True of False? No pain - No gain

While our kids are growing rapidly in their pre-teens and teens, their bodies change in many ways. They grow taller, their hips widen, their feet change, and they gain significant weight. All of these changes place new stresses on their musculoskeletal system which takes time to adapt.

For those who are active and sports oriented, these changes may cause “growing pains” making participation in their activities painful. More stress is added through increased intensity of activity as they begin to compete at higher levels of competition, leading to repetitive stress and overuse injuries. These injuries may include tendonitis, stress fractures, sprains and strains throughout the body. If not addressed, these problems can derail a sports season or become lifelong problems.

What To Look For…

As a parent, the best sign to look for is pain. Some muscle soreness is to be expected, especially at the beginning of a season. Soreness should subside quickly as the body gets used to the new workload. Pain in a specific joint is rare in healthy adolescents therefore, if their soreness increases or becomes painful, your child may have an injury. Local pain in a joint is frequently the sign of an injury. Common injuries in teens are chondromalacia patella (pain under the knee cap), Osgood Schlatters (pain just below the knee on the tibia), shin splints, stress fractures, and ankle sprains.

As a parent it is important to listen to the concerns of your child. “No pain, No gain” is not always true, and can be harmful. It is important to monitor training schedules and have breaks to recover between seasons and large tournaments. If problems do arise, have your child evaluated by a physician or physical therapist. Once a problem is identified solutions such as exercise training, stretching, or bracing can usually solve the problem and get your child back on the field safely.

TOPIC OF THE MONTH - Selective Functional Movement Assessment

Do you ever wonder why you suffer from repetitive or chronic injuries that seem to be unrelated to any injury? Or do you ever wonder why you don’t perform as well athletically as other people? Do you feel like you work out and you don’t progress as well as you feel you should. Then the SFMA could be for you.

SFMA stands for Selective Functional Movement Assessment .This is a test designed to look at movement throughout your entire body to determine any limitations in mobility and stability you may have. These limitations may be underlying factors in any chronic problems or reduced performance you may be experiencing in your life. Frequently a restriction or weakness in one joint or area of your body can lead to limitations in a movement pattern that affects your whole body. The SFMA can help you pinpoint these limitations.

Once the SMFA identifies specific restrictions, your physical therapist can design a program to specifically address them. With a more individualized program you can be sure that you are doing the most effective work out routine and not wasting time and energy exercising areas that don’t need it. This will also allow you to address an area that may be leading to chronic pain and dysfunction and eliminate some unneeded aches and pains.

The SMFA is now available at Ascent Physical Therapy. Call 970.949.9966 to schedule an appointment and get your-self fit for summer.

Ascent Physical Therapy is GROWING

We are excited to announce that we will be opening a second clinic on July 11^th 2011 in Eagle at 341 Broadway. The new facility, in the heart of downtown Eagle will benefit our local patients living or working in the Gypsum/Eagle region. With clinics in Avon and Eagle, we feel we are providing our patients with a greater choice of health care provision. We look forward to having the opportunity to serve our patients in this new location.

Your input is very valuable to us! We welcome any suggestions you may have as to what we should incorporate into our new clinic. Please feel free to leave a post or email us with any information you believe will help us obtain the results for our patients that they deserve.

New PT to the team!

Ashley Dentler received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. She is certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the National Strength and Conditioning Association. She has had training in the areas of outpatient orthopedics, neuromuscular rehabilitation and functional movement therapy.

While at Northeastern, she succeeded in enhancing the learning and teaching environments for Physical Therapy curriculum as well as serving as a Teaching Assistant in multiple courses.

A Rhode Island native, Ashley is an avid runner, skier and swimmer and is looking to continue her love of the outdoors in Colorado. “I am thrilled to be a part of a community of people who share my passion and love of an active life style. It is an honor and privilege to join this team of professionals as we work to better the lives of our community.”

Ashley will be working at our Avon office Tuesdays and Fridays and the new Eagle office on Monday and Thursdays. To schedule appointments with her call 970.949.9966

TOPIC OF THE MONTH - Exercise for a Better Golf Game

The golf season is here and many of us are ready to hit the links and start golfing. We all want to stay healthy and play the best that we can. Five areas determine how well a golfer can play:

1. Natural talent - the athletic ability and talent we are born with
2. Skill - which can be improved through working with a pro and practicing
3. Equipment - which can add accuracy and distance
4. Mental game - such as course management and maintaining composure while playing
5. Physical preparation - addressing your body’s physical characteristics through exercise and stretching to improve your game

Many golfers spend considerable time and effort on practicing, taking lessons, and buying the best equipment. But, many golfers never address their most important piece of equipment, their body. Golf requires specific physical conditioning like any other sport.

The ideal golf swing requires flexibility, strength, balance and endurance. Many golfers neglect some of these critical components when attempting to improve their game. If a golfer has weaknesses in any of these areas they may make compensations in their swing, causing inconsistency or increased physical stresses on their body. These stresses can lead to pain and injury if they continue.

A regular exercise routine can address most of these strength, balance, and flexibility issues. Strength is important to control the club, maintain proper postures, and generate power. The key areas of strength to work on are core strength including lower abdominals and back muscles, scapular muscle strength, rotator cuff strength, and wrist and grip strength. Flexibility is important to allow proper set up posture and to maximize your ability to turn. Areas that frequently cause problems are hip rotation, thoracic spine extension and rotation, neck rotation, and shoulder flexibility. Balance is important to allow a full transition of weight throughout the swing. With poor balance power is lost or severe swing compensations are made. Endurance is important to allow a golfer to play a full round. Golfers with poor endurance will notice their play deteriorating toward the end of their round.

A physical therapist trained in proper golf technique can evaluate your body for the physical components of a proper golf swing. From this evaluation an individualized program can be developed to improve your game and keep you healthier.

Featured Physician of the Month - Dr. John Paul Elton

Meet an Associate of Ascent Physical Therapy, and this month's featured Physician:

Vail-Summit Orthopaedics

Dr. John Paul Elton

Specialty: Foot and Ankle

After completing his Orthopaedic surgery residency in San Antonio, Texas, and his fellowship training in Boston, Massachusetts, Dr. Elton is delighted to be back in Colorado where he completed his under-graduate and medical school education.


Dr. Elton's fellowship training has given him the expertise to handle the full spectrum of foot and ankle disorders: from sports injuries and fractures, to nerve and tendon disorders, deformities and chronic pain. He emphasizes that most non-traumatic injuries can be resolved with non-operative treatment.

Dr. Elton is an avid cyclist and enjoys skiing and snowboarding, as well as camping and hiking with his wife and two children.

Do you have pain?

Take the first step in dealing with your pain, by calling for a FREE physical therapy evaluation!

Ascent Physical Therapy can help RELIEVE your pain, RETRAIN your movement, and RESTORE your function!

A FREE evaluation includes:
• One-on-one consultation with one of our experienced Physical Therapists.
• Evaluation of the problem, which involves testing your movement, strength and function.
• Discussion of the problem, evaluation findings and your treatment options.
• An opportunity to ask questions regarding your pain and learn about the benefits of Physical Therapy.

Call us today on 970.949.9966 to set up your free evaluation.