Starting your Preseason Training? Begin with a Preseason Screening!

Introducing a New Service at Girl Fit – Preseason Screenings!

We are approaching the halfway mark of summer and we here at Girl Fit have already been seeing and treating a number of athletes who are in preseason training for their upcoming fall sports! A new service we are now offering at Girl Fit PT in Newton is a preseason screening.

What is a preseason screening?

Our physical therapists specialize not only in working with female athletes who have been injured but also in injury prevention. A preseason screening is a comprehensive assessment that looks at a variety of different aspects of sports performance including, but not limited to: strength, endurance, balance, agility and plyometrics. These are just a few of the factors that can influence your overall safety and performance during sports participation.

How will this aide in my preseason training?

The results of your screening can help you to tailor your preseason training to improve your readiness for the season as well as your overall performance once in season. During follow up assessments we are also able to look at more specific aspects of sports performance that are tailored to the individual, their sport and their position.

How can this relate to injury prevention?

Although it is important to work on sport-specific skills during preseason, it is equally as important to have a well-established strength and resistance training program. It is well documented that youth athletes who participate in resistance training have the potential to increase their strength and their performance, which in turn has been associated with a reduced risk for injury. More specifically, research has shown that strength training combined with plyometric exercises can reduce the risk of sports-related ACL injuries in adolescent girls. Unfortunately ACL injuries are one of the most common field sport injuries that we treat; they are especially common in soccer players. We see firsthand how devastating it can be for an athlete to miss out on their season due to an injury such as this one. Our goal is to help athletes identify areas of performance that would benefit from improvements and then help them to start addressing these areas during their preseason in hopes of reducing their risk for injury once the season begins.

What will my preseason screening consist of?

Each preseason screening will consist of a 45 minute one-on-one session with a physical therapist who specializes in treating female athletes. We will take you through a variety of tests that will help us get a better understanding of your current performance and allow us to establish a baseline from which to build.

How should I incorporate my screening results into my preseason training?

After your preseason screening we will take the results of your tests and develop an individually tailored exercise program for you to work on each week alongside your typical preseason training routine. We can also provide education on other aspects of sports performance such as nutrition, hydration, sleep and rest/recovery – all important factors that have been associated with injury prevention. Those interested may then book additional follow up appointments for a more in depth screening or to continue progressing your exercise program while completing a highly skilled and sports-specific workout. These appointments are also 45 minute one-on-one sessions.

We here at Girl Fit want to empower our athletes by giving them all of the tools they need to have a successful season. If you are interested in having a preseason screening or learning more, please feel free to call or email our office to set up an appointment! We can’t wait to help you get the most out of your preseason training!