Mike Ryan Sports Medicine Blog

Staying injury-free is no easy task. And as our age creeps upward, the challenge gets more and more difficult. As a physical therapist and certified athletic trainer in the National Football League for 26 years, I worked with elite, strong, high-skilled professional athletes with an unlimited budget to keep them healthy. In stark contrast, look…

Shoulder pain is a game changer. A painful shoulder can quickly limit the activity level for athletes and non-athletes alike. The shoulder joint is the most mobile joint in your entire body.  With that being said, eliminating the pain in such loose joint is no easy task. 7 Sports Medicine Tips to Manage Your Shoulder…

Because it is one of the most mobile joints, the shoulder joint is also one of the most injured joints in the human body. This is because joint mobility and stability are inversely related. Simply stated; The more motion a joint has the more instability of inherits. Because of the high stress on the shoulder…

By Sarah Westgreen at Tuck Sleep When you don’t sleep enough, you’re not at the top of your game. Sleep deprivation can make you more susceptible to injuries — and make it more difficult to recover from existing injuries. Sleep and Injury Prevention Sleep deprivation makes physical and mental activities more difficult to complete, as…

For most, the term “pain management” creates haunting visions of pain medicine, drastic lifestyle changes and expensive doctor bills. In the sports medicine world, that same phrase paints a much rosier image. “Not all pain is created equal.”  Different types of tissue in your body can generate varying types of pain. Here’s a list of…

“Educate your physical therapy patients” was the message my fellow classmates and I heard as we polished our healthcare skills in the outstanding physical therapy program at UConn. 30 years later I know the truth is this: My physical therapy patients teaches ME something every day, as long as I’m truly listening…with my ears, eyes,…

I’m often asked: “How do pro athletes heal so fast following a major surgery?” My answer is two-fold: “They lock into a positive attitude before they go under the knife and, more importantly, they take an active approach to jump-start their recovery immediately after surgery.” Successful elite athletes never take a passive approach following any…

To convince my patients, fellow #SpartanRace athletes and friend that ice therapy works, I simply tell them: “Ice is your best friend”! Ice is cheap, easy to use, mobile, effective and, most importantly, ice therapy works!  Its time we all stop complaining how “ice hurts” and “it makes me stiff”.  Sure it hurts and it…

I competed in the Asheville (NC) Super Spartan Race with my buddies last weekend. From the 7 hour ride north with my friends, to the jokes at the rental house to the tough race itself, it was a great time for all of us. Now it’s time to focus on my Spartan race recovery. It was a…

I flipped a giant tire today during my Spartan workout.  Flipped, as in singular.  One.  Uno.  Eins.  Once was enough. I’m allergic to sports injuries. I didn’t need to flip it a second or a third time for both the physical therapist and the athlete in me to know the risk of an injury with…

How many of us overthink our wellness, fitness exercises and health maintenance plans? “Guilty as charged!” Wake-up Call I’m writing this blog post from the deck at a special friend of mine’s cabin on Washington Island overlooking Lake Michigan while on vacation with my loving wife and our two active young children; my son is…

Calf Strain: A Running & Jumping Athlete’s Nightmare He sits on the bench with an ice bag on the back of his lower leg.  A calf strain is a common sight with athletes young and old.  Everyone wants to know why. Looking at athletes at every level of athletics, calf strains have become the Great…

Eliminating Your Pain: Finding Your CONTROL – ALT – DELETE When your computer locks up, what do you do?  The CONTROL – ALT – DELETE key combo is probably your go-to plan to put your computer back in business.  How cool would it be if you could quickly fix your body when unexpectedly pain locks…

Self-Care Tips for Athletes with Joint Swelling I saw a physical therapy patient this week with a chronic knee injury.  His knee was swollen and stiff, much more than normal.  I know his knee well and it typically has only mild swelling with good muscle tone.  His diagnosis is Grade 1 chondromalacia or irritation behind…

Will Cross Training Make Me Stronger…or Injured? I get lots of questions from non-professional athletes looking for ways to avoid injuries. Any injury, large or small, can change your life.  As we grow “younger”, staying healthy becomes a higher priority.  The reason being: We don’t heal as fast as we did when we were in…

Football’s in the air.  It has a way of making sports seem legitimate again.  The buzz of training camp and how “my team” will do this season has dominated social conversations and social media this week. For me, the excitement for another NFL season is here but for very different reasons. The year was 1987…

April 25, 1988 was the day my childhood NFL dream came true. Ronnie Barnes, the Head Athletic Trainer for the New York Giants and one of my mentors, asked me if I wanted to join his staff as a full-time assistant athletic trainer.  I was 25 years old and a month away from graduating from…

Today is a true day of “role reversal” for me.  Instead of being the physical therapist, I’ll be the patient rolling into the operating room for surgery to fix a chronic shoulder injury by Jacksonville Jaguars Head Team Physician Dr Kevin Kaplan at Jacksonville Orthopaedic Institute. I have to admit, consulting others about a shoulder…

A Runner’s Case Study in Courage As told by Colleen Clarson – At first glance, it was only a daunting fitness challenge.  At second glance, it was terrifying…if not seemingly impossible. Known as “One of the most scenic trail races in the country,” the Golden Leaf Half Marathon was clearly not meant for Florida flatlanders. …

Measuring Your Fitness Program With Gratitude How does an athlete measure his/her success? High profile athletes have coaches, fans and ESPN to judge their performance.  Runners and bikers have the clock to gauge the results of their hard work.  The athletes determined to lose weight have the dynamic-duo of the mirror and the weight scale…

I had a wonderful Christmas last week. It was a memorable holiday that allowed me to spend time with my loving family. Besides my wife, son and daughter, I had a rare opportunity to share a Christmas morning with my mother and stepfather. Although I had to work during the middle part of the day,…

The truth hit me with the sting of a punch in the gut.  The words “Another runner was hit by a car” jumped out of my iPhone from a text by a friend. The news of runner-vehicle accidents and bikers hit by cars has become way too common, especially here is Florida.  Personally, I’m highly…

It wasn’t a good workout but it was a great run.  I just finished a 5:30 AM run in Santa Clara, CA for 3 1/2 miles and I was thrilled.  Sure, it was only 58 degrees with no humidity, a nice treat from the Florida heat I’m used to, but my excitement was from the…

This Sunday’s Jaguars game against the Chicago Bears will be special for me for many reasons.  For starters, it’s my 500th NFL game.  At 49 years old in my 25th NFL season, I have so much to be grateful for. Growing up in Massachusetts, the New England Patriots were the only team any of my brothers or…

I received a call from a dear friend of mine regarding his knee injury.  I get lots of these.  He had some anterior knee pain during his long runs over 10 miles with minimal swelling.  As an Ironman triathlete, this guy is a machine.  He swims, bikes and runs….almost every day!  That is not a…

With the 2012 NFL pre-season in full swing, there is one things you can count on:  Hamstring injuries.  Anytime you combine highly competitive and dehydrated  athletes who sprint for a living, soft tissue injuries such as hamstring strains and groin strains are a realistic result. A torn hamstring is a common injury for athletes at…

When someone has the opportunity to spend time in an NFL athletic training room, they usually come away saying the same thing: “I never realized how hard these guys work to stay in shape!”  They see the players’ dedication to the maintenance of injuries just to stay healthy enough to play the game of football.  Like almost every…

I received great questions on MikeRyanSportsMedicine.com from Carl in Texas and Maria’ in France related to how world-class athletes recovery so effectively.  Recovery is one of my favorite sports medicine topics. I was talking to our defensive back Aaron Ross a couple of days ago at our Jaguars’ practice about his speedster wife and Olympian Sanya Richards-Ross.  He was bragging about…

This past weekend while vacationing with my family, I was introduced to Terry while we worked out at CrunchGym in Danville, CA.  He is a close friend of Cindy, one of my dearest friends I’ve known for 20 years.  Terry is a former elite power lifter and present fitness enthusiast.  Terry approached me after our workout…

With record high temperatures blanketing the country so early this summer, I’ve received dozens of emails and texts regarding heat and hydration questions from runners.  Whether you’re a professional football player or a recreational runner, proper hydration in the heat will enhance your performance and possibly save your life. Every year too many runners suffer…

Everyone of us is looking for the “perfect workout”.  It’s the workout that gets us in awesome shape while burning pounds of fat and makes our muscles get huge and it’s really fun and, oh yah, it doesn’t take too long because we’ve got a busy schedule. How difficult can that be? THAT’s the problem.  Our…

This is a fun and interesting article on the 10 most common reasons why people don’t exercise. It not only describes the lame excuses many people give for not working out but it also gives a solution to overcome those barriers. Whether by giving instruction on how to overcome the given obstacle or by added…

We spend thousands of dollars a year on our running shoes to maximize our comfort and cushioning to protect our feet, knees, hips and low backs.  If we learn how to wisely use the surfaces we run on, we will easily save lots of $$, eliminate most running injuries and continue to enjoy an active…

I recently recieved a great question on Osgood Schlatters disease of the knee, a common topic for questions on MikeRyanFitness, that I wanted to share. The Question: Hello my name is Carla and I’ve had osgood schlatter since I was 13. Now that I’m 21 years old and I want to ask you a few questions. I have…

I received an email from a follower with a simple and important question:  “How to I determine how hard to exercise when I want to burn more body fat?” I loved the question and I want to share my answer. If your main objective is to reduce body fat, your target heart rate (THR) zone should…

This past weekend’s big local mud run is the talk of the town.  With thousands of participants and so many wonderful stories involving the event, the MS MuckRuckus was a huge success. I was fortunate enough to win this year’s Competitive Male race.  I’d finished in 2nd place the last two years, so the 3rd time…

Running Injuries: My Pain Management Plan It’s 6:55 AM.  I’m wrapped in ice while scarfing down a healthy bowl of cereal and writing this post.  I just got home after an invigorating 4:40 AM run with my friends Rushton, Rob and Dawn.  We logged 9 1/2 miles in the cool morning breeze, which felt great…for…

High Ankle Sprain Management Managing a high ankle sprain is not easy, and rehab requires a significant amount of experience.  It reflects a balance of properly stabilizing the entire lower leg while assessing the athlete’s function prior to the game for optimal results.  Read on to learn more.   What the Heck is a High…

Injury Prevention Made Practical I have 33 days to get ready for a 1/2 marathon race that covers 13.1 miles.  I’ll spare you the details of my entire to-do list, but trust me when I say it is less than relaxing. Yesterday was a “Kick Myself in the Ass” day to do my first run…

  I can hear you now: “What’s a guy from Florida know about running in cold weather?!” The answer:  Too much. Growing up in the Berkshire Mountains of Massachusetts and being an indoor/outdoor collegiate miler in Connecticut at a college with no indoor track, I’ve run thousands of miles in sub-freezing temperatures.  At Central Connecticut…

  Knee swelling is a major concern for athletes young and old.  Understanding their swollen knee is an important step to decreasing their pain and regaining their ability to be active & healthy. When it comes to knee swelling and pain, many view it as the “chicken or the egg dilemma”: “Is my knee pain…

As you can imagine, I get asked a lot of questions about sports related injuries, “how do I treat” this and that injury and proper techniques for various forms of exercise.  The #1 question I get asked is “when do I use ice and when should I use heat for (injury)?” This is a perfect…

Anterior cruciate ligament tears have become too common.  Most non-professional athletes just assumes that an ACL surgery is a simple procedure with little chance that anything could go wrong. ACL reconstructions (ACLR) are often thought about in a similar manner as the Space Shuttle program was five years ago.  This huge 240,000 lbs space ship…

I’m often asked about orthotics and the questions usually involve two basic issues:      1.  Do orthotics really work?      2. Why are orthotics so expensive? I find it ironic that most people asking these questions own orthotics.  If they are wearing orthotics and they have to ask if they work, it must mean the orthotics are…

Let’s admit the obvious: Fitness takes time and it’s not always fun. It’s ironic when you think about it.   In today’s fast pace lifestyle if there’ one thing we don’t have much of its TIME and if there’s one thing we need more of its FUN. I’ve been a big fan of fun fitness for 35+ years…

  I have to admit, I’m very impressed with the popularity of fantasy football and how many football fans are involved in fantasy leagues around the world.  As the Head Athletic Trainer/Physical Therapist for the Jacksonville Jaguars, I can see why fantasy football is so appealing resulting in an elevated interest in NFL stats each…

I have to laugh when friends ask me, “what’s the big deal about a simple groin strain?!”  My reply is always the same and their answer is always “No“. I simple ask them, “You’ve never strained your groin before have you?” If they had ever experienced either a groin strain or had an M80 explode in their…

Watching ESPN this past weekend while in Charlotte getting ready for our big game against the Cam Newton Panthers, I heard an amazing statistic:  Five (5) starting NFL running backs were listed as “questionable” or “out” because of hamstring injuries. If you’re a “speed guy” or you play a “skill position” in football such as…

Kind of a bold title, wouldn’t you agree? A painful hip is a common complaint with athletes of any age.  I’ve demonstrated the proof of quickly reducing hip pain with dozens of professional football players and high level athletes in just the past 18 months. One of those cases took place just last week with…

I read a great article this weekend in the Health section of the Wall Street Journal titled: “As Sports Medicine Surges, Hope and Hype Outpace Proven Treatments”.  It exposed a very common problem for today’s amateur athletes. The insightful article written by Gina Kolata gives examples of motivated mature athletes with orthopedic injuries and no…

With the recent heat wave that has gripped the country, many of us are struggling to tolerate the brutal heat and humidity.  It’s one thing if you decide to run in the hot summer heat but with this kind of heat, simply walking the dog or working in the yard is putting anyone at risk…

He’s back and no one is more excited than he is today. Not long ago this amazing cyclist had to dig deep to simple ride his bike around the block. For the past two years my friend Bill has been dealing with his personalized version of hell.  Suffering with a great deal of pain, joint…

Come on, who doesn’t love a great massage with a happy ending?! I can see you smiling now just thinking of that satisfied feeling at the end of a massage with all the worries of the world and the aches and pains of a long week gone. Whether it’s a caring shoulder rub after a…

Injury can present a huge psychological challenge for athletes. Pain, on its own, provides a significant mental and emotional challenge. Being in pain is tiring and demoralising. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. For many athletes and sports players, it is tough to keep focussed and motivated during extended periods of injury. There…

In the athletic world, there are all sorts of events and competitions that take place on a yearly basis. From the Super Bowl to the World Cup, the Boston Marathon and the NBA Finals, there is always an athletic event somewhere in the US for athletes to challenge themselves and for spectators to enjoy. Competing…

If you know long enough in advance that you’re going to have major back surgery, look at that time as an opportunity. You don’t have to be a passive recipient of the surgeon’s skills. You can contribute to the operation’s success. In the months before I had spine fusion with steel rods to correct scoliosis,…

I received a message from a Jags’ season ticker holder with a simple medical question related to a not so simple shoulder injury.  This loyal Jacksonville fan completely tore the proximal long head of the biceps brachii muscle in his dominant arm and he was looking for some direction on how to manage this injury.…

Oz had the famed Curtain. Babylon had the mighty Walls. The NFL has The Door. Only “Authorized Personnel” are allowed through the NFL Draft Room door. And, everyone knows it.  Often referred to as the “War Room”, the Draft Room is where franchise impact decisions are made and openly discussed.  Hence, the reason why only…

“I didn’t know there was a 2nd Combine!” I hear it all the time and somehow the secrecy of this 2nd NFL Combine continues.  No one seems to know about this “other Combine”. I’m in Indy for this year’s 2nd NFL Combine along with all the NFL medical staffs represented for this important event.  The…

80% of us will have back pain at some point in our lives. How do you get to be that lucky 20%?  Or at least keep the pain minimal and have a quick and complete recovery if you do succumb to an aching back? Eating right, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight are all good…

This weekend may prove to be the dirtiest, most fatiguing, most fun and most rewarding time that you’ve had since your were a kid at summer camp.  More importantly, this weekend’s event is for a great cause to help others who need our support. This Saturday is the 3rd annual National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s Mud…

The big race is this Saturday…the Gate River Run 15 km USA Championship Race.  This race goes well beyond a local “bragging rights” race by being one of the most organized sporting events in the country, thanks to Race Director Doug Alred and his 1st Place Sports staff. I ran my first River Run in…

March 1st is here and we can officially stop blaming our health and fitness on the holidays.  It’s time. It’s time to take back our health and for each us to realize that WE are responsible for our own fitness. If you’re like me, your financial statements and 401K numbers are depressing.  It’s time for…

Today is an exciting day in Jacksonville, FL.  Today is the 4th annual 26.2 With Donna Breast Cancer Marathon with thousands of runners of all ages competing in this amazing event.  From the 1 Mile Fun Run, to the 5 km race to the 1/2 marathon to the “big race”, the marathon, all the runners…