SPOONER BLOG
Too Many Innings, Too Little Rest: Advocating for Your Young Baseball Athlete
By: Tyler Gulla, PT, DPT
Youth athletes now work a 9–5. The commitment level is there, even if the paycheck isn’t.
The landscape of youth sports has grown far beyond local rec leagues. Now it includes travel ball, private instruction, intense training schedules, showcases, and even sport-specific academies. For baseball athletes especially, the workload adds up fast.
So how do young athletes[…]
How Early Therapy Helps Wrist Fractures
By: Makenna Sallade, OTD, OTR/L
One of the biggest misconceptions I run into as a hand therapist is that a wrist fracture is a “wait it out” kind of injury. You get a cast, you rest, and eventually things go back to normal. I want to walk through why that’s not really how it works and what I wish more[…]
Why Pickleball Can Cause Elbow Pain — And Why It’s Not Going Away
Pickleball has become one of the most popular sports among amateurs, and for good reason. It’s easy to pick up and can be played for leisurely social fun or with a competitive edge.
As players fall in love with the sport, they start playing more often, more intensely, and with more repetition than their bodies may[…]
Should You Be Worried About Shoulder Impingement?
By Torrey Foster, PT, DPT, OCS, FAFS, CSCS
If you’ve ever felt a sharp pinch reaching overhead, struggled through a bench press, or noticed discomfort during pushups, there’s a good chance shoulder impingement is part of the problem. It’s one of the most common complaints physical therapists see in athletes, active adults, and gym-goers, and the good news is it’s[…]
Why Your Pelvic Floor Needs a Pre-Pregnancy Plan
By: Angela Gonsalves PT, DPT, PRPC
When most people think about pelvic floor physical therapy, they may associate it with working together during pregnancy or recovery after a baby is born. And while that’s a huge part of what our pelvic health therapists can help with, there’s a conversation that doesn’t happen nearly enough, which is, “What can you do to[…]
The Huddle 2026: Two Days That Raised the Standard in Sports Medicine
There is something special that happens when you bring together people who are relentlessly committed to helping athletes perform, recover, and thrive. That was The Huddle Sports Medicine Conference.
From the moment attendees walked through the doors at On Jackson in downtown Phoenix, the energy was undeniable. Conversations started before the first session. New connections formed over coffee. Ideas were exchanged in hallways,[…]
Why Swimmers Need More Than Just Pool Practice
By Ernie Atkins, CSCS, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach at the Spooner Sports Institute
When people think about strength and conditioning, they usually picture football players, baseball pitchers, or track sprinters. Swimming? It doesn’t always come up in that conversation. And that’s honestly one of the biggest missed opportunities I see at the youth and high school level.
Here’s the[…]
How We Keep You Safe at Physical Therapy
By Brianne LaBella, PT, DPT, FAFS, Compliance Officer
Brianne LaBella, PT, DPT, FAFS, has spent her career looking out for patients. She started first as a treating physical therapist, then as a clinic director, and now as Spooner’s Compliance Officer. In that role, she oversees safety and compliance standards across all 29 Spooner locations. We asked her to speak directly[…]
10 Fun Facts About Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy, physical therapy, speech therapy… navigating the differences between healthcare professionals and specialized therapists can get a bit confusing! Each April during Occupational Therapy Month, we take the opportunity to highlight the occupational therapy profession, and all the meaningful work occupational therapists do in their communities.
Our team of occupational therapists at Spooner say, “It is not uncommon for occupational[…]
What a Pelvic Floor Therapist Wants You to Know: From Pregnancy to Returning to Work
By: Maria Kline, PT, DPT, new mom who just returned to work!
As a pelvic floor physical therapist and a triathlete who is currently navigating life postpartum, the big question I hear often is: “How do I keep working and staying active without overdoing it?”
The truth is, being a “working mom” starts long before the baby arrives. Whether your job[…]
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