Blog
Inside and outside the clinic, we strive to EXCEL at everything we do.
MIKE GAETA, PT, DPT, CSCS, TPI
FORE! the Love of Golf
Herniated lumbar discs. Torn acetabular labrum. Meniscus tear. Hernia.
This is NOT the injury report from the NFL, but rather, injuries sustained by high profile professional golfers over the past few years. You might think that a non-contact sport popular amongst the retiree demographic would be easy on the joints, but that’s not always the case.
As golf fans surely know, the Players Championship–the largest-prized competition in golf–was supposed to be held this past weekend. If you’re anything like us, you’re bummed to miss out on superstars like Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, and Ricky Fowler. Ever wonder how they got to the point of playing without handicaps? While the obvious answer is that they are extremely talented individuals who dedicate their entire life to practicing their craft, there is a large scientific component to their game as well.
Fact or Fiction: Women’s Health Edition
On March 8th, we celebrated International Women’s Day (IWD). The theme of this year’s Women’s Day is #EachforEqual, with the IWD community stating, “We can actively choose to challenge stereotypes, fight bias, broaden perceptions, improve situations and celebrate...
Excel Injury Report: MLB Spring Training Series – Pitchers
As MLB players begin to flock south and report for Spring Training, we thought this would be the perfect time to evaluate some of professional baseball’s star pitchers and the injuries that affected their 2019 season. We asked some of our own baseball experts, Mike...
Don’t Get Heartbroken: 5 Tips for Heart Health
This February, take some time to focus on your heart—and no, we’re not talking about today's Valentine's Day festivities. February is American Heart Month, which aims to raise awareness about heart health and urge those around you to prevent heart disease. Heart...
Excel Injury Report: Netflix’s “CHEER” (Explained by a Former Collegiate Cheerleader)
Have you watched Netflix’s new docuseries “Cheer” yet? If you haven’t, please stop reading this, block off your next six hours to binge watch, then come back and finish reading. (Spoilers ahead.) If you’ve already done yourself the favor of checking out “Cheer,” you...
Excel Injury Report: Super Bowl LIV
The Super Bowl. It’s the biggest game of a professional American football player’s life. In the case of players for the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs, it’s also the 19th game of the season. Considering the intense competition and punishment that these...
Blood Flow Restriction & Physical Therapy
Blood flow restriction (BFR) is one of many modalities that can be used in physical therapy treatment. During BFR treatment, a trained physical therapist uses a specialized inflatable device to apply pressure to an extremity during exercise in order to reduce blood...
BFR 101: What You Need to Know About Blood Flow Restriction
Blood flow restriction (or “BFR”) is a physical therapy modality that restricts blood flow to a muscle. BFR requires the application of a device similar to a blood pressure cuff or tourniquet to safely compress the blood vessels underneath. The goal is to use apply...
Staying Active When the Temperature Drops
When the seasons change and it becomes too cold to spend time outdoors for more than a few minutes, many people reduce their activity levels and hibernate for the winter. How many of us have woken up on a cold winter morning and decided we’d rather spend an extra hour...
Day-to-Day: An Injury Guide To Building Your Fantasy Basketball Team
The NBA season recently started and with it, daily fantasy basketball season. But how are you expected to field a solid fantasy squad when so many big-name players are either out with injury, or returning from major injury? With such big names sustaining major...
Fractures in Soccer Athletes
Soccer is rough on the feet! Soccer players are prone to foot and ankle injuries from running, jumping, cutting, contacting players, and striking the soccer ball. While we often see soccer players with ankle sprains of the ligaments, fractures are a significant cause...
An Introduction to IASTM
What is IASTM?Instrument-Assisted Soft Tissue Mobilization (IASTM) can be a beneficial manual therapy treatment in physical therapy. IASTM refers to the use of a dense, non-irritating material, such as stainless steel or jade, to apply a force to soft tissue structure...
Cupping Therapy: Not Just for Olympic Athletes
Myofascial decompression (MFD), also known as “cupping,” is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been practiced for more than 2,000 years. Notably, professional athletes including Michael Phelps and the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics team have used cupping as part of their maintenance and recovery programs.