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: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Ever feel your chest collapsing forward in the bottom of a front squat? I put together a quick self-exam so you can test your ankles, hips, thoracic spine, wrists, elbows, and shoulders to find what’s holding you back. Even better, I’ve added simple treatment ideas for each area so...
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...
By: Ian Nay, PT, DPT, OCS Increasing the ability to move through a full range of motion in the thoracic spine is extremely important for many types of people that we treat at MEND including overhead athletes, CrossFitters/weightlifters, climbers, cyclists, golfers, and those who spend a good amount of time on the computer. The thoracic...
Whether you’re cycling through deadlifts in a WOD or chasing PRs with heavy back squats, one of the most overlooked — yet critical — components for female athletes is the pelvic floor. More than just “private” muscles, the pelvic floor plays a key role in core stability, breathing mechanics, and load transfer. Learning to connect...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS The Ironic Reality of Injury As a physical therapist, I help people move better, recover from injuries, and return to doing what they love. But despite my knowledge and training, I’ve dealt with a long history of injuries myself. It’s a humbling reminder: no one is immune to the...
By: Ian Nay, PT, DPT, OCS I have been a recreational and competitive CrossFit athlete for 5 years now. One of the primary unfounded claims about CrossFit that I hear way too commonly is that it is an injury waiting to happen. I have heard many physical therapists and orthopedic surgeons say things such as...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS In the world of fitness and health, one often-overlooked measure of vitality is grip strength. While it might not seem like the most glamorous indicator, research shows that grip strength is a powerful predictor of overall health, particularly cardiovascular health and frailty. This is especially significant for women, including...
By Dr. Ian Nay, PT DPT OCS Getting a barbell into a proper overhead position for movements such as the snatch and overhead squat can be difficult for many athletes; I know I personally struggled with this early on in my CrossFit career. The techniques described here are some of the best and proven methods...
By: Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Hamstring strains are among the most common injuries for runners and CrossFit athletes, impacting performance and sidelining athletes for weeks. Returning to sprinting, shuttle runs or box jumps after such an injury requires a structured, progressive approach to minimize the risk of re-injury. Based on the work of Hickey...
