McKenzie Sports Therapy

Skiing with a Bum Knee: A Guide to Pain-Free Powder Days

For many, the winter season is synonymous with the thrill of skiing. The crisp mountain air, the breathtaking views, and the exhilarating feeling of gliding down a snowy slope are hard to resist. However, for those dealing with chronic knee pain, the prospect of skiing can be daunting. This brings us to Laura, a former … Read more

Growth Spurts, Sports, and Jumper’s Knee: A Recipe for Trouble

A common complaint among children as they are growing is lower leg pain. As parents and coaches, we write this off as growing pains that will eventually wane. However, for many young athletes, another issue is at play.  Jumper’s knee, also known as patellar tendinopathy, is a common overuse injury that plagues athletes across various … Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Increasing Pitching Velocity in Baseball

baseball pitching velocity

When it comes to dominating on the mound, few attributes are as admired—and as pursued—as pitching velocity. From high school prospects to professional pitchers, the desire to throw harder has become a driving force in modern baseball. While velocity isn’t the only measure of success, there’s no denying its role in intimidating batters, increasing strikeouts, … Read more

Baseball Injuries: The 5 Most Common Issues & How to Stay in the Game

Introduction: Why Baseball Injuries Are More Common Than You Think Baseball is a game of precision, power, and endurance—but it’s also a sport that takes a huge toll on your body. From powerful throws to explosive swings, your joints, muscles, and ligaments absorb a ton of force. Yet, most athletes don’t take injury prevention seriously … Read more

At-Home Learning: Don’t Overlook Physical Activity

As the school year gains momentum during the COVID crisis and more kids and families adjust to various levels of at-home learning, parents and instructors should not overlook what should be a standard facet of all children’s curriculum: physical activity.  Kids need to be given time to move around, exercise and play, even as they adjust to a new structure and … Read more

Debunking Common Fall Prevention Myths

Every September during National Falls Prevention Week (Sept. 21-25, 2020), physical therapists join other medical professions across the country in reminding Americans that falls are not just common among older Americans. They’re often debilitating, costly and even deadly.  They’re also largely preventable, says Philadelphia physical therapist Chris McKenzie.  “Falls present a real public health problem among older adults, but … Read more

Our Knees: ‘Canaries in the Coal Mine’ of Movement & Exercise Issues

Despite being the largest and perhaps most complicated joints in our bodies, our knees are naturally docile.  They’re easily influenced by what’s going on above and below them, in other words, not making many decisions on their own.  That’s why when one experiences knee pain, the true causes of the joint’s wear and tear can almost always be traced up or down the leg – oftentimes in both directions.  … Read more

Prevent Injury When Returning to Activity

After nearly six months of home quarantines, social distancing, gym closures, and cancelled/postponed athletic seasons, it’s been difficult for many to maintain consistent workout routines.  But, as more people begin settling into “new normals” related to work, parenting, masking and so on, personal health is once again taking a greater role in people’s lives. While this should be … Read more

DIY Safety: Treat Home Improvement Projects Like a Workout

The past several weeks has proven that most people are not inclined to sit idle at home as the world protects itself from the coronavirus. On the contrary, as people spend more time social distancing, DIY home improvement projects have surged.  Related box stores have reported increased profits, and some industry surveys (i.e., Fixr.com) show that two in three homeowners have taken advantage of COVID lockdowns to complete more projects in and around their homes.  So, as people put more effort toward building, fixing, improving and upgrading aspects of … Read more