Early sport specialization where our youth athletes focus on a single sport year round has become more popular over the last decade. The 10,000 hours reference (original study in violinists not athletes) reinforced this concept despite the adverse events of early sports specialization include burnout, depression/anxiety, lower athletic performance, and sports injuries. Research into high...
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...
Concussions are a common injury with an estimated incidence of 600 cases each year for each 100,000 people. Previous researchers have found movement impairments in athletes following concussion which may contribute to the increased injury risk seen in concussed athletes vs. their healthy peers. Researchers have found athletes who sustain a concussion are at a...
Whether you want to increase your back squat, shave some time off your Fran score, or take fewer breaks on your uphill skin, you will need to focus on glute strength. The gluteus maximus is the largest and most powerful muscle in the human body, and is responsible for hip extension, lateral rotation, and abduction...
Hip strength is a key component for sports performance and rehabilitation following injury. These muscles are key targets of exercise programs in our Boulder Physical Therapy office for conditions including low back pain, hip pain, knee pain, and ankle pain. Previous research has shown the hip thrust is superior to the bridge for gluteus maximus...
Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) or hip impingement is a common condition among athletes. The condition results in abnormal bony contact between the pelvis and thigh bones at the hip joint. Patients demonstrates increased bone growth on the pelvis socket and/or ball of the thigh. Authors continue to question if these changes are pathological and need to...
Resistance training is an essential part of any training program due to its’ ability to reduce injury risk and improve sports performance. Adolescents can safely resistance train if they are properly supervised and can perform movements correctly. One of the foundations of any strengthening program is the squat. The squat is an incredible training tool...
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...
The evidence-based resource aims to empower Boulder and Lafayette residents who suffer from lower back pain. BOULDER, Colorado – Mend Colorado, a leading physical therapy practice with offices in Boulder and Lafayette, is proud to announce the launch of its newest webpage, which is a comprehensive guide on physical therapy treatment for lower back pain....
By Dr. Erica Tran, PT, DPT, OCS Grip strength seems like a small thing: how hard can you squeeze a dynamometer? It’s actually one of the most predictive measures of overall health we have as physical therapists. It’s tied to bone density, cardiovascular health, fall risk, and mortality risk, and most people have no idea...
