TherapySouth offers many services to help you meet your fitness goals. TherapySouth developed its wellness services to target the weekend warrior. From first-timers wanting to get up and move, to seasoned gym veterans, Hannah Cox, PT, DPT from TherapySouth works with all ages and abilities, whether you’re overcoming an existing issue or hoping to prevent exercise injuries.
Hannah started her physical therapy career at TherapySouth in Vestavia after graduating UAB’s physical therapy doctoral program in 2015. Hannah treats a wide variety of orthopedics, but she is particularly passionate about working with individuals that play tennis, soccer, and run. She says it is easier to prevent an injury than it is to treat a nagging condition. Trust her-she spent many years as a physical therapy patient before she became a physical therapist!
Hannah shares her three strategies to help you get ahead of your fitness goals to prevent injury.
Movement Screen
The most common service is a movement screen. The movement screen provides the therapist an opportunity to evaluate muscle and joint stiffness throughout the entire body. This helps address any weakness or asymmetries with movement that could lead to injury later. Ultimately, the client is provided with a personalized strengthening and mobility regimen that targets areas that would otherwise predispose the client to injury.
Additionally, the therapist will review proper form for desired activities. For example, if a therapist observes poor squat form, she will provide a personalized mobility and strengthening plan in addition to teaching the proper biomechanics for different types of squats. Whether your goal is to start lifting weights at home or prepare for a workout class (Burn Boot Camp, OrangeTheory, IronTribe, CrossFit, etc.) the therapist will teach you appropriate exercise techniques and biomechanics to prevent you from becoming sidelined.
Get Hands On
Another option to ward off aches and pains is the “hands on” technique. TherapySouth offers soft tissue mobilization, dry needling, joint mobilization, manual stretching, VooDoo Floss techniques, and taping to enhance performance. Oftentimes with the arrival of good weather, people ramp up their activity too quickly, leading to limited range of motion, muscle stiffness, and joint aches. Hands on care relieves these common complaints and improves the recovery time between workout bouts.
Dry needling is the technique Hannah uses most often, even though it sounds the most unappealing. It is incredibly effective at preventing and relieving nagging conditions such as plantar fasciitis, tennis elbow, and low back pain. Additionally, your therapist can teach you how to recreate flossing techniques, instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization, and joint mobilizations at home. Most of Hannah’s competitive tennis and running clients maintain their mobility improvements with these techniques.
Form Evaluation
TherapySouth also provides running evaluations to identify inefficiencies in form that put a client at risk for injury or poor performance. Based off the results of the running evaluation, the therapists can make recommendations for strengthening, mobilization, or hands on care to meet their clients’ specific needs. It is highly recommended to get a running evaluation if you have set a goal to increase your race distance or if you combat chronic injury from running. Spring and summer months are a great time to have a running evaluation performed because most races are in the fall and winter. This allows clients several months to practice their new form and focus on the prescribed treatment regimen.
Hannah sees a lot of injuries when people begin biking, whether it be road biking or riding a stationary bike. Although biking is a low-impact sport, it requires a lot of flexibility from the spine and hips. TherapySouth therapists are able to assist in appropriate bike fittings or mobility recommendations to prevent knee and low back pain in cyclists.
Hannah encourages anyone who is starting a new sport or increasing their activity levels to take advantage of TherapySouth’s wellness programs. An injury could sideline you for several weeks, but taking advantage of these wellness programs will help you avoid that. (And they’ll help you not feel your age while getting back into activities!)
