Do you ride your snowboard without any limitation? Do you do all the moves you want, explore all the areas you want, and perform how you want? If not, why?
For some people it will be lack of skill, lack of confidence, or lack of time to learn.
Some people are going to be wagering to keep themselves safe because they have families to support, jobs to get to, and bills to pay.
Others are going to say their gear isn't great, the conditions aren't ideal, or the mountain isn't that good.
Like anything in the world, excuses are abundant and prevent us from reaching our full potential.
How do we break down those excuses and excel to the next level? Even if you say, "Nah, I'm good," don't you actually want to be better at snowboarding? Yeah I know you do. Being better is more fun!
Think of it the same you would think of any sport.
If you played baseball and wanted to learn to hit a curveball, you'd get reps, but you'd also get coached. You'd work with someone who could teach you what to look for, how it looks, and when to swing.
If you wanted to become a better swimmer, you could keep swimming laps and watching online videos, but you would save time and go further if you had a coach to watch and guide you.
If you were trying to set a personal record on a squat lift, you could drive yourself into the ground by loading weight without working on technique, or you could get help to have better mobility, better balance, and better body awareness so the lift was safer, easier, and stronger.
You can reach your goal much faster if you work with a professional that can address the limitations you can't address yourself, identify the problems you don't know you have, and give you a plan that is known to work. Getting to your goals faster and safer is worth investing time and money.
So, what can physical therapy do for snowboarding? Physical therapy can help you recover from an injury while addressing movement deficits, joint motion restrictions, muscle weaknesses, and overall inefficiencies that are limiting your ability. Physical therapy can also reduce the risk of injury and make you more resilient to the unforeseen challenges the mountain holds.
Did you know that physical therapy can also provide training progressions to keep you moving toward a better version of you?
That's right! Many physical therapist are also highly skilled at programming exercise routines to keep working on your deficits after you have recovered from an injury. We don't only work with injured athletes, but we work with any athlete looking to excel and bring it to the next level!
Who better to know what exercises would benefit you than the person who already saw you at your worst, injured and dragged down? If you had an injury during a snowboarding session, you already were doing something to put you at risk of that injury. You already had an inefficient movement or weakness that needs to be addressed so you don't go down that same road again. If you don't fix the root cause of the problem, you will be back at physical therapy, or worse, the surgeon, the next time the problem returns. It might not even return as the same problem, but the unaddressed root cause would still be the reason why the injury happened.
When you get your deficits addressed, you have more potential to push even further. What better way to keep pushing forward than to have a specific program designed for you that will address your weaknesses during new skills, tricks, or terrain?
That is where a physical therapist that specializes in your sport can excel you along. Many physical therapists are generalists that treat anyone who walks in the door. Sure, they can help you get over your ankle or back injury, but do they understand what is important to a snowboarder? Do they know what movements to look for? What language to use? How it feels to slide sideways down steeps that would make others' knees buckle?
Adding a physical therapist as a team member of your crew can increase your athletic ability and longevity of your sport. Physical therapists can not only help you recover, identify the root cause, address it, and help you train to go further, but physical therapists can also provide insight into other issues and help make decisions for referrals to other services.
If you have a nutritional need, a physical therapist can help, along with finding you the right person to continue working with.
If you have a medical condition to consider, a physical therapist can educate you on what you should and shouldn't do, as well as help you identify a provider that can address the issue fully.
If you have a training need, a physical therapist can lead you to a specialized coach that addresses your specific needs.
Got a question on medication, ask a physical therapist.
Confused about an imaging result, ask a physical therapist.
Want to know more about a procedure, ask a physical therapist.
Physical therapists are valuable teammates that have a broad knowledge base and can help you make decisions not only about your injury, but about any medical concerns you have. Many physical therapist will offer free consultations to help decide if physical therapy is a good fit for you. If physical therapy isn't for you, they will help you find the right provider so you get the help you need and deserve.
When you need a teammate that can help with your snowboarding, outdoor adventures, or everyday life with your family and friends, check out www.snowbeastperformance.com for more information. Free consultations are always available to answer any questions, and help you get the right fit for your needs. #snowbeastperformance