Why did you get into physical therapy?
Becoming a physical therapist was a goal of mine since I was in high school. I was a 3-sport athlete in high school (football, wrestling and track) and spent a little too much time with the athletic trainer. I always wanted to remain active in athletics in some way and sports medicine was the perfect fit for me. I was a 2-sport athlete in college (football and track) and I did my undergraduate education in kinesiology and sports medicine and was certified as an athletic trainer. I worked at the collegiate level for several years before returning to school to become a physical therapist. I knew that with the duel credential I would be able to do so much more to help athletes.
What do you do for exercise / do you play a sport?
Like many other athletes, organized sports ended for me after college. I stayed active in intramural sports for a few years. Then during my doctoral program, I was introduced to kettlebells. I was hooked. I started training daily and was later certified as a kettlebell instructor through Agatsu in 2007.
Tell us about your practice. Where, and what do you specialize in?
This is a loaded question. I am spread pretty thin. I’m the director of sports medicine at Casa Colina Hospital in Pomona, CA. I am an instructor at Azusa Pacific University in the Athletic Training Program and the Applied Exercise Science major. I am an instructor at Santa Ana College in the Fire Technology Program. I am also co-owner of Podium Sports Performance which is a multidiscipline group made of myself, Joe Jaime, DC, ATC, CSCS and Bill Ito, MS, ATC. We specialize in professional athlete medical concierge services, in office and off-site sports event coverage and continuing education. We work primarily with track and field, CrossFit, triathletes, runners, golf, hockey and cycling but we don’t limit ourselves. We are located in Southern California in the Inland Empire and work out of several locations to provide our services to a wide area.
What was your first experience with RockTape?
My first experience with RockTape was with my friend Joe Jaime, DC, ATC, CSCS who had just taken the FMT 1&2. I had worked with other brands before and had some good clinical outcomes with it. When Joe used RockTape on me in an upper body helical line pattern I was blown away. The strength of the tape and the pattern of application was like nothing that I had ever seen. My interest was definitely peaked!
How do you use RockTape in your practice?
I use RockTape in different ways depending on my setting at the time. In the clinic, I use RockTape in movement patterns to help with neuromuscular re-education after my manual therapy techniques. It helps the patient with proper motor control and sequencing during dynamic movements during their therapeutic exercises. The patients feel that keeping the tape on after their treatment really helps to reinforce what we had just done in therapy. Outside of the clinic, I use RockTape for neuromuscular facilitation during athletic competitions and practices. This helps the athlete, especially when returning from an injury to be more aware of their movements, and movement patterns so that they avoid re-injury, or injury from compensatory patterns.
What’s your favorite RockTape pattern/product/etc?
RockTape honestly has some remarkable products. I would say that I personally use the RockBalls and Rock N Roller on a daily basis as well as with my patients. I love the tape and in the hospital, we use the RockTapeRx like crazy! I get requests for the argyle and skulls all the time, but our favorite pattern will be the one with the Podium Sports Performance logo on it (another very unique RockTape service)! I am so stoked to get my hands on the RockBlades in July when I take the course with Ethan Kreiswirth, Ph.D, ATC. So many great product that are of the highest quality. I don’t know what I would do without them!
Podium Sports Performance is launching their website this summer. Follow or contact them on Facebook and Instagram.