by Sam Kushner, PT, DPT >> Request an Appointment Are you at risk for injury? Take yourself through these 3 tests to shed light on your overall mobility. If any of these tests are positive and you're experiencing pain, decreased mobility or are just looking for ways to enhance your performance, physical therapy can help! Mobility “Big 3” Self-Assessment: 1. Ankle Dorsiflexion (Wall) Test testing ankle forward, knee in line with toe, shift as far forward as you can while keeping testing heel on ground should be able to touch knee to wall with big toe 5 inches (or 12.5 cm) away from wall ..read more

by Alyssa Wagner, PT, DPT, SFMA-C, Cert. FDN >> Request an Appointment 1. Restore Proper Breathing Pattern and Posture Our postural support comes from the abdominal canister of the diaphragm, pelvic floor, transverse abdominis, internal obliques and multifidus muscles. This canister helps us regulate pressure and support our moving extremities. Throughout pregnancy, pressure in the abdomen increases, the rib cage widens, the diaphragm flattens out and the shoulders and pelvis are drawn forward due to the growing weight of the belly. Restoring proper breathing mechanics will better equip ..read more

by Karlee Picard, PT, DPT >> Request an Appointment Hip mobility is important for people of all ages. It is controlled via the hip joint and corresponding musculature. The hip joint - a ball and socket joint - connects the femur (thigh bone) to the pelvis and is capable of performing six specific motions: flexion, extension, abduction, adduction, external rotation and internal rotation. Hip pain may be caused by reduced mobility throughout one or multiple motions and can be translated up or down the kinetic chain, consequently causing back or lower extremity pain. Therefore, it's vital t ..read more

by Natalie Devine, PT, DPT, CSCS >> Request an Appointment Many of us are familiar with the sports of lacrosse, baseball and golf this time of year as professional, high school and club teams are in full swing - quite literally! These sports all require a significant amount of rotation and rotational force to be produced from the athlete. It's essential to have the appropriate mobility, control and power to allow for optimal transmission of forces from the lower body/extremities to upper body. These fundamentals are essential to not only prevent injury, but to optimize performance. Altho ..read more

by Devin Blessing, DPT, OCS >> Request an Appointment As physical therapists working with runners, we get asked all the time about running shoes. Our Running Shoe Review series is meant to help answer some of those questions. The next up in this series is the Saucony Endorphin Shift. Enjoy! And if you missed our blogs on choosing the right shoe for you, check them out here: Part 1 and Part 2. The Saucony Endorphin Shift is a highly cushioned neutral shoe that also has some firmness to it for those who do not like the squishy feel of other highly cushioned running shoes. It has a rocker b ..read more

by Nikki Patel, PT, DPT, MS, LAT, ATC >> Request an Appointment Target Audience: athletes, coaches, parents ACL rehabs are typically a long and grueling process that require a lot of hard work, dedication and effort to make sure your athletes are rehabbed to their optimal performance. Coaches/parents are one of the first gatekeepers to seeing these athletes once they return to sport and are discharged from physical therapy. This is especially true if the team these athletes play for doesn't have an Athletic Trainer on staff. The purpose of this article is to educate athletes, coaches and ..read more

by Devin Blessing, DPT, OCS >> Request an Appointment As physical therapists working with runners, we get asked all the time about running shoes. This is the first of a new Running Shoe Review series we are beginning to help answer some of those questions. Enjoy! And if you missed our blogs on choosing the right shoe for you, check them out here: Part 1 and Part 2. The Saucony Endorphin Pro is a neutral carbon fiber racing shoe that provides good value at a lower price point than some others in this category. It provides a high stack height while maintaining a light weight and 8mm drop ..read more

by Alyssa Wagner, PT, DPT, SFMA-C, Cert. FDN >> Request an Appointment As a Physical Therapist, there is no better feeling than getting a patient back to running after they have been rehabbing a running-related injury. But sometimes after initiating a return-to-run program, some soreness or pain can return and begin to interfere with running. If you're returning to running after an injury, be aware and avoid the following 5 common errors! 1. No Proper Warm-Up A warm-up is integral to enhance your body’s performance for running, especially when recovering from an injury. A good warm-up sh ..read more

>> Request an Appointment To avoid injury during sports, it's important to not only be able to generate force, but also to absorb force. While jumping or cutting, high levels of stress are placed upon the knee and ankle joints. By applying plyometric catches into training, we can establish high levels of control when attempting jumps or cuts which will allow performance at a high level with less risk to the athlete. As athletes become more and more powerful, it's vital to practice landing appropriately and building the supporting muscles that allow for this. Try adding this progression i ..read more

>> Request an Appointment Rowing is an effective workout that not only provides cardiovascular benefits, but is also a great tool for strength training of the posterior chain. Due to the repetitive nature of this exercise, it's important to avoid improper technique that can lead to injury over time. To master the row technique, we must first understand the different phases of the exercise. Starting Position Start with your feet secured into the platforms. The strap should pass just below the base of your toes. Brace the core, flatten the back and look forward while the arms are extended ..read more