The Uncommon Blog

Ankle sprains are one of the most common sports injuries. While they often get brushed off as “just a sprain,” how an athlete manages the first few days can determine whether they’re back in the game in two weeks—or sitting out for two months. To show why early intervention matters, let’s look at the stories of two of my recent athletes with the same injury but very different paths: Andrew and Lee. Andrew’s Story: Early...

A Breakthrough Moment Years in the Making   Tommy Fleetwood had long been one of golf’s most talented players—a regular presence in tournaments, often on the leaderboard, but without a PGA Tour title to show for it—until his first-ever PGA Tour victory (and FedEx Cup) at the Tour Championship in Atlanta this past Sunday. That breakthrough didn’t come by accident; it was the result of years of hard work, near-misses, and quiet determination. With that...

There are many health and fitness benefits to resistance training.  Not only does it enhance muscular strength, it improves fundamental movement skills, increases bone mineral density, improves cardiorespiratory function, helps in weight management and body composition, and reduces injury risk in sport.   Despite the established benefits of resistance training, many health care professionals, teachers, coaches and parents have been led to believe that it is inappropriate to implement at the youth level.  Probably the...

Check out our interview by sports anchor Jeh Jeh Pruitt with Fox 6 WBRC! We are proud to sponsor this weekend’s Alabama Speedgolf Open benefitting the Ronald McDonald House! For more information, check out https://www.speedgolfusa.com.

Over the last several weeks I have received a number of inquiries pertaining to cash-based physical therapy, given that our clinic functions under this payment model.  For those that have asked, and for others that may be curious, let me clarify what this payment system is and what it means for you. In the most simplistic terms, a cash-based practice is one in which the clinicians do not accept insurance payments, accepting only direct payments...

Let me state the obvious:  It is HOT outside!  REALLY HOT! This week I’ve been providing medical coverage for a local youth soccer camp.  While I do not anticipate (and certainly do not wish to see) any significant injuries, my biggest concern has been the development of a heat-related illness in an athlete. The prevention, recognition and treatment of exertional heat illnesses are major focuses of the on-field sports medicine team at all levels of...

One of the main priorities of rehabilitation after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is the restoration of quadriceps strength.  While there is certainly considerable pain, swelling, temporary loss of motion and reduced function associated with the surgical procedure, it has been estimated that approximately 30% of patients demonstrate quadriceps strength deficits up to 12 months after surgery, and those deficits can be as high as 30% years after the procedure.  This is important, as these...