About 50% of the injuries to figure skaters are considered overuse injuries.  Overuse injuries are the result of your bone, tendons, and ligaments being subject to more stress than they are capable of handling.  The number one cause of overuse injuries is training error.  It is very important for figure skaters to exercise off the ice.  Just like you need a coach for your on ice training, you need a coach for your off ice training.  Your training should follow a specific schedule that increases and decreases throughout the year.  This is called periodization. 

Periodization of training allows the body to recover and adapt to the changing demands on your body throughout the season.  Another good idea is to have regular musculoskeletal screening by a physical therapist to identify imbalances in strength or flexibility so off - ice training adjustments can be made before any problems arise.  It is also recommended that year round athletes have a physical from their physician each year.

If pain has developed and has lasted more than two weeks, you should see your sports medicine physician and obtain a referral for physical therapy.  You can work with your physical therapist on treating the problem as well as identifying and correcting the cause.  A physical therapist who is familiar with figure skating can be an invaluable problem solving partner in dealing with pain and mechanical issues.

It is important to deal with pain issues sooner than later before long term problems develop and before mechanical issues become more difficult to correct.  It is necessary not to ignore a possible overuse injury because if left untreated, they can become more severe and make life no fun for the young skater.

Physical therapy has been shown to be effective for many different problems.  If you have started to notice pain that is starting to affect what you do, when you do it, and how long you do it for, then it may be time for you to talk to your doctor about seeing a physical therapist for this pain.  This is especially true for student athletes.  Pain in children can be a sign of an overuse problem.  Overuse problems can be progressive so it is important to identify and eliminate or control the cause.  Letting pain ”fester” for long periods of time after an injury or car accident is also not a good idea as this can lead to changes in the way your body’s mechanics work, ultimately affecting your function.  In each scenario your physical therapist will function as a problem solver working with you to develop a strategy for your return to your life.  In all cases you would first need to see your physician and request a referral to physical therapy.  Contact the American Physical Therapy Association at www.apta.org to find a physical therapist near you or if you are in the Chicago suburbs visit us at www.ryndakphysicaltherapy.com.

In early December, our new 1200 square foot clinic will open to the public in Bloomingdale, IL!  We currently see patients in Wheaton, IL and will continue to do so.  Our new facility will provide physical therapy for weekend warriors, car accident victims, work injury patients, post surgical patients, pre-surgical patients, vestibular problems and the every day person whose pain or loss of function is interfering with their every day life.  But we have a special emphasis on the development, treatment, and research of student athletes!

Along with our physical therapy services we will also offer athlete development programs for figure skaters and baseball players.  Figure skaters have the opportunity to be assessed multiple times per year for imbalances in strength and flexibility.  They have the opportunity to learn about periodization of training for their entire year long season of off ice training.  Figure skaters also have the opportunity to train on the Vertimax to improve speed of rotation.  Baseball players have the opportunity to learn about how to take care of their rotator cuff, develop first step quickness using the Vertimax, and be assessed for strength and flexibility imbalances.

Visit us again for future topics in physical therapy and athlete development.  Visit our website www.ryndakphysicaltherapy.com