Exercise has certainly seen many trends, fads, and movements over the last several decades in the United States. The 1920s saw the rise of physical education in schools. Later, in the 1940s and 50s, aerobics, bodybuilding, and home fitness were all the rage for fitness enthusiasts. The 60s and 70s were witnesses to jogging and Jane Fonda. Step aerobics, HIIT, Crossfit, Yoga, and Pilates have all come on the scene in more recent years. However, there’s one kind of training that has emerged as a wholly effective and specifically targeted style of workout: sports performance training. Sports perf ..read more

Returning a tennis serve, rebounding a 3-pointer, stealing second base, and running a stick route all require knowing different angles when it comes to agility. Speed and agility training can help athletes to anticipate, accelerate, and react when it comes to making big plays.  Cross-training can help. While speed and agility coaches won’t make you commit to more than one sport, sessions that use multi-sport skills can be so helpful in improving an athlete’s coordination and footwork.  Build more than just muscles. Working on speed and agility and enhancing those specific skills can ..read more

It’s not just jumping jacks. Plyometric training uses explosive movements to help improve athletic performance. Plyometric is great for athletes of all levels. From Olympians and professional athletes to dancers, general fitness enthusiasts, and even military members and youth sports athletes, plyometric training can be a great way to enhance athletic skills. Plyometrics can be tailored to the specific needs of particular sports or individual athletic goals. From jump serves to jump shots, efficient fieldling to epic ball carrying, so many sports use the explosive movements that plyometrics he ..read more

From Egypt to China, and from Japan to Greece, many cultures have had a hand in influencing the art of massage. Modern massage techniques have been influenced by principles of holistic health, medical treatment, and reflexology. The Greeks were well known for their focus on physical strength and athleticism, and even Hippocrates himself was known to prescribe massage treatments to help athletes heal. Today, athletic massage is taking a cue from all of these cultures and adding plenty of new data to inform the practice. When paired with a physical therapy routine, massage can work wonders. Read ..read more

Working out consistently takes discipline, persistence, and commitment. Staying physically active can be tough, but research has shown that working out with a buddy—or training in a group—can have great benefits. According to the CDC, working out with a partner can help you to feel more motivated, to be more adventurous, and to stay more consistent. It is key to find the right workout setting in order to meet your fitness goals, fit your schedule, and inspire your commitment. When it comes to building strength and maintaining muscle, group strength training sessions can be a great option. Read ..read more

The very best professional athletes tend to follow disciplined training routines that keep them in top condition for performance during competition. As a four-time NBA champion, a two-time NBA MVP and masterful shooter, Steph Curry is an athlete who knows a lot about performance training. As he told NBA.com: “It does matter what drills you do. But what matters more is how hard you can go. How long can you keep that game-like intensity up so you show up when it happens?” You don’t have to be a basketball player to live by these principles of excellence and discipline. Athlete performance traini ..read more

An injury can be a challenging thing for any athlete to deal with. Whether it’s a torn ACL or MCL, a torn rotator cuff, or another hurt muscle, bone, or ligament—injuries in sports deserve a great rehabilitation plan. Your best way to get on the road to healing is to work with a trained physical therapist. If you’ve suffered an injury, one of the steps to take to begin the recovery process is to work with a physical therapist. But what if you could address and avoid potential injuries before they happen? Physical therapists can perform injury assessments, which will help to both evaluate issue ..read more

Get a massage. Stretch. Sit in the sauna. Dunk in a cold tub. Hydrate. Repeat the cycle of rest, ice, compression, and elevation. There are so many different treatments that athletes can incorporate into their routines for healing. Dry needling and cupping are also among the methods that are used to help athletes with their recovery process. Cupping is a therapy that uses the placement of cups with suction along the skin’s surface; this technique has been used for thousands of years in many cultures, and it has its place in modern sports medicine. Many professional athletes opt to do cupping s ..read more

Tears, breaks, and strains can happen to the very best athletes, even if they’re conditioned and strong. Injuries, it seems, are a common part of athletics, especially when athletes are pushing themselves to their limits. Labrums can tear from overuse and repeated overhead motions. Sometimes MCLs or ACLs can tear from overuse or from impact during competition. Strains, pulls, fractures, and tendonitis are common athletic injuries too. Thankfully, there is a whole world of healing available to athletes in the form of knowledgeable physical therapists. Read on to learn more about how to know if ..read more

When you’re about to attempt anything for the first time, it’s a good idea to manage your expectations. In the world of physical therapy, it’s no different. When you’re embarking on a journey of healing through sports physical therapy, it’s wise to know just what to expect—from start to finish. Working through a treatment plan can be such a pivotal time full of growth, strength, and development. Read on to learn more about sports physical therapists and what to expect from your first appointment.  Getting to know you. It’s so important for your physical therapy team to get a sense of wher ..read more