We are a sports medicine clinic.  What does that mean?  Well, it means that we specialize in sports related injuries. That implies we see athletes, which is true.  In my career of 23 years, I have worked with athletes from the NFL, NHL, MLB, NBA, MLS, United States Ski and Snowboard Olympic teams and other Olympic teams, NCAA athletes, cross fit athletes, competitive rock climbers, X-Game athletes and, of course, the weekend warrior.  But some may look out our website, see our clinic and/or review our background and think, “I’m not sure this place is for me; I’m not an athlete.”

The word athlete can be defined in different ways.  Merriam-Webster defines an athlete as “a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina.”  Oxford defines it “as a person who is proficient in a sport or physical exercise.”  The various Latin origins of the word refer to a person competing in a contest for a prize.

My duty as a physical therapist is to get my clientele to a point of optimal function.  That point of function is different for many.  For some, it’s competing at a high level of competition, such as soccer, football or lacrosse.  For others, it may be getting back to working out in a basement gym, fly fishing a favorite stream, hiking Mt. Katahdin in the Spring, or simply walking a mile each day.  

Each of these examples involves a prize: playing a sport again, catching a beautiful Brook Trout on a fly, reaching the pinnacle of a hike or feeling the satisfaction and health benefits of a walk or a good workout. The competition in simpler terms is a challenge.  Sometimes that challenge may be squatting with a barbell (again), walking each day for a year, or winning a game with your team.  And sometimes, what we are competing against is achieving the personal goals we have set for ourselves.  

We are experts in rehabilitation.  We can take a professional athlete and put them back on the field successfully.  However, as long as you have a goal to achieve, we consider you our athlete.  Our goal is to keep you active and bring you to your optimal you.