Sport Specific Conditioning Archives - Omaha Physical Therapy Institute : Omaha Physical Therapy Institute

Staying Fit in the “Off” Season

05/31/21

With spring soccer season winding down and summer try-outs approaching, some of your coaches may give you a few weeks off. Although you may be “off” from scheduled practices and events, an athlete is never truly “off.” While it is SO IMPORTANT to take days off for your body to recover from the wear and tear of the season, it…

Were You Born to Run?

12/21/20

The notion that human beings were “born to run” certainly has inspired me to think deeply about running. The book that bears this notion as its title, Born To Run, written by Christopher McDougall, is a must-read for those who enjoy recreational running. But this blog isn’t about the book or the theory. The point here is to discuss how…

Can Ankle Mobility Prevent Knee Injury?

11/01/20

Squatting is among the most functional of all human movements and is frequently regarded as a starting point in the movement assessments for many healthcare practitioners. Much like any refined sport-specific movement, a biomechanically efficient squat is something you just know when you see it. This efficiency in movement requires sufficient muscle strength, body awareness, balance, and joint mobility across…

Train Like You Play

09/06/20

There are many variables that exist in the world of strength and conditioning, most of which athletes and avid exercisers are familiar with adjusting in order to get the desired effect from their exercise. For example, someone looking to build muscle size may primarily perform their resistance exercises in a certain repetition range and at a certain percentage of their…

Benefits of Sprint and Plyometric Training for the Distance Runner

08/06/20

Distance runners and endurance sport athletes find satisfaction in their longer, lower-intensity workouts and events for various reasons. It is common for people in endurance sports to avoid, limit, or not even consider participation in high-intensity exercise. Some don’t know how to implement these exercises and some feel it will negatively impact their endurance performance. It may come as a…

Does Running Technique Matter?

06/21/20

Many people recognize the importance of technique when they become familiar with a sport. For instance, a basketball player is quite familiar with proper shooting form, a golfer the perfect swing, and a soccer player needs to focus on how they strike the ball. In many sports, technique is far more than just improving a skill, but can actually be…

Run Faster and More Efficiently!

06/07/20

In distance running going faster is often thought to require greater propulsion, and ultimately, greater effort. When you are nearing the end of a training run and trying to maintain a certain heart rate, or perhaps approaching the final mile of a marathon and running on “E”, the last thing you want to think about is exerting more effort and…

Avoiding “Chronic Cardio”

05/19/20

The term “Chronic Cardio” came into my awareness while reading a book by Mark Sisson titled Primal Endurance. This term is used to describe the exercise patterns that some of us get into while pursuing our goals, whether they be weight loss, better fitness, or an upcoming race. The description of this pattern in Mark’s book hits close to home…

7 Exercises to Reduce the Risk of Knee Injuries in Soccer Players!

04/21/20

It is important to make sure you are regularly challenging your neuromuscular system and training it to tolerate the loads you take on as a soccer player. Research has shown that performing a consistent neuromuscular training program can reduce the risk of injury. There are obviously other factors involved in injury rates as well (i.e. fatigue, nutrition, strength, and sleep)…

Injury Resistance- Practice Like you Play

03/24/20

Injury in sport can happen to anyone. As speed and impact increase in higher level competition, so does the likelihood of injury. This is why, in most sports, injuries are more likely to happen (and to require surgery) during competition rather than practice (Nagle, et al). This should intuitively make sense to anyone who has ever experienced the difference between…