physical therapy, Ballet, Cross-Fit, Fitness, Physical Therapy
Ben Wobker
Relative Energy Deficiency

If you're a runner, you may have heard of the Female Athlete Triad, a term once used to describe a combination of low energy availability, menstrual dysfunction, and bone health issues. However, our understanding of these conditions has evolved, giving rise to a broader concept: Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). This condition is not just for elite female athletes; it affects athletes of all levels and genders. Let’s break down what RED-S is, why it's important, and how you can protect yourself as a runner.

Relative Energy Deficiency
weight lifting, Fitness, Softball
Ben Wobker
Softball Injuries

Softball is a popular and engaging sport enjoyed by millions of people worldwide. While it provides excellent physical exercise and fosters teamwork, like any sport, it comes with its risks of injuries. Understanding the most common injuries in softball and how to prevent and treat them can help players stay safe and enjoy the game longer. In this blog, we’ll explore the top injuries suffered by softball players and provide tips on prevention and recovery.

Softball Injuries
Baseball, Physical Therapy, shoulder Pain
Terry Phillips, PT, DPT
Strength Training for Golfers

While the game of golf has been around for several centuries, it hasn’t been til recently that the concept of a golfer training their bodies to help them with their sport has become more common. Since Tiger Woods took the game by storm almost 30 years ago, with his long drives and overall ability to dominate his competition, the world of golf fitness has also seen somewhat of an explosion. Now, golfers at almost all levels recognize that while working on their swing, chipping, and putting is important, it’s almost equally as important to put work into their bodies as well to ensure they can meet the demands of what today’s game asks of them. However, to the everyday golfer, there can still be a lot of uncertainty as to what training for the sport of golf looks like. This article aims to clarify that uncertainty and provide direction on how to dial in their gym sessions to help them on the course further.


Strength Training for Golfers
Baseball, Physical Therapy, shoulder Pain
Terry Phillips, PT, DPT
Weighted Ball Training

Integrating weighted balls into a pitching routine can be an effective way to improve arm strength, velocity, and overall pitching performance. Here's a general guideline on how to incorporate weighted balls into your routine:

  1. Consult with a professional: Before incorporating weighted balls into your routine, it's essential to consult with a pitching coach or a sports medicine professional who can assess your current abilities and provide guidance on the appropriate weight and progression for your specific needs.

  2. Start with a warm-up: Begin your pitching routine with a thorough warm-up to prepare your muscles and joints for the increased stress of throwing weighted balls. Perform dynamic stretches, light cardio exercises, and arm-specific warm-up exercises to increase blood flow and flexibility.

  3. Progress gradually: Begin with lighter weighted balls and gradually increase the weight over time. It's important not to start with weights that are too heavy, as this can lead to injury. A recommended progression might be to start with balls around 4-6 ounces and gradually increase to 8-10 ounces.

  4. Focus on proper mechanics: Throughout your pitching routine, maintain proper pitching mechanics. The added weight of the balls may change the feel and timing of your delivery, so it's crucial to concentrate on maintaining a smooth and efficient motion. Work with a coach or use video analysis to ensure your mechanics are not compromised.

  5. Incorporate specific drills: Use a variety of pitching drills that specifically target different aspects of your mechanics and arm strength. For example, you can incorporate long-toss drills with weighted balls to improve arm strength and distance, or use weighted balls during bullpen sessions to work on pitch command and velocity. However, ensure that you don't exclusively rely on weighted balls and include regular pitching with standard baseballs as well.

  6. Pay attention to recovery: Pitching with weighted balls places increased stress on your arm and shoulder. Allow adequate time for recovery between sessions to avoid overuse injuries. Incorporate proper rest, stretching, and strengthening exercises for the shoulder and arm into your routine. Listen to your body, and if you experience any pain or discomfort, consult a professional.

  7. Monitor progress: Track your progress over time by measuring factors like velocity, accuracy, and overall pitching performance. Keep a record of your pitching sessions and note any changes or improvements you observe. This feedback will help you make adjustments to your routine as needed.

Remember, integrating weighted balls into your pitching routine should be done carefully and progressively to minimize the risk of injury. Consulting with a professional and maintaining proper technique are crucial for safe and effective implementation.


Weighted Ball Training
Physical Therapy, Baseball, Pitching
Joe Midgett
Early Sports Specialization

Early Sport Specialization (ESS)

Before I explain why, lets briefly get on the same page with a definition for Early Sport Specialization (ESS). Typically ESS refers to year-round (for at least 8 months) intensive training or competition in an organized sport by young athletes (<12 years of age) while excluding all other sports.

Injury Risk

One of the most studied problems with early specialization is increased injury risk compared to peers. The biggest factor contributing to this increased risk was participation in any individual sport for greater than 8 months of the year3. This is especially true in baseball pitchers where pitching for more than 8 months per year was correlated with a 500% increase in risk for Tommy John surgery. (I discuss this and other risk factors for UCL injury in my blog “Minimizing the Risk for UCL Injuries in Throwers” *hyperlink). Across all sports there is an increased injury risk of 1.81 times in highly specialized athletes compared to their multi-sport peers5.



Early Sports Specialization

Tennis

, , , ,

Pickleball

, , , ,
Pickleball

To learn more about pickleball and shoulder injuries, I decided to ask a local, avid pickleballer who also happens to be an expert shoulder surgeon, Dr. Samuel Koo. Dr. Koo practices at ProOrtho in Kirkland, WA where he specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of shoulder injuries. When Dr. Koo isn’t helping the community with their shoulder injuries, you can often find him on a nearby pickleball court. Dr. Koo first found pickleball about 3 years ago after he was introduced to the game by a friend. His current pickleball addiction is fueled by his history of playing tennis and ping pong.

When asked to compare tennis and pickleball, Dr. Koo says “The biggest difference between pickleball and tennis is that tennis places a premium on the overhead shot—mainly serves and overheads at the net—while pickleball is mostly a game played below your waist.” Given the underhand nature of the game of pickleball, one would expect a lower occurrence of shoulder injuries than in tennis where overhand serving is a major component of the sport.

If you have ever played or watched a game of pickleball, this distinct difference is easy to appreciate. The shorter paddle, slower ball speed, lower net, and smaller court does not place the same demands on the shoulder, or body in general, as in tennis. With the shoulder moving through lower, quick paddle swings near the body, there tends to be less demand into the end ranges of shoulder motion which can reduce the stress on muscles and ligaments surrounding the shoulder joint. Conversely, when the arm quickly accelerates and decelerates through an overhead swing, there are greater demands on the dynamic stability of the shoulder. In pickleball, this type of racquet activity is less common.



, , , , , , ,

Heat or Ice?

, , , , , , ,
Heat or Ice?

Ice or Heat: Body Pain’s Greatest Question

Life has a funny way of leaving its mark on us and quite often it can hurt! By now you’ve likely experienced some kind of injury that caused bruising, swelling, and worst of all pain, either acute or chronic. With any injury therein lies the proverbial question, “should I use ice or heat?” The concept of applying these thermal modalities can seem relatively simple and straight forward but it can become confusing as not every injury presents the same. Thus it makes senses why I’m frequently asked which one should be used for a particular injury. Sometimes I’ve suggested that both are appropriate depending on the situation. Improper use of these modalities can slow your recovery, so it is important to base your decision on physiology and what is most safe and effective.

, , , , , , ,

Hip Osteoarthritis

, , , , , , ,
Hip Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is one of the most common orthopedic conditions among physical therapy patients. Osteoarthritis (OA) describes degeneration of cartilage and, eventually, bone in a moving joint. The development of OA can be the result of a previous injury or specific joint condition but is most often idiopathic in nature.1 Knees, hips, and thumbs are notorious for developing OA as a result of the large, repetitive forces these joints have to absorb over the course of a lifetime.2 The term OA refers to a wide spectrum of joint degeneration and can sometimes be used to describe a joint that appears damaged on an X-ray but doesn’t hurt or cause a decline in function (asymptomatic osteoarthritis). Various studies of the general population in the U.S. estimate that 20-28% of adults aged 60+ have evidence of hip OA on an X-ray, yet only 4-10% of this population have pain or poor function due to hip OA.3,4 Although an X-ray may show hip joint degenerative changes, treatment generally does not occur until someone begins to have symptoms.



, , , , , , ,

Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis

, , , , , , ,
Spondylolysis and Spondylolisthesis

Spondylolysis is estimated to occur as much as 25-60% in athletic populations The most common age group for occurrence is 11-18 years old, with higher likelihoods of injury occurring during puberty and growth spurts. Adolescents today typically play multiple sports throughout the year, often overlapping with minimal to no rest between seasons. Sports involving high impact and spine loading, as well as trunk rotation and extension, have a higher incidence of spondylolysis. Research shows football, gymnastics, power lifting, diving, baseball, softball, hockey, basketball, and soccer tend to have an increased risk for this injury……

, , , ,

Pickleball

, , , ,
Pickleball

To learn more about pickleball and shoulder injuries, I decided to ask a local, avid pickleballer who also happens to be an expert shoulder surgeon, Dr. Samuel Koo. Dr. Koo practices at ProOrtho in Kirkland, WA where he specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of shoulder injuries. When Dr. Koo isn’t helping the community with their shoulder injuries, you can often find him on a nearby pickleball court. Dr. Koo first found pickleball about 3 years ago after he was introduced to the game by a friend. His current pickleball addiction is fueled by his history of playing tennis and ping pong.

When asked to compare tennis and pickleball, Dr. Koo says “The biggest difference between pickleball and tennis is that tennis places a premium on the overhead shot—mainly serves and overheads at the net—while pickleball is mostly a game played below your waist.” Given the underhand nature of the game of pickleball, one would expect a lower occurrence of shoulder injuries than in tennis where overhand serving is a major component of the sport.

If you have ever played or watched a game of pickleball, this distinct difference is easy to appreciate. The shorter paddle, slower ball speed, lower net, and smaller court does not place the same demands on the shoulder, or body in general, as in tennis. With the shoulder moving through lower, quick paddle swings near the body, there tends to be less demand into the end ranges of shoulder motion which can reduce the stress on muscles and ligaments surrounding the shoulder joint. Conversely, when the arm quickly accelerates and decelerates through an overhead swing, there are greater demands on the dynamic stability of the shoulder. In pickleball, this type of racquet activity is less common.