Athletic Assessment

Our Athletic Assessment program provides a specific sport-related evaluation of your posture, strength, core stability, flexibility and range of motion critical to reaching the full potential in the athletic activities you have chosen to participate. Whether it’s running, golf, cycling, dance or any other activity, we will assist you in achieving your optimal performance.

Marathon runner shaved 40+ min., golfer cut score by 5-10 strokes, ski jumper went further by simply breathing more efficiently

RUNNERS

For many runners, running represents fitness, fun, competition and a means of camaraderie with friends and family. Sometimes your passion for running or injuries can precipitate painful limitations, which can be a source of frustration. To prevent or overcome these limitations, IPA Manhattan Physical Therapy provide a thorough evaluation which includes in-depth analysis of your running mechanics. We begin by examining the way you walk; including a thorough assessment of your running shoes and orthotics. We will evaluate your footwear and how it contributes to the way you move. By breaking down the individual components of your gait and running mechanics we will develop an individualized comprehensive training and treatment program designed to overcome your presenting complaints, prevent future problems and optimize your performance. In a pilot study conducted at an IPA clinic, 2 runners decreased their half marathon times by an average of 9 minutes 12 seconds after 6 treatments. Our physical therapists are currently collaborating with Long Island University in a larger randomized control trial to further examine the impact of our treatment on pain-free runners and their running performance.

CYCLISTS

Many cyclists ride their bicycles for recreation, leisure, fitness, and competition. Unfortunately, most cyclists experience pain from cycling at some point in their lives. Even professional bike fitting, may not always solve your problem. Bike fits utilize fitting geometrics based on normal individuals. They generally do not take into consideration body mechanics, personal limitation, asymmetries and muscular imbalances. Fortunately, there is hope and a way to get back to riding without pain while simultaneously optimizing your performance. At IPA Manhattan Physical Therapy we combine our expert visual acuity with our manual therapy techniques, as well as utilize our extensive knowledge of biomechanics and posture that affect your cycling position and how you ride. Together we’ll find a solution to get to the root of any of your physical complaints to enhance your comfort and ultimately your performance on your bicycle.

YOGIS

Yoga can be an extremely beneficial activity for relaxation, meditation, and improving flexibility, breathing, strength and stability. There are many forms of Yoga and hundreds of different poses with varying degrees of difficulty. Whether you are a seasoned Yogi or just starting out, our physical therapists will first optimize your body’s ability to do Yoga then assist you by making appropriate recommendations for the poses that are best to meet your goals. More importantly, we will inform you of what poses to avoid to not exacerbate an old injury. Yoga should be enjoyed as a modality to enhance your health, not compromise it and add to your pain..

GOLFERS

The golf swing is one of the most biomechanically intricate motions in sports. One small change in timing, mobility, balance or spine angle can mean the difference between landing on the green or losing a ball in the water. The golf swing starts with your foot position and sequentially moves up the chain through the legs, to the pelvis, to the ribcage, to the shoulders…then the arms…hands…shaft…clubhead…and finally, IMPACT! There needs to be an appropriate acceleration of each segment followed by a deceleration as the rotational force moves toward impact. If any of the segments are accelerating prematurely, you will not only lose power and accuracy, you will also be more likely to have an injury. At IPA Manhattan Physical Therapy our physical therapists understand the proper biomechanics that the body needs to achieve in order to have a consistent swing. Our assessment and treatment not only increases your potential to achieve a lower handicap, our professional intervention lowers your risk for injury so you can continue to enjoy the sport you love.

TENNIS PLAYERS

Tennis should be a game enjoyed for a lifetime. However, the need to execute complicated mechanics for all strokes, repetitive motions, and high impact upper and lower body actions, one small change in timing, mobility, balance or form can turn a ‘good tennis day’ into a ‘bad one’. Continued play with even one of these factors compromised can remove the enjoyment of this sport from your life. Given the dynamics of the sport, an effective analysis of your playing mechanics consist of examining how you walk, your footwear, your playing mechanics and how all these factors contribute to your game. With Functional Manual Therapy™ you can expect changes that will translate into an immediate and positive impact on your court performance and the longevity of this sport in your life!

DANCERS

Whether you are a professional dancer or enjoy ballroom, hip-hop or ballet as a leisure activity, dancing is a high impact, aerobically demanding activity that requires precision, incredible strength, balance and flexibility. Minor biomechanical abnormalities anywhere in your body can change how your moves transfers energy through your body. These biomechanical changes increases demands on other parts of your body, leading to overuse and potential injury. IPA Manhattan physical therapists carefully examine your complex dance movements, identifying the individual components which may be contributing to either poor performance, difficulty with certain movements,and/or pain. Together we find a solution so you can continue to dance your way through life!

YOUR SPORT OF CHOICE

At IPA Manhattan Physical Therapy we will access and provide treatment designed to optimize your athletic performance in your sport of choice. Utilizing our advanced evaluation and treatment system called Functional Manual Therapy™, we first optimize your body’s functional potential and then work with you to achieve your optimal performance.