Sports Rehab and Performance

Sports

REHAB AND PERFOMANCE

Patient Running On The Treadmill — Murrysville, PA — Alliance Physical Therapy

Sports is the ultimate test of body optimization and presents an exciting challenge for us as physical therapists. We need to balance an appropriate timeline for return to activity along with your desire to return. This guidance is something that needs to be professionally monitored to ensure as low a risk of re-injury as possible. Our staff at Alliance has experience working with some of the best athletes in the world at elite training camps, the United States Olympic Training Center, and national championship events.

Slow Motion Video Analysis

The athletic body in movement is a beautiful and complex thing. Giving an athlete an understand of how he or she is moving can provide them with a competitive edge. Further, being able to understand what must be done to improve efficiency of movement can increase speed and decrease injury risk. Identifying these subtle movement deficits requires a skilled eye and understanding of human movement, but coaching the athlete to change the way they are moving is the extreme challenge of this process. Our clinicians have experience working with athletes of all ability levels and have produced lasting results in these athletes. See our videos below!

Endurance Athlete Program

At Alliance, we recognize the unique nature of the endurance athlete, and this recognition is what truly sets us apart from other providers. Through our Endurance Athlete Program, we can both manage injuries and enhance performance through our expert staff, and the utilization of technology. We also have been trained in and can perform in-depth clinically-based bike fitting (using technology from BikeFit) at our Murrysville location. Additionally, in the Murrysville facility, we are equipped with an Endless Pool, which allows us to analyze the swim stroke from all angles with video review. The primary goal of this program is to optimize health and performance for safe participation in whatever endurance sport you choose.

Functional Movement Screen

The Functional Movement Screen that allows us an opportunity to quantify your quality of movement. This screen can help us determine both your need for physical therapy and your potential for future injury. It is also a very helpful tool at your discharge visit from physical therapy to help us ensure you will be able to continue to stay on your path back to better health.

https://www.functionalmovement.com/

Normatec Compression

NormaTec is the ultimate recovery device. The technology can increase circulation and improve mobility for those who work out regularly, are training for a competition or race, experience swollen legs from traveling frequently, stand for long hours on the job, or suffer from inflammation, sore muscles, or other circulatory issues. NormaTec is used extensively in professional athletics and is utilized for both rehab and recovery by 97% of pro teams, as well as Olympic and elite athletes across a broad spectrum of sports.

The NormaTec PULSE Series is a pneumatic compression device that utilizes patented technology to increase circulation to the limbs. NormaTec was founded by a physician and bioengineer as a medical company to help treat circulatory conditions. They later worked directly with top athletic programs to develop the NormaTec PULSE Series. Using NormaTec’s leg, arm, or hip attachments boosts blood flow and reduces pain and soreness. In addition to these benefits, studies show that NormaTec decreases inflammation, clears metabolites, and increases range of motion.

NormaTec pairs compression with a sophisticated massage pattern, employing three key forms of biomimicry, including pulsing, gradients, and distal release. The patented pulsing action uses dynamic compression, effectively mimicking the muscle pump of the legs and arms, to greatly enhance the movement of fluid and metabolites out of the limbs. NormaTec utilizes hold pressures similar to the one-way valves of veins and lymphatic vessels, preventing fluid backflow, and enhancing the natural circulatory flow. The distal release feature releases hold pressures once they are no longer needed, ensuring that each portion of the limb gains maximal rest time without a significant pause between compression cycles.

NormaTec is a clinically proven method to enhance recovery and reduce pain and soreness. The user will first experience a pre-inflate cycle, during which the attachments fill with air to calibrate and mold to their exact body shape. The session will then begin by compressing the feet, hands, or upper quad (depending on which attachment you are using.) Similar to the kneading and stroking done during a massage, each segment of the attachment will first compress in a pulsing manner and then release. This will repeat for each segment of the attachment as the compression pattern works its way up the limb. This stimulates blood flow, massages the muscles, and works in harmony with the body’s circulatory system to mobilize fluid out of the extremities and back up towards the heart.