Feb 10
Wednesday February 10th, 2010 – Permalink
Real PT clinics that cater to cyclists provide dynamic bike fit by pairing a Computrainer, Dartfish motion analysis software, and adjustable components with a professional dynamic assessment from a certified, knowledgeable orthopedic physical therapist.
This comprehensive dynamic fit typically takes about three hours and includes a physical therapy assessment, a static bike assessment, and a dynamic assessment.
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Feb 10
Wednesday February 10th, 2010 – Permalink
Traditionally, the purpose of physical therapy is to return a patient to functional levels of activity. In the eyes of insurance companies, this includes average activities of daily living without pain. Climbing stairs, walking around at your job, tending to your flower or vegetable garden are all activities that fall within the average activities of daily living category.
Traditionally, this does not include brutalizing your body during marathons or even ultra marathon. Participating in an Ironman competition and swimming Alcatraz just for fun are also not considered average activities of daily living. However, endurance athletes are not “average” folks. So what do you do after your insurance company deems you rehabilitated? Traditional PT clinics would discharge you with a smile and a pat on the back for a job well done.
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Feb 10
Wednesday February 10th, 2010 – Permalink
Imagine watching the Super Bowl, the Olympics, the Grand Prix, or any other high action sport without the benefit of multi-angle, slow motion, video replays. Seeing it in real time just does not have the same impact. You miss things. You get distracted. You find yourself looking at the wrong location as the action is happening elsewhere. The same issues hold true in a clinical setting.
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Feb 10
Wednesday February 10th, 2010 – Permalink
“Custom” means different things to different people. When building a new house, the homeowners may have options and the opportunity to “customize” the house. This typically means choosing between five or six options for things like type of flooring, style and wood type of cabinets, and grade of kitchen appliances. A truly custom home entails sitting down with an architect and builder to design the house from the foundation up.
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Feb 9
Tuesday February 9th, 2010 – Permalink
Searching for a health care professional who can relate to your athletic lifestyle is difficult at best. A quick search of “sports medicine and physical therapy” yields many hits that are essentially strike outs. Looking for “sports medicine” within a company’s name does not ensure that the medical treatments are different or better than a general orthopedic practice.
All too often, endurance athletes are simply advised to “take it easy.” Some medical professionals recommend cortisone injections to help “deal with the pain.” Some athletes are encouraged to just “hang up the bike cleats, running shoes, and Speedo.” While a good case can be made for some to give up the Speedo, injury shouldn’t be one of them.
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Feb 8
Monday February 8th, 2010 – Permalink
It is challenging to find the right physical therapy clinic to treat endurance athletes. At many STINO clinics (“Sports Therapy in Name Only”), it is not uncommon for athletes to be evaluated only to be told they should avoid running or cycling.
For those who share a love for endurance activities and have trained so hard for races, this is simply not acceptable. In many cases, with a thorough biomechanical analysis and systematic therapy, this does not always need to be the status quo.
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Nov 18
Wednesday November 18th, 2009 – Permalink
A common question that I get in the medical field is “Will I get arthritis if I run?” Common sense would say yes but the research says otherwise. If addition, I rarely see individuals that used to be triathletes and runners undergo a total knee replacement. These clients are typically overweight/obese and inactive.
Nov 15
Sunday November 15th, 2009 – Permalink
Exercise Central has launched. This PT-created database is an ever-growing collection of stretching and strengthening exercises designed for the unique needs of endurance athletes. In time it will morph into specific programs that target specific goals and injury types. It’s like having your own personal physical therapist on retainer. Answers are only a click or e-mail away. New videos are being added regularly. Check back often or contact us if you don’t see what you’re looking for. Click here to check it out.
Nov 9
Monday November 9th, 2009 – Permalink
In the running world, one big debate remains…should I land on my forefoot, midfoot, or heel? Which is faster? Which is safer? This is an important consideration because running injuries are very common. Some research suggests up to a 70% chance that a runner will experience an injury in a year. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to become a statistic.
Show Me the Research
In the Journal of Strength and Conditioning, a study assessed the running details of the elite runners in the 2004 Sapporro International Half Marathon in Japan. A high speed camera was used to assess the landing pattern of 248 men and 35 female elite athletes.
Sep 20
Sunday September 20th, 2009 – Permalink
Dr. Diane Benizzi DiMarco (reprint)
The physical stress of parenting or caring for infants and young children can impart tremendous biomechanical strain. Parenting and care taking can be done by both genders but remains a female dominant task. Daily repetitive stress from tasks that require lifting the child or infant can compromises spinal integrity. Repetitive injury to the disc, zygapophyseal joints, muscles and ligaments of the spine can result from chronic lifting, twisting and torquing, and poor posture.