Encore Physical Therapy

Physical Therapy in Corvallis, Oregon

Office Hours: Mon. – Fri. 8am-5pm
Call for information or to schedule an appointment:
541-758-2235 • Send an e-mail

10 Ways Physical Therapy Can Improve Your Sports Performance

Activity is a great way to stay in shape. As you know, it’s the number one recommendation by medical professionals for everything from depression to fatigue to heart disease. It’s great that you dig in for daily walks or are part of a local soccer league, but sometimes that level of activity can take a toll on a body. Sprains, strains, and other injuries often drive people to seek out physical therapy options so they can get back into the game. But what most athletes and gym rats don’t realize is that in addition to injury recovery, physical therapy can also improve performance in just about any activity or workout. Here are a few ways physical therapy can improve your sports performance.

1. Flexibility

By watching the way a patient moves, a qualified physical therapist can identify locations where mobility may be limited. With targeted exercises, you will be able to open up your range of motion and increase your flexibility, allowing you to better protect against injury while simultaneously landing your back handspring.

2. Power

high jumperWhether your main event is the long jump or your basketball stride could use some lengthening, a few sessions with a professional therapist can help identify which muscles might be restricting your motion and teach those muscles how to provide more power to the length and height of your jumps. After all, it requires the coordination of many muscles, joints, and bones to propel you into the air and safely land again.

3. Endurance

runnerWhile we might not be able to directly improve your cardiovascular endurance, we can help figure out why certain muscles cramp or become fatigued. By strengthening and improving the functionality of your muscles, we can help enhance muscular endurance so that you can finish the marathon or maintain pace on the elliptical machine for the entire length of your favorite podcast.

4. Strength

A task as simple as rolling over during a nap requires the use of muscles. In contrast, imagine the amount of use those muscles get during a wrestling match or baseball game. With this focus in mind, strengthening is the best way to get the most out of those muscles so that you can perform at your peak. Physical therapy aims to target those areas that you rely on most so you can bring your “A” game.

5. Improved Gait

Without even being aware of it, you can probably identify your spouse, child, or running partner headed down the street at a glance. This is because we each have our own style of movement, called a gait pattern. That gait is a result of all of our body movements working together. By improving the efficiency of your gait you can train your body to offer you better support and ease of movement, improving your sports performance.

6. Balance

Balance is a culmination of multiple bodily functions, ranging from strength, vision, and even the inner ear canals. By performing exercises that target these areas, your balance and stability will improve, which is important in avoiding falls and earning a perfect 10 on your beam routine.

7. Range of Motion

Similar to flexibility of the muscles, joint range of motion is a key factor in functional mobility. Consider a golfer that cannot fully rotate on their back swing. Physical therapists can help you identify the obstacles that are limiting your range of motion so you can get that power behind your long drive and improve your game.

8. Recovery From Injury

While injuries are never ideal, those that keep you from doing the sport you love can be life-changing. When you suffer an injury, sometimes your body struggles to get back to where it was prior. Physical therapists can help in this process by identifying where the glitches are in order to get you back on track.

9. Injury Prevention

Next to helping people recover after an injury, the number one goal in physical therapy is to help people prevent injuries in the first place. Athletes often overlook preventative treatment as part of their exercise regime, yet it can be as important as having the right gear or stretching before a big game.physical therapy

10. Reduce Pain

Sometimes the only thing we can do about chronic pain is to minimize the impact it has on daily life. For the active person, this means targeting ways to mitigate that pain so you can continue doing the things that you love. Physical therapy can help discover movements that you should avoid and offer alternative techniques that allow you to play with less pain. Physical therapy is a useful tool for athletes of all levels. From those hoping to begin a new exercise regime to those who have participated in amature or professional sports, Encore Physical Therapy is here to assess your needs and create a plan that keeps you in the game.

7 Signs You May Have Hypermobility

Hypermobility syndrome is estimated to affect between 10%-25% of the population, although severity may vary. A disorder that causes the joints to extend beyond the normal range, hypermobility is one variation of a more generalized diagnosis known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome. It is often seen in patients that are or have been deeply involved  in gymnastics, dance, and other sports where flexibility contributes to the performance of these athletes. When joints hyperextend, it can lead to other issues in the surrounding, and sometimes remote, areas of the body. For example, a hip joint called the sacroiliac (SI) can over-extend causing radiating pain down the leg. In fact, it’s sometimes difficult to evaluate whether pain is originating from the lower back or is the result of a malfunction in another joint, such as the SI. Similarly, other symptoms such as fatigue and gastrointestinal issues could be related to hypermobility issues. So how do you know if you have hypermobility?

First, rate yourself using what is called the Beighton Scale, a well-established indicator of hypermobility. Then evaluate other likely symptoms. Consider the measurements below.

Touching Thumb to Forearm

  1. Touch Thumb to Forearm

This is sometimes referred to as being double-jointed, but in reality it is the ability to stretch the joint past the range available to most individuals. Try pulling your thumb back and down towards your inner arm on each side. Record one point for each thumb that comes into contact with your forearm.

  1. Hyperextend Your Elbows

To test for this, stretch your arm out straight with your inner elbow facing upwards. Now look down the line of your arm. If the outer elbow bows upwards rather than maintaining the straight line, mark yourself one point for each elbow where this occurs. Note that you may be hypermobile in certain joints and not others.

  1. Hyperextend Your Knees

Similar to the test for the elbow, examine the range of your knees. If you can push the back of your knee back past the straight line of your leg, mark one point for each knee where this occurs.

  1. Touch the Floor

Hyperextend Pinky FingerFrom a standing position, keep your legs straight and bend forward towards the ground. If you can touch the palms of your hands to the ground, mark one point.

  1. Hyperextend Your Pinky Finger

Pull your pinky finger backwards and mark one point for each finger that rotates past 90 degrees.

  1. Intestinal, Skin, and Other Symptoms

Note that rating high on the Beighton scale is not an exclusive indicator of hypermobility. You must also show other signs of the syndrome. These additional symptoms can include frequent dislocation of joints such as jaw, shoulder, or knee cap, chronic fatigue, chronic muscle and bone pain, some heart conditions, elastic skin, bruising easily, and repeated sprains or rolling of the ankles. Similarly, rating low in the Beighton scale is not a definitive measure that you do not have hypermobility issues. The syndrome may predominantly manifest in different ways.

  1. Family History

Ehlers-Danlos is believed to be inherited genetically. Some research reports a 50% chance of genetically inheriting the syndrome from a parent with hypermobile EDS.

The benefits of Physical TherapyPhysical Therapy can be very beneficial as a treatment for hypermobility by teaching you how to strengthen the proximal muscles of the spine and larger joints of the body. This process involves identifying and improving the functionality of musculature that has been doing the job for other, weaker muscles and unstable joints. We then help you improve your strength and stability, as well as provide education about proper positioning of the body while you work and perform other daily activities. This will reduce your chances of overloading bodily structures previously at risk of damage from those movements. This, in turn, will make you feel more confident, comfortable, and physically stable, as well as reduce pain associated with hypermobility.

Hypermobility and Ehlers-Danlos is often overlooked as an underlying cause for other conditions. If you think you may have it, check with your medical professional. Then call for an appointment with Encore Physical Therapy. Through core stabilization and targeted strengthening, we can help you get back in the game.

For More Information:

https://rarediseases.info.nih.gov/diseases/2081/hypermobile-ehlers-danlos-syndrome

https://www.ehlers-danlos.com/eds-types/

Corvallis Garden Festival May 6, 2018

Thank you so much to everyone for taking the time to come out and visit us at our booth this year at the garden festival on Sunday, May 6th 2018. We had a wonderful time getting to meet each and every one of you. Please call us at 541-758-2235 if you have any questions regarding any musculoskeletal problems or if you would like to make an appointment to be seen either by Frank, Chris or Curt. 

Help for Plantar Fasciitis

Plantar fasciitis is a fancy medical name for what’s commonly known as “heel pain.” “Plantar” means the bottom of the foot, “fascia” is a deep, thick connective tissue and “itis” means inflammation. Hence it is an inflammation of the connective tissue that spans from the toes to the heel bone on the bottom of the foot.

Is this a rare or common diagnosis?

You are not alone. This is a very common and treatable diagnosis. According to an article in Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (2003), plantar fasciitis has been reported to occur in 2 million Americans a year and 10% of the population over a lifetime. Frank and I, with our combined 20 years’ experience, have regularly evaluated and treated individuals with plantar fasciitis with excellent outcomes.

How do I know that I have plantar fasciitis?

There are key symptoms that we usually see that are consistent from individual to individual. One of the classic signs is heel pain with the first few steps in the morning. This pain can be mild or severe depending on the acuity level. This pain generally will get a little better as the day continues, but then tends to get worse by the end of the day. This pain may also increase with prolonged standing or walking.

Are certain people more prone to getting plantar fasciitis?

Yes, middle-aged women and men generally are more prone to getting it, but it can be diagnosed in any age group. Frank and I will help you figure out the main reason or combination of reasons as to why you are suffering from plantar fasciitis. We may ask you during your initial evaluation, “Do you normally wear shoes with adequate arch support?,” “Did you recently start an exercise program requiring you to place increased impact through your feet, such as running?,” or “Have you had a recent weight gain?” Your answers are clues for us and the more clues we have, the better we can determine the source of the pain.

Why do the first few steps in the morning hurt so much!?!?

During the night, while the heel cord is in a shortened position, the fascia is attempting to go through the healing phase. In the morning, you yawn, stretch your arms and then stand up placing your full weight through your feet. This can disrupt the healing phase by causing micro tears in the fascia with an end result of sharp pain with the first few steps.

Is this treatable and will physical therapy help me?

It is absolutely treatable and physical therapy is one of the best options for treating plantar fasciitis. At Encore Physical Therapy, Frank and Chris will educate you extensively on your condition and provide you information on plantar fasciitis prevention. We will use a wide range of treatment options from hands-on techniques, taping, stretching exercises, orthotics and shoe recommendations, etc. There is no standard protocol for treatment of plantar fasciitis and the choice of treatment is unique to each individual.

Are there current published articles that I could read to inform myself more about plantar fasciitis?

Yes, Chris Guempel from Encore Physical Therapy recently contributed to the October issue of ADVANCE for Physical Therapy and Rehab Medicine, Volume 21 Issue 21 page 33 entitled “Happier Feet – How PT professionals can help patients recover from plantar fasciitis”. Click on the Encore tab “Resources” followed by the ADVANCE link to read more.

Call Frank or Chris today to schedule an appointment. You will be one step closer to being pain-free!

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Performing Arts Rehabilitation

As with all professions and hobbies, there are risks involved for incurring an injury. Musicians are no exception to the rule. Whether the musician is a professional violinist performing in a symphony orchestra or an amateur pianist in a jazz club, injuries are a reality that can create serious physical problems that may force the musician to step away from performing. According to the National Athletic Trainers’ Association in June 2005, “76% of musicians experience a significant injury which requires time off.”

Musicians are frequently paralleled with high level athletes because they must also train at extreme levels, keep in tip top shape and dedicate hours and hours of daily practice to perfecting their skills. Not unlike athletes, musicians are well known for “ignoring or playing through their pain” due to the highly competitive nature of the music field industry, difficult economic times as well as the incredible demands of mastering an instrument or voice.

At Encore, Frank Hann and Chris Guempel, treat musicians of various ages. Simple recommendations such as lengthening out a cello end pin or incorporating an instrument strap may suffice to reduce symptoms, however many times this is not the case. Symptoms may be an accumulation of events that need detailed attention to regain balance in the neuro-muscular system. This can be achieved clinically through hands-on techniques, strengthening and conditioning, stretching, education on proper instrumental positioning as well as electro-therapeutic modalities.

Alex Hargreaves of Corvallis, an active violinist who has played on stages around the world, reports, “I initially went to physical therapy to address the pain and tightness in my arm and shoulders that I have been feeling off and on from playing the violin. As a musician who travels a lot, it’s important for me to know how to deal with physical problems related to playing the instrument. Through my treatment with Chris, I developed a much better understanding of why I was experiencing pain, how I could prevent more serious injuries, learned numerous stretches and exercises that keep me in shape for playing and have found that I was able to play in more relaxed ways for longer periods of time.”

Tissues in the human body have a particular tolerance level and are prone to injury if stressed exceedingly or awkwardly. Common mechanisms for musician injuries include prolonged poor sitting or standing postures, repetitive movements, inadequate rest during performance, inappropriate force and tension expenditure, prolonged long lever arm positions, change in technique, increased playing time, change of instrument as well as increased difficulty of music.

As an avid music hobbyist, Peg Urban of Corvallis was greatly looking forward to having more time to practice her saxophone when she retired. “I decided to give my colleagues a “Musical Thank You” performance before retiring. In the process of practicing, I sprained ligaments in my elbow. After months with no improvement, finding that my quality of life had transformed significantly by not being able to pursue my primary retirement activity, I proceeded with physical therapy. Frank validated my goal of playing saxophone again, healed my injury and gave me strategies to minimize the potential of re-aggravating the injury.

Looking for a few tips yourself as to what to do to prevent injuries? The following tips are simple and effective – make sure that your instrument is ideal for your body type, sit or stand properly to maximize good posture and proximal stability, perform warm up exercises, take a few minutes break every 30-45 minutes, focus on proper playing technique with minimal bodily compensation, vary the music up while practicing to reduce the amount of time for sections that are more challenging physically and most importantly, DO NOT ignore warning signs from your body that something does not feel right.

Every instrument brings the potential for bodily hazards and risks, therefore it is vital for musicians to stay “in tune” with his or her body in order to maximize the music making experience.

By Chris Guempel, PT, BM in Cello Performance

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