Sleep continues to gain momentum as an important component of health and sports performance. In our Boulder Physical Therapy and Lafayette Physical Therapy clinics patients often ask us how to improve their sleep quality or quantity. Previous research has shown athletes who sleep the recommended hours per night have better recovery and decreased risk of...
In our Boulder and Lafayette Physical Therapy practices, in addition to the injured tissue(s), we examine the total health behaviors of the patient. Healthy behaviors such as a healthy diet, habitual exercise, and adequate sleep are important allies in the fight against pain, inflammation, and injury. Sleep researchers continue to study the effects of both...
Self soft tissue mobilization using a foam roller or other device (stick, ball, etc) is a popular adjunct to training that we see our strength and endurance athletes utilize in our Boulder physical therapy practice. We often receive questions about how and when foam rolling should be utilized in training and whether it helps with...
Many Boulder team and endurance athletes had their respective seasons shortened or cancelled secondary to COVID-19 sending them into an unexpected training season or offseason. Although frustrating, this downtime can be well utilized to prepare for the next training cycle. During a normal year, few athletes reach the end of their seasons without a missed...
Injuries mainly fall into the “when” not “if” category for a majority of Americans. These injuries could be the result of traumas (fracture, sprains, or strains), over use injury, and at times without a known cause. Thankfully our bodies are remarkable in their ability to heal from these injuries as we move through the 3...
Recovery tools, including supplements, drinks, foods, and clothing, are a billion dollar industry but one the most effective and cheapest options remains adequate sleep. High level athletes make sleep a priority scheduling time for a full night’s sleep and daily naps to help recover from their daily training sessions. The CDC recommends American adults should...
Running remains one of the most popular forms of exercise due to its’ convenience, low cost of entry, and aerobic efficiency. It is difficult to replace the same health benefits you receive from a 30 minute run with another mode of activity. Unfortunately the rates of running related injuries have not been reduced with improvements...
Athletes have always sought remedies and treatments which accelerate their recovery from workouts. Optimal recovery allows for higher training intensities and in turn better performances during their sport of choice. Delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) is one of the most common reasons athletes struggle to reach a desired training intensity during a subsequent workout. Successful...
Acute muscle strains and sprains remain one of the most common injuries we encounter at our Boulder Physical Therapy clinic. In a previous blog post we summarized the findings of new research studies showing how early Physical Therapy accelerates a patient’s recovery after these injuries. In addition, to exercise and sleep, nutrition also plays an...
When I first started seeing athletes in the early 2000s we often placed athletes in cold baths in an attempt to both reduce post workout soreness and facilitate recovery. Since this time we have moved toward more active recovery strategies including aerobic exercise, corrective exercise, static stretching, and foam rolling. A new study examined the...