THE ROTATIONAL ATHLETE

Golf, tennis, baseball, softball and other rotational sports can be very physically demanding activities that require lots of joint mobility and stability. The rotational forces on the extremities and axial skeleton make the body vulnerable to injuries at various points of stress in the swing of a golf club, tennis racket, or softball bat. Often a decrease in mobility in one area leads to an increased load on the neighboring joint. With multiple repetitions during a game, these rotational forces compound themselves and potentially cause overuse or strain/sprain type injuries.

What happens when your body gets in the way of playing sports?

• Neck and low back pain
• Shoulder and elbow pain
• Thoracic stiffness
• Hip tightness
• Core weakness

• Loss of swing velocity
• Inconsistent ball contact
• Fatigue
• Decreased mobility into backswing and follow through

While these conditions are common among rotational athletes, they are not normal and should be addressed by a qualified practitioner. If this sounds like you, click here to get help now.

Most athletes will develop pain or sustain an injury in their neck and/or back at some point, but that doesn’t mean the problem starts or ends there. For many athletes, the underlying cause of musculoskeletal pain comes from a lack of coordination and control of the muscles that stabilize movements in your shoulders, pelvis, hips, spine and extremities.

The ability to properly sequence how all of these pieces work together as a unit is called neuromuscular control. Many physical events (sports injuries, orthopedic surgeries, changes in the body as a young athlete grows, etc.) can disrupt the way your neuromuscular system functions. Over time, the brain loses its capacity to switch on the right muscles, at the right time, with the right amount of strength. A process known as neuromuscular de-activation.

As you lose muscle control, there's a tendency for the body to put abnormal stress on your joints in an attempt to maintain the same level of activity. This can often lead to a vicious cycle of pain, weakness and dysfunction.

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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 athletes. Unlike the "typical" PT who probably doesn't even play sports, 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 tendinopathy
• AC joint repair surgery
• Arthroscopic surgeries
• Bicep tendon surgery
• Biceps tendinitis / tendonitis
• Cervical spine dysfunction
• Decreased rotational mobility
• Elbow instability
• Epicondylitis
• Fractures
• Frozen shoulder
• Golfers elbow
• Hip pain
• Impingement syndrome
• Joint sprains
• Knee pain
• Labral tears
• Labral surgery
• Lateral epicondylalgia / epicondylitis
• Ligament injuries
• Lower back pain
• Lumbar disc herniation
• Lumbar spine dysfunction
• Medial epicondylalgia / epicondylitis
• Muscle strains

• Neck pain
• Nerve injuries
• Patellofemoral pain syndrome
• Plantar fasciitis
• Postural dysfunction
• Rotator cuff dysfunction
• Rotator cuff repair surgery
• Rotator cuff tears
• Scapular dyskinesis
• Sciatica
• Shoulder dislocation
• Shoulder (glenohumeral) instability
• Shoulder replacement surgery
• Shoulder subluxation
• SLAP repair surgery
• SLAP tears
• Sports injuries
• Tendinitis / Tendonitis
• Tendon injuries
• Tennis elbow
• Thoracic outlet syndrome
• Thoracic spine dysfunction
• Tommy John surgery
• Ulnar collateral ligament injury
• Ulnar tunnel syndrome
• Weakness

"Through the years I have had several courses of PT in both private and university settings for a chronic hip issue. I chose Activcore through recommendations from my neighbors. The physical therapist exceeded my expectations. She listened attentively and was very knowledgeable concerning my issues. The approach used was very comprehensive and unique. She was able to focus exercises with precision to improve my functioning. As a bonus, my physical fitness is also considerably better!"

—‍ customer review

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