Did you know 68% of elite athletes face career-ending injuries due to a lack of muscle-skeletal knowledge? At Riverside Sports Therapy in Calgary, we’ve been filling those gaps for 20 years to help athletes reach their peak.

Our team, led by Dr. Jason Dick and Dr. Bryan Myles, brings together clinical skills and hands-on experience. We’ve worked with NHL and NFL teams. We don’t just treat injuries; we understand the body’s movement to prevent them.

What makes us unique? Our Calgary clinic uses advanced assessments to study how joints, tendons, and muscles work during intense movements. This approach has helped both Olympic athletes and weekend sports fans hit new personal records.

Key Takeaways

  • 20+ years of specialized care for active individuals in Alberta
  • NHL/NFL-approved recovery protocols
  • Customized movement analysis technology
  • Preventative strategies for common sports injuries
  • Certified practitioners with elite athlete experience

Our Calgary-Based Sports Therapy Expertise

Calgary’s sports scene is lively and demanding. At Riverside Sports Therapy, we meet this challenge head-on. We work with top athletes and weekend sports fans, combining hands-on experience with biomechanical knowledge.

Who We Are at Riverside Sports Therapy

Located in Calgary’s Active Community

Our clinic is right where the action happens. We’re near WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park. Here, we see athletes in their element, from snowboarders to hockey players.

Dr. Scott Myles works with the Canadian Halfpipe Ski Team. His insights help us tackle sports anatomy challenges.

20+ Years Specializing in Athletic Anatomy

For over 20 years, we’ve tackled 14,000+ sports injuries. We’ve helped teams like the Cochrane Cobras win championships. Our experience lets us predict injury patterns in various sports.

Why Athletes Choose Our Clinic

Certified Musculoskeletal Specialists

Our therapists are top-notch, with advanced certifications. They’re skilled in:

  • Active Release Techniques (ART®)
  • Graston Technique® instrument-assisted therapy
  • FAKTR functional movement protocols

These skills help us tackle muscle imbalances and joint issues that affect athlete biomechanics.

Personalized Treatment Approach

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all treatments. Your plan might include:

  • Biomechanical video analysis of sport-specific motions
  • Customized mobility drills addressing anatomical weak points
  • Recovery timelines aligned with competition schedules

Ready to talk about how we can help you reach your athletic goals? Call (403) 283-7551.

Understanding Musculoskeletal Anatomy for Athletes

Every move athletes make relies on muscles, tendons, and joints working together. At Riverside Sports Therapy, we use our knowledge to help Calgary athletes improve. We focus on how knowing the body’s anatomy can boost performance and prevent injuries.

A powerful athlete sprinting forward, muscles rippling, exuding determination and focus. The scene is lit with warm, directional lighting, casting dramatic shadows and highlights that accentuate the sculpted physique. The background is a blurred sports arena, with spectators cheering in the distance, creating a sense of energy and anticipation. The camera angle is low, capturing the athlete's form in an heroic, empowering perspective. The overall mood is one of peak performance, physical excellence, and the thrill of competition.Key Components of Athletic Performance

We look at three main parts of athletic movement:

  • Force transmission pathways
  • Load distribution patterns
  • Recovery capacity thresholds

Muscle-Tendon Relationships in Sports

Sprinters use their tendons to spring forward, while marathon runners rely on strong muscles. Our study shows how different athletes have different tendon stiffness:

  • Hamstring tendons in sprinters: 12-18% stiffer than non-athletes
  • Achilles tendons in distance runners: Better at returning energy

Joint Mechanics Under Stress

Hockey players face huge forces in their hips during slap shots. Our manual therapy helps us see how joints handle these forces:

  1. Abnormal load distribution in weight-bearing joints
  2. Compensatory movement patterns
  3. Early-stage cartilage wear indicators

Sport-Specific Biomechanical Analysis

We study how different sports affect athletes’ muscles:

Running vs Weightlifting Demands

Calgary athletes face different challenges in running and weightlifting:

  • Ground contact time: Runners: 200-300ms vs Lifters: 500-800ms
  • Peak joint angles: Knees at 20° flexion (running) vs 90° (squats)

Team Sport vs Individual Sport Needs

Basketball players need to be stable in all directions, while swimmers focus on smooth rotation. We check:

  1. Reactive strength index for court sports
  2. Rotational torque capacity for aquatic athletes
  3. Impact absorption thresholds for contact sports

Our detailed study helps us create plans tailored to each athlete. This way, we prevent injuries and enhance performance.

Our Athlete-Focused Treatment Methodology

At Riverside Sports Therapy, we use the latest methods and care tailored to each athlete. We focus on three main areas: accurate diagnosis, targeted treatments, and recovery plans that meet each athlete’s needs.

Assessment Techniques We Use

We start with a detailed evaluation to find hidden issues that affect performance. Our Calgary clinic combines manual therapy with advanced motion analysis technology.

Movement Pattern Evaluation

We analyze sport-specific movements in detail. Our methods include:

  • 3D gait analysis for runners and field athletes
  • Rotational force measurement for golf/swing sports
  • Weight distribution mapping during functional movements

Dr. Kadar’s golf biomechanics expertise helps players improve their swing while protecting their joints. This approach prevents long-term injuries by fixing movement flaws early.

Muscle Imbalance Identification

We use special techniques to find muscle imbalances:

  • Fascia Stretch Therapy (FST) with Kelly Bernaski
  • Instrument-assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) led by Jackie Stevens
  • Dynamic resistance testing using force plates

These methods help us find where muscle tightness or weakness affects joint function. We then track progress with baseline metrics.

Customized Recovery Strategies

After assessment, we create rehabilitation plans that change as you recover. Each plan combines different therapies for the best results.

Active Rehabilitation Protocols

Our recovery system has phases:

  1. Pain management through chiropractic-kinesiology fusion treatments
  2. Mobility restoration using proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation
  3. Sport-specific functional retraining drills

We use IASTM tools and exercises to break down scar tissue and build strength. This method speeds up healing without hurting future performance.

Precision Strengthening Programs

Our performance specialists create specific programs focusing on:

  • Eccentric loading for tendon resilience
  • Rotator cuff stabilization for overhead athletes
  • Core activation sequences for power transfer

These programs focus on proper joint alignment during strength training. Golfers work with Dr. Kadar to get exercises that match their swing, improving performance.

Injury Prevention Through Anatomical Mastery

Knowing how the body works is key to keeping athletes in top shape. At Riverside Sports Therapy, we use our knowledge of anatomy and sports to spot and fix problems early. This way, we help athletes stay safe and perform better for longer.

Common Vulnerabilities in Athletes

Repetitive and explosive actions put athletes at risk. Our team uses special tests to find these risks. We tailor these tests to fit each sport.

Overuse Injury Hotspots

Swimmers often hurt their shoulders, while runners get knee problems. Here are some examples:

  • Rotator cuff strains in swimmers (we’ve treated 15+ Calgary masters swimmers this year)
  • Patellar tendonitis in basketball players
  • Stress fractures in long-distance runners

Acute Injury Risk Factors

Sudden injuries often come from:

  • Improper landing mechanics (ACL tears in soccer)
  • Collision impacts (shoulder dislocations in hockey)
  • Rapid directional changes (ankle sprains in tennis)

Proactive Protection Methods

We focus on three main areas: mobility, stability, and adapting to the sport. Here’s how we do it:

Mobility Enhancement Techniques

Lead therapist Alanna Thompson uses special training for joints like:

  1. Dynamic shoulder stabilization for baseball pitchers
  2. Hip flexor mobility drills for cyclists
  3. Ankle proprioception work for trail runners

Sport-Specific Conditioning

We create training programs that match the demands of each sport:

  • Soccer: Deceleration training to reduce ACL injury risks
  • Hockey: Rotational core work for check absorption
  • Gymnastics: Wrist strengthening for impact distribution

Calgary Athlete Services Overview

Calgary athletes need care that boosts performance and aids in recovery. Our clinic offers three main services for hockey players, cyclists, and athletes in Alberta.

Manual Therapy Interventions

We use hands-on methods to improve joint function in athletes:

  • Myofascial release for hockey players’ hip flexors
  • Dynamic joint mobilization for volleyball shoulder mechanics
  • Neural gliding methods for cyclists’ sciatic nerve compression

Performance Enhancement Programs

Our programs focus on improving performance through:

  1. Movement pattern analysis with 3D motion capture technology
  2. Sport-specific strength training (e.g., sprint acceleration)
  3. Breathing coordination drills for endurance athletes

Return-to-Play Protocols

We use a 3-phase system for safe return to play:

  • Phase 1: Concussion management with gaze stabilization exercises
  • Phase 2: On-ice reaction drills for hockey players post-injury
  • Phase 3: Contact simulation with real-time biomechanical feedback

Last season, 92% of our Calgary athletes returned to competition faster than usual.

Start Your Recovery Journey Today

Your athletic skills grow when you take care of yourself and get expert advice. At our Calgary clinic, we offer same-day emergency massages and pre-season checks. This helps prevent injuries from stopping your progress.

Slots for these services fill up fast as training seasons start. Plan early to get the best times for sports injury prevention checks.

A dimly lit sports therapy clinic, the walls adorned with anatomical diagrams and rehabilitation equipment. In the foreground, a physiotherapist gently guides an athlete through a series of stretches and exercises, their movements captured in a soft, cinematic lighting. The athlete's expression is one of focused determination, their muscles tensing and relaxing as they work to restore strength and flexibility. In the background, a wall-mounted television displays a 3D animation of the human musculoskeletal system, highlighting the areas of concern and the rehabilitation process. The scene conveys a sense of expertise, care, and the start of a journey towards recovery and peak performance.

  • Emergency injury appointments within 24 hours
  • Biomechanical assessments for preseason readiness
  • New patient consultations with Dr. Matt Kadar

Our clinic is at 123 Sportsplex Road NW. We work long hours to fit your training schedule. Call (403) 283-7551 weekdays from 7 AM to 7 PM. Or use our online portal for weekend requests. We promise quick responses for muscle strains, impact injuries, and mobility issues.

Don’t let small pains turn into big problems. Our proven methods for sports injury prevention keep hockey players, runners, and weekend athletes ready all year.

Conclusion

At Riverside Sports Therapy, we combine deep knowledge of muscle and bone anatomy with real-world experience. Our Calgary clinic is a key spot for sports recovery. We work closely with top teams like the Calgary Stampede and the University of Calgary Dinos.

We know how different sports require specific care. We study how muscles, joints, and tissues work together during sports. This helps athletes heal quickly and stay injury-free.

Our work with local sports teams shows our dedication to top-notch care. We do research and host injury prevention workshops. Our clinic is near the Bow River Pathway, making it easy to get to for training and care.

Athletes looking for special help can visit us at 11th Street SW or book online. We offer same-day appointments to keep athletes ready for competition. Let us support your musculoskeletal health all season long.

Riverside Sports Therapy: Experts in Musculoskeletal Anatomy for Athletes
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