All Articles by Keith J. Cronin, DPT, CSCS

In collaboration with physicians for the St. Louis Cardinals, MomsTEAM wants to hear from baseball parents. What's on your mind when it comes to baseball? Dr. Luke Choi, associate physician for the St. Louis Cardinals and director for Center for the Athlete's Shoulder and Elbow, will answer your questions.

When people think of back pain in athletes, they mosty think of pain in the neck or lower back. As a result, the middle part of the spine, called the thoracic spine, is commonly overlooked. But just as other regions of the back, the mid-spine can negatively impact a young athlete's performance and risk of injury.

The most important way to reduce the short- and long-term affects of poorly positioned kneecaps (patellofemoral dysfunction) is early intervention: physical therapy to strengthen the quad, teach stretching exercises, and guide appropriate biomechanics. Allowing knee pain to persist only decreases the potential for return to pain free sport.

Shoulder injuries and pain are common in a variety of sports. Whether it is in throwing a pass in football or a pitch in baseball, athletes need tremendous shoulder strength and coordination to achieve athletic excellence. But the constant strain and pressure on the shoulder often leads to irritation and can result in an overuse injury.

Whether an athlete is running high school cross country, preparing for a local half marathon, or getting ready for an ultra-competitive international triathlon, improving the strength and stamina of their hip muscles can help improve times while reducing the risk of injury.

Every sports training program looks to achieve two main objectives: improve performance and reduce risk of injury. One particular exercise that does not get enough attention is the single leg squat. For lower body strength, balance, and overall reduced risk of injury, regular performance of this exercise is crucial to athletic success

Most people think that, when an athlete is hurt, they see a physical therapist (PT), but if they are looking to run faster, jump higher, or get stronger, they see a personal trainer or strength coach. The fact is that a physical therapist can help a healthy athlete improve their performance, too.

While there are no exercises to treat a concussion, exercises to strengthen the neck muscles and maintain or improve posture can help reduce the risk of injury. Even if the risk reduction is small, it's still worth the effort.

The most important thing a young athlete can do to combat knee hypermobility is to follow an appropriate strength training program, especially one designed to protect the ACL.

When balance training programs are ineffective it isn't because an athlete is not doing the exercises, but more often because they are doing the exercises wrong.