Sports Rehabilitation at UPMC Rehabilitation Institute

Outpatient sports rehabilitation at UPMC Rehabilitation Institute offers services that help athletes and active people of all levels and abilities get back in the game as soon as possible. In addition to a range of techniques and treatments, our therapists perform overall assessments of your injury to provide effective recovery services according to your needs and goals.

Everything we do is custom for you. First, your primary care provider, sports medicine provider, or orthopaedic surgeon will talk to you about your goals. Then they’ll work with physical therapists to create a program that:

• Decreases your pain.
• Helps you recover more quickly.
• Restores your strength, function, and mobility.
• Returns you to activities and sports safely.

Sports Rehabilitation Services

Our orthopaedic and sports specialists provide a variety of services, including:

De-weighted training

As part of our de-weighted training services, we offer the AlterG, or anti-gravity treadmills. The AlterG allows for early weight bearing on a patient with limited tolerance or restrictive weight bearing precautions. Because of the anti-gravity components, patients are able to work on balance and proprioception for walking and then progress towards running to help maintain cardiovascular and fitness levels.

Isokinetic testing

For more controlled therapy exercises, athletes are often referred for isokinetic exercise and testing. With the use of specialized machines, our therapists are able to set maximum speeds and resistance to test specific body movement and strength. The strength and limitations of various muscle groups and joints can be compared to record progress and help determine treatment moving forward.

Musculoskeletal pre-sports screenings

Pre-sports participation screenings are important to assess an athlete’s current physical state and make note of any current or prior injury. The assessment can be adapted to a specific sport to determine an athlete’s readiness for participation or risk for potential injury. During the screening, our therapist will assess muscle strength and control, measurement, function, and flexibility in addition to other applicable tests.

Plyometric floor programs

Plyometrics, also referred to as “jump training,” is a common method of exercise used among a variety of athletes. Athletes of sports that involve sudden movement in combination with high levels of control especially benefit from plyometric floor programs. The programs include high intensity exercises guided by our therapist to increase an athlete’s muscle elasticity in addition to overall sports performance.

Shoe orthotic fabrication and bracing

As an athlete, being constantly on the move can contribute to pain in numerous areas of the body, often caused by improper function of the foot. Orthotics, or customized support for your foot, can help minimize symptoms of pain and increase performance through bracing for greater stability and control.

Other forms of sports rehabilitation offered include:

• Orthopaedic and sport-specific rehabilitation.
• Concussion management.
• Sport-specific training and conditioning.
• Specialized functional training.
• Aquatic therapy.
• Blood flow restriction rehab.

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