Many Americans are inactive or exercise at an intensity too low to derive cardiovascular benefit. As a result obesity, heart disease and diabetes rates continue to rise. The surgeon general’s report on physical activity and health, encourages physicians to prescribe exercise for patients.
To ensure success in the exercise regimen, it is important to avoid injuries, Literature reveals 30 - 50% of all sports injuries are due to overuse. Stress fractures, shin splints, plantar fasciitis, ITB syndrome are just a few overuse injuries that result from repetitive micro trauma that leads to inflammation and local tissue damage. Without proper recovery, excessive training results in an injury.
Overuse injuries tend to occur when an athlete changes the mode, intensity or duration of training too rapidly. Our bodies require a period of transition to adapt to the increased physical demands. To prevent these injuries from occurring “prehabilitation” has been introduced. Prehabilitation is a preparticipation examination to identify an individual’s weaknesses and flexibility deficits. By addressing any significant findings through strengthening, stretching and discussing a proper training progression, it will be possible to drastically reduce the incidence of an overuse injury and maintain an active healthy lifestyle.

Spring is just around the corner and youth baseball is already underway. As we approach the upcoming season, we encourage you to take a look at data FreeMotion Physical Therapy has from renowned Orthopaedic surgeon Orr Limpisvasti MD. Dr. Limpisvasti presented an alarming statistic of youth baseball players. Approximately 94% of skeletally immature baseball players (under 16 years of age) will demonstrate growth plate irritation on X-Ray. In reality the shaft of the humerus is rotating on the proximal growth plate. This leads to a structural limitation into internal rotation when the growth plate closes. In most cases this is due to poor body mechanics, poor thrunk/ hip / scapular stability, overuse and/or throwing breaking ball pitches before age 14. Read more

Childhood obesity is a National Epidemic. Over 15% of children are obese. How can this be? Life expectancies of youngsters today wil be shorter than their parents. How have we allowed this to occur in the United States? Obesity seems like a simple problem - too many calories in and not enough calories out. Two areas need to be addressed: proper nutrition and adequate exercise. To help your child eat healthier, get the entire family involved.

• read food lablels and buy items high in fiber and low in fat
• limit juice and soda intake
• have your child eat all healthy meals and snacks that are well timed and at the dinner table.  This provides an excellent opportunity for communication with your child.

How can I help my child exercise more?  Sedentary activities such as TV, video games and the computer occupy too much of our children’s time.  Limit these activities and encourage activities that put your youngster in motion.  Organized sports teams are great but are usually limited to a few times per week and are structured.  The best exercise for kids is to just “play”.  Swinging, biking, skateboarding, tag, kickball and climbing a tree are just a few examples that will help your child burn calories and will be great fun.  As a parent it is fun for you and your child to join in and “play” with them.  If you have any specific questions regarding your child’s exercise regimen, contact FreeMotion Physical Therapy.  We will be happy to help you.