Strength training is an essential part of an individual’s weekly exercise program. It’s numerous benefits include reduced injury risk, increased sports performance, and improved function in life activities. Time is finite resource and a commonly cited barrier to exercise. In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice we strive to prescribe the most effective and efficient exercises...
It is estimated up to 10 million Americans participate in either indoor or outdoor climbing activities. Research documents 4 to 5 injuries per 1000 hours of climbing participation and each climber can expect 1 to 2 injuries over a climbing career (Backe et al. 2009). These injuries can be either traumatic or overuse in nature. The...
Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (pain on the front the knee and around knee cap) is the most common source of knee pain among active individuals. Patients often complain of pain with running, stair climbing, squatting, and during prolonged sitting. The natural history of this diagnosis is not as short as once thought with 90% of patients...
Running is one of the most popular forms of exercise due to its’ accessibility, low equipment cost, and health benefits. As running popularity continues to grow, unfortunately so do the number of runners who miss a training session or competition due to injury. These runners are not alone; as research has reported up to 90%...
photo credit: thealpinetrainingcenter.com 1. What is your fitness background and how did it lead you to opening the Alpine Training Center? I have a Master’s in Exercise Science and I am a Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist certified through NSCA. I think my fitness path really began as a high school athlete. I was...
Sprinting either in track or sport requires rapid, high force muscle contractions across the lower body. If the forces utilized during the acceleration phase of running are greater than the capacity of the muscle to absorb these forces injuries can occur. Hamstring strains in this population of runners are common due to the rapid shortening...
In our Boulder Physical Therapy practice, individualized, progressive exercise is an essential part of each patient’s recovery. Teaching correct exercise technique often requires both tactile and verbal cues. Specifically in the lower body we cue to both improve the relative motions at the spine and hips to optimize movements for pain reduction, strength development, and...
The shoulder blade or scapula plays an important role in optimal function of the shoulder joint. The scapula provides the foundation for both stability and force generation through the arm during athletics and daily activities. Weakness in the scapular muscles can lead to abnormal posture and movement or dyskinesis in the scapula during arm movements. ...
Cutting movements utilized in soccer, football, basketball, and lacrosse are one of the most common mechanisms of non contact knee injuries. Athletes who cut with poor mechanics demonstrate larger hip and knee angles placing the ligaments of the knee, such as the ACL, at greater risk of injury. These movements at the knee are driven...
The back squat is one of the most efficient and effective exercises for lower quarter strength development. This exercise can be performed with dumbbells, barbell, or a slosh tube. Slosh tubes are a recent addition to resistance training equipment made up of a PVC pipe filled up to 1/4 to 1/2 with either water or...
