5 Tips to Help Teenage Athletes Avoid ACL Injuries

We're excited to announce that Dr. Kelly Jones is extending her physical therapy services into Johns Creek, Georgia. This Activcore studio is situated inside the Medical Fitness and Wellness Group. It is located about 30 minutes north of our main Activcore location in Atlanta, Georgia.

I am passionate about helping people prevent and rehabilitate knee injuries. When I was 15 years old, I tore my anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) playing competitive soccer. This injury and the subsequent months of physical therapy inspired me to become a physical therapist.

In my previous post, I gave 5 tips for helping teenage athletes avoid anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries. Now I’m going to discuss specifically what a physical therapist can do for you. As a physical therapist and former competitive soccer player, one of my passions is working with teenage athletes to develop training plans to prevent the type of injury that affected my soccer career.

For today's blog post, I’m going to share some videos that show how we work with our athletes at Activcore. In these videos, the physical therapist uses the Redcord suspension system to create a “zero-gravity” environment where the athlete can safely exercise with good form and without pain.

Yes this blog post is all about me. But really it's more about how I can help you. I chose to work at Activcore because I believe patients deserve one-on-one holistic care that is uniquely tailored to their individual needs. ‍I primarily work at Activcore in Johns Creek, Georgia. This is a boutique clinic located inside a popular personal training studio called the Medical Fitness and Wellness Group.

Living with dysautonomia can be an emotional rollercoaster, as the condition's unpredictable nature constantly presents new challenges and obstacles to navigate. From the physical symptoms to the cognitive impairments and mood fluctuations, each day can bring a unique set of struggles. Coping with the uncertainty of how one will feel from moment to moment can lead to feelings of anxiety, frustration, and even depression.

Although I am a physical therapist, I have also participated in PT to address my own dysautonomia and hypermobility. When I was first diagnosed in 2021, I was unable to perform simple tasks such as going from sit to stand, showering, or walk up stairs without dizziness and extreme fatigue. Not only did dysautonomia impact my physical health, but the brain fog and memory issues were also impacted.

Specialized physical therapy techniques like Redcord, GYROTONIC®, and Hypopressives can help individuals with dysautonomia address specific aspects of their condition. Over the next 3 blogs, I will explain each movement system in detail. So let's get started with how the Redcord suspension system has been a game changer for me.

In my last blog post, I explained how suspension based physical therapy has helped me and others with dysautonomia. Today I am excited to tell you about another hidden gem. This one is called GYROTONIC®.‍ Originally created in the 1980s for dancers, the Gyrotonic Expansion System is a holistic movement method that combines elements of yoga, tai chi, gymnastics and swimming.

In my last two blog posts, I explained how specialized physical therapy techniques like Redcord suspension exercise and GYROTONIC® have helped me and others with dysautonomia. Today I am highlighting another breakthrough movement system available at Activcore. This one is called Hypopressives. Hypopressive means low pressure. This technique introduces exercises that reduce the pressure in your core (i.e., the intra-abdominal pressure).