In my last blog post, I talked about the most common soccer injuries, and how I use a suspension system from Norway to help my clients overcome injury and get back to an active life by rebalancing their muscles. Today I'm going to talk specifically about how I apply suspension exercises to strengthen the hamstring, since this group of muscles (Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus, and Biceps Femoris) is so difficult and painful to heal from when injured.

As a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) and Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), I see firsthand the impact injuries can have on athletes. Soccer is a physically demanding sport and injuries are not unheard of. However, I also know there are many things that a physical therapist can do to help you recover safely and prevent these injuries from happening again.

When I first became a physical therapist, it seemed like all the rage in fitness and rehab was about strengthening one specific muscle or muscle group. For example, I would hear about the VMO (Vastus Medialis Oblique) muscle and how “vital” it was for proper tracking of the knee cap when squatting. Or how the glutes were “key” to an effective golf swing. Or how the rhomboids had to be “strong” for good posture. In some cases these theories proved to have some level of validity. But in many cases they became outdated theories and a sign of limited evidence.

Shoulder injuries can be debilitating, hindering our daily activities and compromising our overall well-being. Mindful exercise methods like Pilates and the Gyrotonic Expansion System® are a helpful addition to physical therapy. Both approaches focus on strength, balance, breathing, stability and mobility. But they differ in their principles and techniques.

I come from a baseball family and more specifically a family of baseball pitchers. My grandfather pitched for the Braves and the Yankees in the 1930’s and 40’s. He stood a lengthy 6 foot 7 inches tall soaking wet. My dad was a 6 foot 5 inch lefty pitcher from Portland, Maine who played one season with the Kansas City A’s. I was a pitcher in high school but an injury to my elbow ended my career before it even began.

As a physical therapist and certified TPI practitioner, I have treated countless golfers with low back pain. When I look at their ability to perform a golf swing, there are many mobility and stability demands on the body necessary to reduce swing faults or compensatory strategies. Given the unilateral (one sided) repetitive nature of a golf swing, it's not surprising that these compensations can eventually result in low back pain.

In my last blog post I talked about how to simplify explaining anatomy to clients by way of the myofascial system. Before we dig into each myofascial chain, I would like to discuss another simple concept that has also dramatically improved the way I treat and educate my clients.‍ The concept of inner muscles versus outer muscles was introduced by Anders Bergmark in 1989.

In my previous post, I gave 5 tips for helping teenage athletes avoid anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Now I’m going to discuss specifically what a physical therapist can do for you. As a physical therapist and former competitive soccer player, one of my passions is working with teenage athletes to develop training plans to prevent the type of injury that affected my soccer career.

I am passionate about helping people prevent and rehabilitate knee injuries. When I was 15 years old, I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing competitive soccer. This injury and the subsequent months of physical therapy inspired me to become a physical therapist.

Over the last several years concussions have been gaining more attention in the sports realm and media. While there is a lot of new information out in the ether about how to treat a concussion; unfortunately, there is also a lot of out-dated advice available. If you think you’ve sustained a concussion from a sports injury, car accident, fall around your home or some other way, you will benefit from physical therapy to address your injury and any concussion symptoms you may be experiencing.