Movement Quality Governs Health & Performance
Injuries happen, whether you're an athlete, a worker in a physically demanding job, or someone trying to stay active. How well you move plays a major role in injury risk and overall performance. Poor movement mechanics can lead to overuse, pain, and long-term damage. At AR Physical Therapy, we focus on assessing and improving movement quality to help prevent injuries and enhance well-being for all populations.
Faulty Movement Patterns & Injury Risk
Baseball Pitchers: The Cost of Poor Kinematics
In baseball, inefficient movement sequencing, lower extremity weakness, and poor trunk control significantly elevate injury risk. Studies show that improper pelvis and upper trunk rotation timing increases stress on the shoulder and elbow, leading to conditions such as labral tears, impingement syndromes, and ulnar collateral ligament injuries. Additionally, loss of shoulder mobility, particularly glenohumeral internal rotation deficit (GIRD), has been strongly correlated with shoulder injuries in overhead athletes.
Factory Workers: Repetitive Motion & Musculoskeletal Disorders
Repetitive tasks in manufacturing or assembly work demand sustained movement patterns, often leading to overuse injuries in the shoulders, back, and wrists. Poor ergonomic positioning and movement asymmetry contribute to chronic pain and conditions like tendinitis, rotator cuff injuries, and nerve compression syndromes.
Sedentary Workers: The Hidden Dangers of Desk Work
Prolonged sitting leads to deconditioning, loss of flexibility, and muscular imbalances, particularly in the hip flexors, glutes, and core muscles. This imbalance can result in lumbar spine instability, anterior pelvic tilt, and increased susceptibility to knee pain. A lack of movement variability also reduces joint lubrication and neuromuscular activation, making individuals more prone to soft tissue injuries and joint degeneration over time.
Movement Impairments in ACL & Ankle Injuries
Athletes recovering from ACL injuries, ankle sprains, and chronic ankle instability face significant movement quality deficits that increase their risk of re-injury.
ACL Injuries & Movement Quality Deficits
After ACL reconstruction, neuromuscular control deficits, altered landing mechanics, and compensatory strategies often persist, increasing re-injury risk. Single-leg vertical jump tests have identified asymmetries in knee function, with weaker neuromuscular responses in the injured limb upon return to sport. Athletes with unresolved movement impairments are at a higher risk of secondary ACL injury.
Ankle Sprains & Chronic Ankle Instability
Ankle sprains often lead to chronic instability, which presents with neuromuscular control impairments, peroneal activation deficits, and balance dysfunction. Even after symptoms subside, poor joint stabilization and proprioceptive deficits can lead to repeated sprains, prolonged recovery, and long-term dysfunction.
Syndesmotic (High) Ankle Sprains
High ankle sprains involve the distal tibiofibular syndesmosis, requiring longer recovery times than traditional lateral ankle sprains. Persistent movement asymmetries, dorsiflexion loss, and altered neuromuscular responses can prolong rehabilitation, necessitating a structured return-to-play approach.
How We Quantify & Address Movement Deficits
At AR Physical Therapy, we integrate state-of-the-art biomechanical assessment tools to identify movement deficiencies and track rehabilitation progress.
DorsaVi 3D Motion Capture
- Provides real-time movement analysis for objective data on joint mobility, symmetry, and coordination.
- Detects compensatory movement strategies that increase injury risk.
- Enables customized movement retraining based on individual needs.
Kinvent Force Plates
- Measures balance, power output, and movement symmetry.
- Quantifies return-to-play readiness for athletes and workers.
- Tracks strength progression throughout rehabilitation.
My Kinvent App: Your Progress, In Your Hands
With our technology, patients can track their test results over time, eliminating the guesswork. Regular assessments ensure objective monitoring of movement improvements, allowing for data-driven decisions on return to sport, work, or daily activities.
Resilience: The Key to Recovery & Long-Term Performance
Resilience in movement is about how well you recover from both injuries and physical activity. It includes:
✅ Injury Recovery – Healing efficiently while avoiding long-term compensation patterns.
✅ Tissue Adaptation – Strengthening muscles, tendons, and joints to withstand stress.
✅ Fatigue Resistance – Improving endurance in repetitive or high-load activities.
Poor movement quality reduces resilience, leading to longer recovery times and higher injury risks. At AR Physical Therapy, we build resilience by:
✔️ Tracking Progress with Technology – Using DorsaVi & Kinvent data to monitor improvements.
✔️ Personalized Strength & Mobility Training – Correcting imbalances before they lead to injury.
✔️ Neuromuscular Control & Balance Training – Making movement more efficient and safer.
Final Thoughts
Regardless of whether you are an athlete, worker, or desk professional, movement quality governs both health and performance. Poor movement patterns increase injury risk, reduce efficiency, and contribute to long-term musculoskeletal issues. At AR Physical Therapy, we offer personalized, data-driven movement assessments and rehabilitation strategies to help you move better, recover fully, and prevent future injuries.
If you are experiencing pain, weakness, or limited mobility, let’s assess your movement today. No referral is needed in New York, and you can set up a consultation with us by calling (315) 932-5210 or emailing contact@ar-physicaltherapy.com.
Let's move better, stay stronger, and prevent injuries—for all populations! 🚀