In this episode of the PT Rebels Podcast, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, recaps the significant milestones and achievements of 2024 for Fick PT and Performance. From moving into a new, larger facility to introducing new services like wellness memberships and hiring exceptional staff, the year has been transformative. Dr. Gina highlights personal challenges and the invaluable support from family, dedicated employees, and mentors. The episode also explores the introduction of advanced equipment and new sp...
Dec 23, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 81
In this episode of the PT Rebels podcast Dr. Gina Fick, PT, ScD sits down with Taylor Whitfield, a collegiate runner and former guest, who shares her journey from high school to college athletics. She discusses her recruitment experiences during COVID-19, challenges faced with coaching changes at Baylor, transferring to Concordia University Irvine, and overcoming injuries. Taylor offers insights for aspiring college athletes on selecting schools and coaches, highlights the importance of mental t...
Dec 16, 2024•24 min•Season 1Ep. 80
In this episode of the PT Rebels podcast, we explore the evolving landscape of physical therapy with a particular focus on the rise of cash-based practices. We discuss patient frustrations with insurance-based care, including high rates of denials for necessary treatments and the limitations imposed by insurance companies. At Fick Physical Therapy and Sports Performance, we value personalized care, longer sessions, and advanced treatment options not typically covered by insurance. The episode un...
Dec 09, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 79
In this episode of the PT Rebels podcast, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, discusses the application of motivational interviewing in sports physical therapy, emphasizing its importance in coaching athletes. She explores the principles of motivational interviewing, practical strategies for physical therapists, and the significance of building trust and communication with athletes. The conversation highlights how these techniques can enhance athlete recovery, performance, and overall well-being. Reference: ...
Dec 02, 2024•27 min•Season 1Ep. 78
In this episode of the PT Rebels podcast, host Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, explores the technique of dry needling, particularly its application and effectiveness for high-level athletes dealing with sports injuries. The conversation delves into the science behind dry needling, its comparison with traditional treatment methods, and its benefits for common sports injuries. Gina emphasizes the importance of combining dry needling with other therapies for optimal results while also addressing potential r...
Nov 25, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 77
In this episode of the PT Rebels podcast, we explore the benefits of Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) training, a revolutionary technique that enhances sports performance, particularly in sprinting. Gina explains the principles of BFR, its physiological benefits, and how it can be effectively integrated into training regimens. The conversation also highlights safety considerations and the importance of professional guidance when using BFR. References: Behringer M, Behlau D, Montag JCK, McCourt ML, M...
Nov 25, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 76
In this episode of the PT Rebels podcast, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, discusses the effective use of beta alanine for runners, exploring its benefits for both sprinters and distance runners. She explains how beta alanine works, its role in buffering lactic acid, and its impact on performance. The conversation covers dosage, timing, potential side effects, and how to incorporate beta alanine into training regimens. Gina emphasizes the importance of combining supplementation with proper training and nu...
Nov 11, 2024•9 min•Season 1Ep. 75
In this episode of the PT Rebels podcast, Dr. Gina Fick, PT, ScD interviews Jaclyn Church, a media professional who shares her inspiring journey of overcoming a serious snowboarding injury. Jaclyn discusses the challenges she encountered during her recovery, including both physical and mental health struggles, as well as the importance of community support throughout her recovery. She reflects on the unexpected blessings that arose from her injury, including personal growth and a newfound perspe...
Nov 06, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 74
In this comprehensive episode, we explore the innovative treatments for bone stress injuries in athletes, particularly focusing on extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT). The discussion encompasses the diagnostic processes, including clinical exams, ultrasounds, and MRIs, and explains the Frederickson scale for grading injury severity. Key findings from recent studies and clinical observations highlight the efficacy of shockwave therapy in enhancing bone healing and muscle recovery. The episode...
Oct 28, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 73
In this insightful episode of the PT Rebels podcast, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD reflects on key themes of overcoming challenges and building a vision for success, inspired by a recent business conference in Orlando, Florida. The episode emphasizes the importance of surrounding oneself with influential mentors, rejecting limiting beliefs, and maintaining a clear vision for future achievements. For more information about Fick PT and Performance visit our website https://fickptandperformance.com/ Stay u...
Oct 21, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 72
In this episode of the PT Rebels Podcast, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, discusses iliotibial band pain, or IT band pain, a condition affecting many runners. The episode explains the causes, symptoms, and biomechanics associated with IT band pain, emphasizing its nature as a compression injury rather than a friction syndrome. The host highlights the importance of managing training loads and biomechanics to avoid exacerbating symptoms. Strategies for rehabilitation are outlined, focusing on a progressive...
Oct 14, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 71
In this episode of the PT Rebels Podcast, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD discusses the concept of having a winning mindset, reflecting on personal experiences in business and family life to emphasize its importance. She discusses how challenges and adversities can be faced with a resilient attitude. This episode encourages listeners to persevere, emphasizing that success is earned through effort, and failures are opportunities for growth. Dr. Fick shares strategies to develop a winning mindset, including...
Oct 07, 2024•26 min•Season 1Ep. 70
On today's episode of the PT Rebels Podcast, we talk about all things Bone Stress Injuries from injury identification to recovery steps. Listen in to learn about some ways we help athletes stay in peak shape and return to activities safely and effectively. Also, learn about factors holding you back from the best performance possible no matter who you are. For more information about Fick PT and Performance visit our website https://fickptandperformance.com/ Stay up to date with our practice: Inst...
Sep 30, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 69
In this episode of the PT Rebels podcast, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD discusses the topic of shin splints, also known as medial tibial stress syndrome. She covers the causes, symptoms, and biomechanics associated with this common overuse injury, particularly prevalent among runners. Dr. Fick provides a comprehensive overview of the factors contributing to shin splints such as overtraining, improper footwear, and muscular imbalances. She outlines a detailed evaluation process for diagnosing shin splint...
Sep 23, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 68
This podcast episode is dedicated to understanding and overcoming Achilles tendinopathy. Whether you're an athlete, a weekend warrior, or someone dealing with chronic Achilles tendon pain, this podcast offers a comprehensive look into one of the most common tendon injuries that we encounter in our practice. We dive deep into the complexities of Achilles tendinopathy, exploring everything from the latest research to practical tips for managing and recovering from this condition. Our goal is to em...
Sep 16, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 67
In this podcast episode, we are thrilled to announce the launch of our new recovery membership programs tailored for athletes and active individuals of all ages. The program includes three tiers: Fundamental, Advanced, and Elite, each offering a range of recovery tools and services such as the TheraBody RecoveryAir compression boots, Theraguns, Therabody Smart Goggles, and the Recovery Therm Back and Knee Thermal and Cryo compression system, as well as Marc Pro electrical stimulation, DNA vibe i...
Sep 09, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 66
In this episode of the PT Rebels Podcast, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, discusses the pivotal topic of return to sport for athletes. The episode explores various factors considered in the continuum, such as the type of athlete, the specific injury, tissue healing times, multidisciplinary collaboration, and the importance of continuous assessment through qualitative and quantitative measures. Dr. Fick emphasizes the significance of technology in the rehabilitation process, the necessity of personalized ...
Sep 02, 2024•44 min•Season 1Ep. 65
In this episode, Dr. Gina Fick, PT, ScD, introduces Dunte Hector, an expert in strength and conditioning who shares his journey from competing in multiple sports and facing injuries to becoming a self-taught coach and self-coached athlete. Dunte discusses his experience in training fitness clients, scaling gyms, and developing elite competitors in ultimate rugby. He elaborates on his approach to keeping athletes performing optimally with minimal necessary work, focusing on recovery and longevity...
Aug 28, 2024•40 min•Season 1Ep. 64
In this episode, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, dives into the benefits of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, a new addition to Fick Physical Therapy and Sports Performance. We discuss what hyperbaric oxygen therapy is, its mechanism of action, and its extensive benefits for athletes and those recovering from injuries. The episode also explores how hyperbaric oxygen therapy can improve sleep quality, reduce inflammation, stimulate the production of new blood vessels and stem cells, and enhance endurance perform...
Aug 19, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 63
In this episode of the PT Rebels podcast, Dr. Gina Fick, PT, ScD, delves into the pervasive issue of back pain and its profound impact on individuals in the United States and across the globe. Dr. Gina also highlights an upcoming back pain workshop at Fick Physical Therapy and Sports Performance scheduled for Saturday, August 24th, entitled, “How to FINALLY Ease (and Possibly FIX) Chronic Low Back Pain and Excruciating Sciatica (Without Pills, Surgery, and Wasting Time Visiting Another Doctor)”....
Aug 12, 2024•19 min•Season 1Ep. 62
In this episode of the PT Rebels Podcast, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD welcomes Dr. Zuzana Rogers, PT, ScD, SCS, who an expert in sports physical therapy and owns Runners’ Edge Alaska, a private physical therapy practice in Anchorage, Alaska. The hosts dive into the current landscape of the physical therapy profession, covering topics like hiring and recruitment strategies, as well as the critical role that clinical mentorship and ongoing continuing education plays in a top-tier physical therapy clinic...
Aug 05, 2024•31 min•Season 1Ep. 61
In this episode, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, explores the integration of red light and near-infrared light (NIR) therapy into her physical therapy and sports performance practice. She discusses the science behind red light therapy, its benefits for various musculoskeletal and joint related disorders, including sports injuries, and how it accelerates recovery and enhances athletic performance. She highlights the Platinum LED Biomax 900 series red light panels used at Fick PT and Performance, as well a...
Jul 29, 2024•28 min•Season 1Ep. 60
In this episode, gym owner and track club founder Tanya Vassar-Grooms shares her journey from collegiate athlete to successful coach and business owner. With a master's degree in exercise science and years of coaching experience, Tanya discusses her approach to optimizing health and performance for athletes. She highlights the importance of movement mechanics, motivation, and individualized training. Tanya also dives into her transition from college coaching to opening Hustle Denver Gym and Hust...
Jul 22, 2024•38 min•Season 1Ep. 59
In this episode, we are introduced to Benjamin Kirk, a collegiate track and field athlete from Denver, Colorado. Ben recounts his incredible journey from being a football player in high school to becoming a Division I athlete at UCLA. He discusses the challenges and triumphs along the way, including his initial pursuit of football, his eventual switch to track, and the guidance he received from Coach Tanya Vassar. Ben also shares insights into his rigorous training schedule, recovery methods, ac...
Jul 15, 2024•41 min•Season 1Ep. 58
In this podcast episode, host Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, welcomes Christina Yarmul, an athlete ambassador for Fick Physical Therapy and Sports Performance. Christina shares her journey from overcoming personal losses to becoming an influential master's track and field athlete. With a strong support system and a commitment to consistency and confidence, Christina manages to balance her career, family, and athletic pursuits. She also discusses her role as the president of USATF Colorado, emphasizing h...
Jul 01, 2024•25 min•Season 1Ep. 57
In this episode, the Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, introduces her oldest son, Ryan Fick, a standout student-athlete at Valor Christian High School! Ryan shares his journey in competitive track and field, including significant improvements in his performance and his rankings both statewide and nationally. He discusses his initial struggle with a lack of passion for running, which shifted during high school, and outlines the physical and mental challenges he's faced. Ryan highlights the importance of com...
Jun 24, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 56
In this episode, Dr. Gina Fick PT, ScD, interviews Sean Stetler, the founder of Denver Athletics, and discusses his journey in coaching and organizing track and field events. Sean shares the inspiration behind starting Denver Athletics, which stemmed from organizing a successful 5K fundraiser for his brother diagnosed with cancer. He explains how Denver Athletics aims to create fun and inclusive track meets for all ages, emphasizing a community-friendly environment. Sean also touches on coaching...
Jun 10, 2024•22 min•Season 1Ep. 55
On this episode of the PT Rebels Podcast, we talk all things sports psychology with Brooke Ewert. Through the episode, we cover everything from recovering from life-altering events in an athlete's career to building strong bonds with mentors and coaches along a sports journey. For more information on Brooke and how to get in contact visit https://rockymountainsportscounselingcenter.com/ . For more information about Fick PT and Performance visit our website https://fickptandperformance.com/ Stay ...
Jun 03, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 54
In this episode of The PT Rebels Podcast we dive deep into the world of physical therapy, shedding light on the most pressing questions clients ask and the common disappointments they share about their past physical therapy experiences. Join us as our host, Dr. Gina Fick, PT, ScD, navigates through the top 5 inquiries clients often have when presenting to the clinic, ranging from treatment duration to post-rehabilitation expectations, and uncover the underlying concerns driving these questions. ...
May 27, 2024•20 min•Season 1Ep. 53
In this episode, Gina Fick, PT, ScD uncovers the top 10 lessons she has learned from working with some of the sport's most inspiring track and field champions. Join us as we explore stories of determination, perseverance, and mental toughness from legendary track and field athletes. From the power of purpose to embracing the journey, each lesson offers valuable insights applicable to both athletes and individuals striving for success in life. Whether you're an athlete, coach, or simply seeking m...
May 20, 2024•14 min•Season 1Ep. 52