All Articles by Keith J. Cronin, DPT, OCS, CSCS

Muscle Cramps: Common and Painful But Preventable

Almost every athlete (and, anyone reading this right now) has had muscle cramps at some point. Because they are so common, it is important to understand how they can happen with everyday activities, and that they there are a number of remedies to prevent and treat muscle cramps to reduce occurrence and intensity.

Advice to Parents: Empower, Don't Baby Injured Athlete During Rehabilitation Process

A growing body of evidence suggests that psychological factors play an important role in determining whether an athlete makes a successful return to sport following injury. Physical therapist Keith Cronin, DPT, OCS, CSCS, says it is important for parents to support an injured athlete but to empower, not coddle them during the rehabilitation process.

Platelet-Rich Plasma Therapy: What Sports Parents Should Know

In recent years, platelet-rich-plasma (PRP) injections have been used to treat a variety of sports injuries, ranging from severe tendonitis to muscle tears, but there is an ongoing debate among sports medicine doctors as to its effectiveness, especially given its cost. We explore both sides of the controversy.

Female Athletes: Eat Right, Train Smarter, and Get Enough Rest, Advises Cards' Doctor

If you are parenting a female athlete, you may have a tough time convincing her to take your advice, even if you enjoyed a successful sports career yourself. Perhaps she will listen to an orthopedic surgeon for a major league baseball team who, before she became a doctor, was a triple jump champion and record-holder in high school track in Iowa.

After Sports Concussion: Physical Therapist Can Play Important Part In Return To Play

While physical therapists cannot help heal an athlete's brain after concussion, they can be an important member of the concussion management team, helping in a variety of ways to ensure that athletes only return to play once their brains have fully healed.

Fellowship-Trained Orthopedic Surgeons: What Sports Parents Should Know

If your young athlete suffers a severe injury, surgery may be the only option. When it comes to kids and sports, look for fellowship-trained sports medicine surgeons who specialize in adolescent athletes.

Patellofemoral Instability: Is Surgery the Answer?

Many young athletes, particularly females, suffer from chronic knee pain. Pain becomes common with running, jumping, and, with later progression, even a flight of stairs. Sometimes this condition is associated with Patellar Instability, a combination of structural abnormalities and maltraking of the kneecap. Sometimes, surgery may be necessary.

Cards' Doctor To Answer Youth Baseball Questions

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.

Mid-Back Pain Can Affect Athletic Performance

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.

Knee Pain in Young Athletes Could Be Patellofemoral Syndrome

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.