recovery

EVERYONE IS AN ATHLETE…with the help of EXCEL PHYSICAL THERAPY

 

By Bill Huddleston

Athletes come in all shapes and sizes…all ages and all walks of life.  And, just like there’s a game plan for victory in every sport, there’s also a need for individual recovery strategies when injuries happen with the help of Excel Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine.

“Everyone is an athlete in their own way,” explained Kyle Dennis, MPT and clinic director of the Excel clinic in Muskogee, one of 13 locations statewide proudly serving Oklahoma. “We see high school and college athletes and we also see everyday moms and dads, farmers and ranchers and we treat them all the same.  At Excel, we’re committed to getting them back to peak performance safely by educating our patients as well as making sure they’re safe at the same time.”

A competitive athlete himself, Dennis has participated in Crossfit, a current fitness program trend where participants want to get back in the game whenever injuries occur.

“Everybody is getting into it and because Crossfit is such a very competitive environment, whenever someone is injured they want to get right back into the competition,” Dennis explained referencing his own experiences as an avid crossfitter. “At Excel, we’re committed to getting participants back to peak performance. We look at every movement they need to be able to do and break down those movements including the patient’s strengths and weakness and where they’re limited with mobility.”

Just like professional athletes have personal trainers, the physical therapists at Excel are committed to developing one-on-one relationships whether your setback occurs in the game, at home or on the farm.

“We see everyday workers from all types of jobs that have a lot of physical requirements as well as ranchers and farmers.  They have got to get back to doing heavy duty work as soon as possible,” Dennis explained. “In order to keep them on the job, we have to make sure their body can handle the stress and strains of everyday duties. Movement is key so we place a lot of emphasis on having the right body mechanics so they can understand how they can move more and feel better at the same time.”

As Dennis confirms, it’s the one-on-one relationships that make the difference at Excel Physical Therapy. 

“Relationships are priority one to recovery and patient satisfaction to get our patients on the road to recovery the very next day. It’s our commitment, our passion at Excel to develop relationships that last for a lifetime through a community wide effort of helping people enjoy life.”

Foundation Under Foot

Darrell Platt, PT – Excel Therapy South Tulsa Clinic

The feet and ankles are an important part of sports performance– they are the foundation of our movement.  The activation for most athletic movement starts with the feet, ankles, and toes.

Ensuring that the feet, ankles and toes are functioning properly is not only important for injury prevention, it goes a long way toward maximizing speed, mobility, agility, power, force production and explosiveness.  Like all skeletal muscles, the anatomy that surrounds the feet and ankles are designed for movement and force absorption. When these muscles don’t function as they should, it severely limits the shock absorption capabilities of the lower body. This affects the entire kinetic chain, promoting greater potential for injury from head to toe.  In fact, according to Sports Health News, ankle injuries are the most common type of injury in high school athletes in the United States.

One of the easiest ways to help protect your feet and ankles is by selecting the correct footwear.  Most modern athletic footwear is built for fashion as well as sport.  Teams are issued matching footwear in order to give a cohesive team look.  However, every athlete performs differently, thus the shoe they choose should be individualized to their body mechanics. So while looking good on the field is important, each shoe should be slightly customized for each athlete.

Walking, running and performance shoes are not created equal so do your homework when it comes to foot placement.  Some people walk on the outside of the heel, called supinating or rolling outwardly.  And some individuals walk on the inside of the heel, called pronating or rolling inwardly.  More than 80 percent of ankle sprains are a result of excessive inversion, which is an inward rolling of the ankle, resulting in damage to the ligaments on the outside of the ankle.

Excessive pronation and supination can cause a number of ailments that affect the foot, ankle, knees, hips and back. Some of the more common symptoms of excessive pronation and supination are listed below.

If you are suffering from pain possibly caused by a foot and ankle problem, an Excel Therapy physical therapist can help.  Our therapists specialize in treatments for orthopedic pre and post surgical injuries and rehabilitation for sprains and strains.  Manual therapy, dry needling and ASTYM could get you feeling relief before the season starts without you!

Direct Access: The therapy you need without the hassle of a referral.

Excel Therapy, Excel Therapy Oklahoma, physical therapy, no referral, recovery

DID YOU KNOW? You can be evaluated and treated by a Physical Therapist for thirty days WITHOUT A REFERRAL

from a physician or other health care provider? This is a huge victory for Oklahomans, who are now able to take a more active role in their own healthcare!

Excel Therapy provides a variety of services to help get your body functioning at its highest potential–whether you’re dealing with strains and sprains or recovering from surgery.

Give us a call at (877) 259-9520 to make an appointment for you or someone you love.