Physical Therapy Blog

You might have heard about concussions in sports news, specifically within the NFL. Football players incur many head injuries due to the nature of their sport, and concussion protocols have been significantly improved in recent years to ensure players get the treatment they need as quickly as possible, including changes to helmet design. But football is not the only sport with a risk of head injuries - cheerleading, gymnastics, and many other sports have an inherent risk of concussions. You do not have to be an athlete to be at risk for a concussion; falls and car accidents can also cause them. So what do you do if you or someone you know gets a concussion? What is the treatment protocol? 

Every single cartwheel, back handspring, or split a gymnast performs relies on the flexibility and strength of their hip joints. Think about it: each bend or stretch can push the joint to the end of its range of motion, and with the amount of bending and stretching a gymnast does each practice, the joint can become stressed. So how do you ensure that your hips continue to stay healthy and withstand the impact of your skills? 

We all know the strength required to participate in a sport like gymnastics, but how do gymnasts develop strength? What is their normal workout routine? When you think of these workouts, weightlifting may not be the first thing that comes to mind. Gymnasts must be incredibly agile - they can’t be too bulky by lifting heavy and still perform at a high level, right? This thought process is a common myth throughout the gymnastics community, but in reality, weight training can be instrumental in staying healthy, preventing injury, and promoting the longevity of a gymnast’s career. But what would this look like, and how would you have the time to fit it into an already-packed training schedule? 

When you are looking for a gymnastics gym for yourself or your child, it can be challenging to narrow down your options. Many communities have multiple options for gymnastics, and Birmingham is no exception. We have a thriving gymnastics community in our city with many nationally-ranked competition teams. With so many choices of gyms in the area, how do you decide which one to join for your or your child’s gymnastics career?  

Gymnastics is a rigorous sport. Every skill required of these athletes puts significant stress on their bodies, increasing the gymnast’s risk of injury. So what happens when a gymnast’s body cannot perform? How can they continue to improve while not overtraining? 

A joint replacement surgery is a major procedure, and your body needs ample time after to recover. After surgery, your next step is to ensure you are doing the best things for your body so that you can return to the activities you love as soon as possible. But how do you know you are doing the right things? What can you do to help yourself recover in a timely manner?