Maybe you’ve seen the words “Performance Therapy” before, and maybe you haven't - welcome! Whether you're new to the concept or have explored the topic before, performance therapy doesn’t sound like it would be similar to physical therapy, but it doesn’t sound like it would fall under personal training either.
So, what is Performance Therapy and why should you care?
As an athlete, you've been to a Physical Therapist before... and were probably disappointed. Don't get me wrong, I'm currently a Physical Therapist at a local clinic. There are similarities in what I do there and what I do with Valley Forge PT - my goal is always to optimize function. Where the road starts to fork is in the definition of function. Most of what I do during my day job is help people get back to Activities of Daily Living (i.e. lifting dishes into a cabinet, climbing a flight of stairs, getting in and out of a chair, simply walking). Providing my patients this service is important, crucial in most circumstances. 'So why don't you just provide performance therapy during your day job?' - a very astute observation. Here's the rub; most physical therapists want to do more but can't. Insurances often restrict how many visits and what types of services will be paid for.
Enter performance therapy, built on a cash-only model. The cash-only portion will be discussed in more detail at a later date. For the purposes of this article, it simply means I can treat based on what's in the best interest of athletes. At its most basic function, performance therapy is an ongoing collaboration between an athlete and therapist to optimize movement, decrease the risk of injury, and enhance performa
nce. Performance doesn’t necessarily mean for a sport, like an NFL player or an elite CrossFit athlete, it can be whatever YOUR performance is. For many of us, this might just be wanting to mo
ve better in a squat or clean, being able to play a game of pick-up basketball without fear of rolling an ankle, or just being able to chase after and pick up your kids.
How does Performance Therapy work?
There are four components that make up performance therapy. These include a movement assessment, manual therapies, corrective exercises, and strength training. Each of these components works together to get the athlete moving in the most optimal way to maximize movement and performance potential - effectively decreasing the risk of injury. A performance therapist will NOT be an expert in any given athlete’s discipline. They are, however, an expert in unlocking an athlete's potential to make those oh-so-desired gains. For example, if a runner wants to decrease their mile time by 30 seconds, they wouldn't get specific training techniques on how to improve their speed and running cadence, this would be a role for a running coach. What they will get is an assessment of how their body moves, ways to help it move better, and increase strength so they feel better while running.
You wouldn’t climb Mount Everest without a hiking pack, food, and warm clothing - at least I certainly wouldn't. Without the proper equipment, you put yourself in an unfortunate situation with the chances of reaching the Mount's summit slim-to-none. Usually, people trying to accomplish this feat have a guide who ensures they have the right equipment and are fully prepared to embark on the arduous journey. Like said guide, a performance therapist will give you the proper tools you need to pursue your goals. Sound like the help you need? Fill out our contact card to get started.
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