Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned player, understanding the fundamentals of baseball pitching mechanics is essential for success on the mound. This guide will delve into the basics, key elements for a powerful pitch, common mistakes to avoid, and effective drills and exercises to enhance your mechanics.Our goal is to equip you with the […]
Whether your children play soccer or football, being in shape prior to the season can help to prevent injuries while maximizing their game. Although it may seem that some sports are safer than others, the most important thing is to get your children prepared. For instance, youth football is often weight and age-matched, which can […]
Did you know? Over 60 million children and adolescents participate in youth sports in the United States each year. Aside from the many physical benefits of being active, children who participate in team sports also enjoy: Higher self-esteem Improved school and academic performance Less stress and better moods However, participating in youth sports also has […]
Any school break can be a training challenge for high school athletes, but summer has unique issues. Not only is the time off from school and practice longer than at other breaks, but summer heat also adds a formidable risk factor. Unquestionably, consistent conditioning is vital for athletes to maintain competitive fitness. The risk of […]
A great sport for building endurance, dexterity, speed, agility, coordination and teamwork, soccer is a game played by both boys and girls. As far as safety is concerned, the injury rate in soccer is estimated to be between one-fifth and one-half that of football, America’s other favorite fall sport. Still, with more than three million […]
As your child prepares for the spring baseball season, your first concern should be helping him or her prevent injury. Most injuries to pitchers come from three sources: overuse, poor throwing mechanics and improper conditioning. In fact, Little League baseball has become so concerned about youth pitching injuries that they have developed pitch count regulations […]
Your preteen soccer player comes home from practice complaining of knee pain, and there is a tender swelling at the top of his shin. Your 8-year-old starts limping and talking about a gradually increasing ache in his heel. In both cases, the culprit may be apophysitis, a relatively common condition where an apophysis—a type of […]
The ACL—anterior cruciate ligament— provides stability to the knee by keeping the tibia (shinbone) from sliding in front of the femur (thighbone). About 250,000 ACL reconstructions are performed annually in the United States on individuals who experience the condition. ACL tears are not usually sutured together because the repairs do not fare well over time. […]
After a winter of inactivity often occasioned by bad weather, the one- to two-month period before baseball season begins is a great time to get your child in better physical shape. Start with stretching, aerobic exercise and strength-training at least two or three days a week, working up to five days by the time the […]
One of the major advancements in sports medicine in the last 35 years, surgical repair of the ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) is named for Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Tommy John, the first person to successfully undergo the procedure in 1974. John returned to the mound two years later . This procedure, invented and pioneered by […]
Education: Dr. John earned his Doctorate in Physical Therapy from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota in 2018. Prior to that, he pursued an Advanced Master’s in Orthopedic Physical Therapy at Quinnipiac College (now Quinnipiac University) in Connecticut in 1996. His journey in physiotherapy began with a Bachelor’s degree from Hogeschool Midden Nederland (Central Netherlands Polytechnic, The Netherlands) in 1993. He is a Board Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialist, a Board Certified Direct Access Provider, and a Certified Clinical Instructor through the American Physical Therapy Association.
Specialties: With over 30 years of experience, John has a profound interest in various orthopedic areas. His expertise extends to treating a diverse range of post-operative, traumatic, overuse, and sports injuries. He has honed his skills in spinal manipulation and dry needling through various institutions. John holds certifications in Spinal Manipulative Therapy (Cert. SMT) and Dry Needling (Cert. DN) from the Spinal Manipulation Institute & Dry Needling Institute, both under the American Academy of Manipulative Therapy (AAMT). His commitment to advancing his knowledge recently led him to complete his Diploma Osteopractic® through the AAMT, a comprehensive post-graduate training program in the use of high-velocity low-amplitude thrust manipulation, dry needling, instrument-assisted manual therapies, and differential diagnostics for neuromusculoskeletal condition management. After completing training in dry needling under ultrasound guidance, He is currently pursuing certification as a Registered in Musculoskeletal® (MSK®) sonographer.
Fun Facts: John used to compete and teach ballroom and Latin dance, even owned, and operated a dance studio at one point. He holds a private pilot certificate, and on weekends can be found flying his Mooney to various airfields in search of the perfect hamburger.