SPOONER BLOG
The Need for an Off-Season
Children are often asked what they would like to be when they grow up. Among many job titles, “professional athlete” is often listed. What is different about that title, though, is that children, parents, and coaches take steps to try to make that childhood dream a reality. Part of that reality is specializing[…]
BlazePods for Concussion Treatment
Returning to normalcy after a concussion can take time. Being able to move your head without the sensations of spinning or being able to read or look at a screen without difficulty can seem far away. Everyday life has a great deal of stimuli that comes our way. Our brains are receiving all of these signals, interpreting them, and reacting[…]
Dynamic Warm-Up for Mountain Bikers
By: Anthony Celio, PT, DPT, COMT, FAFS
Between the impact from hitting rocks, powering through corners, and even the stress of simply pedaling, your body and your bike go through a lot on the mountain. You need to be ready for the hard climbs and fast downhills that each trail offers. Your back, hips, and ankles all need[…]
The First Game Back: An Athletic Trainer’s Perspective
The role an athletic trainer plays within a professional sports organization can vary from team to team, but one thing never changes: providing the best care for the athletes they treat and work with daily. Spooner’s Athletic Trainer, Greg Spence, MA, ATC, provides us with a glimpse into his role in helping Phoenix Rising athletes return to play.
As the team[…]
Preventing Overuse Injuries: Triathlons
By: Alix Ungaretti, PT, DPT, CSCS
Cap and goggles at the ready, bike staged, and sun blazing. Triathlons are an exciting event, be it a relay or individual event. USA Triathlon – the sports governing body – sanctions more than 4,300 races every year with nearly 400,000 members. It is composed of athletes of all ages and abilities. The sports[…]
What Are Kinetic Chain Reactions?
By: Emily Stafford, PT, DPT, CAFS, FAFS
Think about a row of dominos. If you push one over, all of the others lined up behind it inevitably fall. This occurrence is similar to how our bodies work. One action, one movement, creates a ripple effect of other movements to help our body stand up against gravity, move forward,[…]
Running Warm-Up for Glute Activation
By: Michelle Reed, PT, DPT
Running is one of those sports where you can very easily lace up your shoes, maybe do a few stretches, and hit the road. You can try to say that the “slower” first mile is your warm-up, and that you’ll make it up in stretching after. I’ve been there. But these habits DO catch up with[…]
Small but Mighty Muscles
By: Dillon Moeller, PT, DPT, FAFS
When you think about overhead strength, you might first think about the bigger upper body muscles like deltoids and lats. However, it is your small but mighty muscles that allow you to perform at the highest level. We talked to Dillon Moeller, PT, DPT, FAFS, about what he teaches baseball, softball, and CrossFit athletes who[…]
How to Build Tendon Strength: Eccentric, Isometric, and Plyometric Training
Connective tissue health is not a common concern for fitness training goals, but it should be considered for longevity of training. Tendons, ligaments, and fascia are all connective tissues which are made of collagen, and collagen synthesis is the growth of those tissues. Connective tissue health, such as tendons, play a large role in injury prevention as well as performance.[…]
4 Benefits of Eccentric Exercise
By: Kimberly Wolf-King, PT, DPT
Think about the activities you do every day – getting up and out of bed, lowering yourself to sit, grabbing a dish from the cabinet and putting it gently down onto the counter. All of these tasks require you to work against gravity, meaning they are all eccentric.
What Is Eccentric Movement?
Eccentric movement is[…]
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