Thick Thighs Save Lives
We return from our quick trip to Minnesota for a family wedding where I had to explain that if you’re going to host a wedding at a golf course, I’m going to try to drive the golf carts. Those are just the facts. Not only did we celebrate at the wedding but explored Wisconsin on new running trails and survived with only a few bug bites from the whole experience.
But the wedding isn’t the only thing we're celebrating at Tundra Performance and Physical Therapy in Denver. We get to introduce a new family member to the team. This past week a brand new piece of equipment was delivered, that while most people I’m sure are familiar with, is going to truly transform our physical therapy programming and training opportunities. That piece of equipment, a hybrid leg extension and leg curl selectorized machine.
Why am I so excited for this machine? Because thick thighs save lives. And if you’ve ever had knee pain or some lower body injury where quadriceps and hamstring strength were the primary limitations, this machine has the capacity to completely transform a patient’s trajectory. Yes, it’s that significant.
The hybrid leg extension and leg curl selectorized machine is a game changer in physical therapy for several reasons.
Isolation of Quadriceps & Hamstrings:
One of the most difficult objectives we have to negotiate in physical therapy is consideration to compensation patterns. This is especially true following lower body injuries such as ACL reconstructions, knee replacements, or meniscus injuries. The capacity to isolate these muscle groups without other structures coming into play allows us to insolate the issue creating an environment that stimulates a better and faster recovery.
Alternative Loading Pattern for Knee Pain:
Osteoarthritis is a big contributor to a number of individuals' knee pain, especially in Denver where two of the most common activities here are skiing and hiking. Anyone who has arthritis knows, it can be especially painful to squat and lunge some days. Having a hybrid leg extension and leg curl machine offers an alternative way to strengthen the knee joint that isn’t weight bearing. This is significant because it can be the difference between working the knee joint with or without pain. For people that are looking to stay on mountain skiing this Winter, this can be an absolute difference maker.
Healthier Knees for Outdoor Athletes & Weightlifters:
Quadriceps and hamstring weakness are two of the most common deficits we find in our evaluations of these populations. Being able to work these muscle groups using the hybrid machine allows us to reap the benefits of resolving imbalances, healthier knee joints, and more fun on the mountain and training floor.
We’re excited for our new team member and can’t wait to see what they can do working with our patients. And if you only take away one thing from this write up today, its thick thighs save lives.
Helping athletes RESOLVE THEIR PAIN by CLEARLY DEFINING THE PROBLEM and IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS to get them back doing the activities they love!
If you are currently struggling with an injury or unable to perform in the activities you enjoy. Please follow the link to schedule a consultation call to discuss how we can help you.
