Children and Sports: Specialize or Not?

As PT's, we think this article has some good thoughts for parents of young children in regards to sports, and if children should specialize in one, or consider playing multiple sports.

Danica Patrick - Lucky to be Married to a PT?

Danica Patrick: 'I actually feel better today'

 

By GODWIN KELLY, MOTORSPORTS EDITOR

 

Danica Patrick, who crashed hard in Thursday's first qualifying race, was all smiles during a morning press conference with the worldwide media covering Speedweeks at Daytona International Speedway.

Patrick confirmed she intentionally took her hands off the steering wheel seconds before contacting the inside retaining wall in her No. 10 Stewart-Haas Racing Chevrolet.

"I was trained when there is no saving it and no hope you let go," Patrick said. "I didn't cover my eyes (with my hands) but I did close them because I didn't want my eyes to pop out of my head."
"(Releasing the wheel) is an IndyCar Series thing. I just don't see the point of keeping my hands on anything that will tangle up in a crash."

Patrick said she hit a foot on the clutch pedal and hit her arm on the seat because of the angle of the crash."I actually feel better today," the 29-year-old driver said. "Last night it was starting to get sore. My husband is a physical therapist and he's got a lot of good tricks."

Patrick said her crash on the last lap of the first Gatorade Duel At Daytona was a "disappointment" but she has high hopes for the weekend.

"The worst time for me to crash is in the first couple of laps or last couple of laps," she said. "The good side to that is that I got experience. I was one mile short of finishing.

"The team has been very supportive. They said, 'Don't worry about the car. As long as you are good, as long as you like the car, then we got a great backup for you.'"

Young Athletes: Burnout, and Avoiding Overuse Injury

Nice article below from the Sun Sentinel, discussing the trend these days in athletes specializing at an early age, and the potential negative side-effects. If you have or know a young athlete, consider checking this out. Have a great weekend!

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/highschool/fl-part-four-year-round-burnout-0803-20110802,0,674573.story

Biking: Proper Fit and Tips to Avoid Injury

Our experienced bikers out there: don't hesitate to give feedback, thoughts, or tips/advice for us  (leave in the Comments Section). Thanks!

Biking

Bicycle-related pain and injuries are commonly associated with poor bike fit. Following these tips will help you minimize the risk of injury:

Postural Tips

• Change hand position on the handlebars frequently for upper body comfort.
• Keep a controlled but relaxed grip of the handlebars.
• When pedaling, your knee should be slightly bent at the bottom of the pedal stroke. Avoid rocking your hips while pedaling.

Common Bicycling Pains

• Anterior (Front) Knee Pain. Possible causes are having a saddle that is too low, pedaling at a low cadence (speed), using your quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals, and muscle imbalance in your legs (strong quadriceps and weak hamstrings).
• Neck Pain. Possible causes include poor handlebar or saddle position. A poorly placed handlebar might be too low, at too great a reach, or at too short a reach. A saddle with excessive downward tilt can be a source of neck pain.
• Lower Back Pain. Possible causes include inflexible hamstrings, low cadence, using your quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, poor back strength, and too-long or too-low handlebars.
• Hamstring Tendinitis. Possible causes are inflexible hamstrings, high saddle, misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals, and poor hamstring strength.
• Hand Numbness or Pain. Possible causes are short-reach handlebars, poorly placed brake levers, and a downward tilt of the saddle.
• Foot Numbness or Pain. Possible causes are using quadriceps muscles too much in pedaling, low cadence, faulty foot mechanics, and misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals.
• Ilio-Tibial Band Tendinitis. Possible causes are too-high saddle, leg length difference, and misaligned bicycle cleat for those who use clipless pedals.