Research Roundup- Success in Volleyball, Training Power in Hockey, and Return-to-Kicking Program for Soccer

Future Elite Success in Volleyball-  What does it take? A recent study  showed that tests of motor coordination (balance, jumping, lateral movement, and upper body coordination) in volleyball players were predictors of success in addition to the athlete’s height and vertical jump height.  In fact, these three tests were able to predict playing levels in volleyball players 5 years later.   … Read More

Research Roundup- Baseball Edition

Could hip strengthening help you become a better pitcher?  You bet it can!  Multiple studies (here, here, or even here) including this recent one, have shown that the hip muscles are active during baseball pitching.   The study also showed the importance of the muscles around the shoulder blade (the scapular stabilizers). The pitching motion requires total body strength-  Include hip and core strengthening in … Read More

Compression Socks for Marathon Runners- Do They Really Help?

Compression socks are popular among runners, who wear them to recover from long runs, races, or workouts.  The socks improve circulation in the diabetic population by stimulating blood flow.  Manufacturers claim that compression garments improves oxygen delivery, reduce lactic acid and prevent cramps in athletes.  But are these claims true?  Recently, the Journal of Orthopaedic and Sports Physical Therapy published … Read More

Does Kinesiotape Really Work?

Kinesiology tape, kinesiotape, or just “that fancy tape the Olympic athletes use” has been a big trend in sports medicine.  But does it work?  How about for hamstring injuries?  A recent study compared the tape to traditional stretching and also to a type of stretching called PNF, or proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (Wikipedia definition or the more scholarly  one here) The PNF stretching … Read More

Movement Analysis is Essential for Rehab and Performance

A few months ago, Sports Illustrated profiled Dr. Marcus Elliott and his sports motion analysis lab at P3.  Motion analysis can screen for injuries before they happen or help to determine when an athlete is ready to return to the field.   It’s one of the most powerful tools in sports medicine today. Athletes can undergo motion analysis without the cost … Read More

How Necessary is Hamstring Strengthening for Preventing ACL Injury?

FOR ATHLETES:   Bottom line info you need to #GETBETTER The hamstring muscles work with the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) to maintain knee stability during sports.  Research over the past few years has shown that females who injured their ACL’s had weaker hamstrings than uninjured females or males.  Because of this, the sports medicine community thought that strengthening the hamstrings … Read More