THE STRENGTH ATHLETE

With the evolution of the fitness industry, new approaches to exercise are emerging in big box gyms, boutique fitness studios, and CrossFit boxes. The increased popularity of functional strength training, power lifting, and full-body (multi-joint) movements provides a new environmental stimulus that forges higher degrees of challenge and athleticism. With greater resistance, complexity and intensity of each exercise comes a heightened demand placed on the body's systems.

When you train at relatively high intensities as a strength or functional fitness athlete (ex. CrossFit), you are placing more demands on your body in order to attain a specific level of fitness or performance. As with any physical activity that challenges you to push your boundaries, you are subject to an elevated risk of injury.

What happens when your body gets in the way of lifting and enjoying life?

• Neck or back pain
• Shoulder pain in any overhead position
• Hip/knee/ankle pain with running, jumping, or squatting

• Pinching in the anterior (front) hip when squatting
• Headaches or TMJ dysfunction
• Never ending need to perform mobility drills

While these symptoms are common among Crossfitters, they are not normal and should be addressed by a qualified healthcare provider. If this sounds like you, click here to get help now.

Injuries can occur due to factors such as poor training strategies, inadequate mobility and stability, or even bad luck training accidents. What is commonly overlooked is the true root cause of your pain or injury, which is often a lack of neuromuscular control.

The concept of neuromuscular control refers to your brain's capacity to turn on the right muscles, at the right time, and with the right amount of muscle strength in order to produce a desired movement. The more complex or intense the movement performed, the higher degree of neuromuscular control required.

Many physical events (injury, surgery, etc.) can disrupt your brain's capacity to execute this program, a process known as neuromuscular de-activation. As a result, there is a tendency for your body to compensate, with less efficient movement patterns, in order to maintain the same current level of physical activity. Eventually, neuromuscular de-activation can lead to a vicious cycle of pain, muscle imbalance, and abnormal joint stress. You will often see a decline in fitness and performance until adequate neuromuscular control is restored.


GET STARTED NOW

How can Activcore help?

The physical demands of athletes are uniquely different from the general population who do not engage in similar activity. Likewise, physical therapy for this special population should not be given a conventional approach. Working with athletes is typically not a big part of a physical therapist’s education. It is a specialty area requiring much further study, training, and practice following graduation.

At Activcore, you will be matched with a physical therapist who specializes in treating strength and fitness athletes. Unlike the "typical" PT who probably doesn't even lift or workout, you will have a specialist who knows exactly what you are going through.

Activcore physical therapists assess how you move as it relates to your sport. They apply a holistic approach to identify not only the site of injury, but the true source of any pain, weakness and dysfunction. Addressing the underlying cause is absolutely essential for healing an injury, preventing recurrence, and keeping you healthy and at a peak level of performance. The progression of your physical therapy treatments should be a reflection of the type of activity you are trying to get back to doing.

You will feel the Activcore difference from your first visit. This is a highly personalized experience delivered by a passionate movement expert fully dedicated to getting you back to the sport or training activity that you love. Once your pain has been addressed, you will have the opportunity to continue honing your movement through ongoing performance training at Activcore.

Learn about our 3-step recovery process for optimal movement health.

Common
Conditions
We Treat

• Achilles strain / tear / tendinopathy
• AC joint repair surgery
• AC joint sprain / dislocation
• ACL tear / repair / reconstruction
• Ankle sprain
• Arthritis
• Arthroscopic surgeries
• Bicep tendon surgery
• Biceps tendinitis / tendonitis
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Cervical radiculopathy
• Cervical spine dysfunction
• Cubital tunnel syndrome
• Decreased rotational mobility
• Deltoid bursitis
• Elbow instability
• Epicondylitis
• Femoral acetabular impingement (FAI)
• Fractures
• Frozen shoulder
• Golfers elbow
• Groin strain
• Hamstring strain/tear
• Hip labral tear
• Hip trochanteric bursitis
• Impingement syndrome
• IT band syndrome
• Joint sprains
• Labral tears
• Labral surgery
• Lateral epicondylalgia / epicondylitis
• Ligament injuries
• Lumbar spine dysfunction
• Medial epicondylalgia / epicondylitis
• Meniscectomy

• Meniscus tear / repair
• Muscle strains
• Neck pain
• Nerve injuries
• Patellar tendinopathy
• Patellofemoral syndrome
• Plantarfasciitis
• Postural dysfunction
• Rotator cuff dysfunction
• Rotator cuff repair surgery
• Rotator cuff tears
• Rotator cuff tendinitis / tendonitis
• Sacroiliac (SI) joint dysfunction
• Scapular dyskinesis
• Sciatica
• Shoulder dislocation
• Shoulder (glenohumeral) instability
• Shoulder impingement
• Shoulder replacement surgery
• Shoulder subluxation
• SLAP repair surgery
• SLAP tears
• Spondylolisthesis
• Sports injuries
• Subacromial bursitis
• Tendinitis / Tendonitis
• Tendon injuries
• Tennis elbow
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Thoracic spine dysfunction
• Tommy John surgery
• Ulnar collateral ligament injury
• Ulnar tunnel syndrome
• Weakness
• Whiplash

"I went to Activcore for seven weeks after being diagnosed with trochanteric bursitis (swelling of the hip bursa). As an athlete and active person, I was grouchy about my pain and disability. With attentiveness, skill, and encouragement, my PT got me back to exercising without pain. As needed (especially at the start of the process), he reminded me that I would eventually feel better. With the Redcord suspension system, he slowly rehabilitated my hip and eventually, when I was strong enough, showed me exercises to keep my hips strong and uninjured. He was kind and friendly without going overboard, and, best of all, focused on my condition each time I came to an appointment. I am very grateful to Activcore that I'm back to my exercise routine!"

—‍ customer review

ATHLETE BLOGS

GET STARTED WITH A
FREE PHONE CONSULT