. Event 1, “Running From the Law,” pairs three 800-meter runs with gymnastics that gets harder as it goes: synchro pull-ups building...
A lot of clients I work with in our Boulder Physical Therapy practice report wrist pain in their handstands. While there can be multiple contributors to wrist pain, including a loss of upper body mobility or strength, one of the most common issues I see is lack of overhead shoulder mobility. When the arm is...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (PFPS), often referred to as “runner’s knee,” can be a frustrating and limiting condition for CrossFit enthusiasts. This common knee pain, caused by issues with the alignment or function of the kneecap, can flare up during squats, box jumps, running or even step ups. But the...
Seeing GHD sit-ups on the whiteboard at the start of your CrossFit workout can be a make-or-break moment. It’s a movement that either leaves you excited or apprehensive. This exercise hammers the anterior muscle chain, demanding precise timing and execution. Unfortunately, without the right preparation, performing uncontrolled, extreme extensions of the lumbar spine during GHD...
By: Megan Davis, PT, DPT, OCS Low back pain is the leading cause of pain and disability as research suggests 50-80% of people will experience at least one episode of low back pain in their lifetime (1). This means it is very common to have low back pain as well as recurrence of low back...
Are you a runner with knee pain? Or a CrossFit athlete who has knee pain with squatting or box jumps? Does your MRI show decreased thickness of the cartilage in your patella (kneecap) or femur/tibia?. These are very common conditions that we treat at MEND. There is extensive evidence in the research that shows that...
This guest blog was written by our good friends at CrossFit Sanitas. When we think about what it takes to stay healthy and strong, many of us visualize all the work we do in class to lift, pull, push, roll, or otherwise move our own weight and/or the weight in front of us. It’s easy...
Has anyone ever told you only squat to parallel and no lower because it is dangerous or bad for your knees? Did anyone making this claim provide any evidence to support it? This is highly unlikely considering the research has proven that deep squats below parallel are not only safe but provide protective benefit against...
