Your Kid’s Body, The Red Flags Most Parents Miss.

If Your Kid Is Competing Year-Round, is Their Body Getting What It Needs?

If you have a child playing competitive sports in Northern Colorado — soccer, basketball, lacrosse, baseball, gymnastics, volleyball, cheer — you already know what the schedule looks like. Club season. School season. Summer tournaments. Winter showcases. Training camps. Speed and agility programs.

It doesn’t stop.

And somewhere in that schedule, a lot of kids are playing through pain they’ve been told is “just part of the sport.” Knee soreness. Hip tightness. Shoulder aches that come and go. Low back pain that their coaches chalk up to growing pains.

Some of it is. But, a significant portion of what young athletes are managing silently is something that can be easily assessed and addressed. Unfortuately, these red flags are usually looked over until bigger problems occur. This leads to the injuries that cost kids seasons, scholarships, and sometimes entire athletic careers.

The earlier it’s identified and corrected, the faster and more completely it resolves. The longer it’s ignored, the more compensation becomes normalized causing chronic issues.

The Youth Sports (This Includes Dance) Injury Landscape in Northern Colorado

Youth sports injuries have been rising steadily for two decades, driven primarily by early sport specialization and year-round competition without adequate recovery. The injuries we see most frequently at One80 Physical Therapy from the youth athlete population in Northern Colorado include:

ACL Tears and Knee Ligament Injuries

ACL injuries in young athletes, particularly female athletes in cutting sports like soccer, basketball, and volleyball, have reached epidemic proportions nationally. What most families don’t know: the majority of ACL tears are preventable. They happen when muscles fail to stabilize the knee under load, a failure that develops over time and can be identified and corrected before the tear occurs.

Post-ACL surgery return-to-sport rates are only about 65% in non-professional athletes, with re-tear rates running between 15 and 25% in the first two years. The conventional post-op rehab model is a major contributor to these statistics. Our post-surgical ACL patients at One80 consistently return to full sport ahead of conventional timelines AND we’ve never had one fail.

Growth Plate Stress Injuries (Osgood-Schlatter, Sever’s Disease)

These conditions, painful inflammation at the growth plates of the knee (Osgood-Schlatter) and heel (Sever’s), are almost universally undertreated. The standard advice is rest and ice. The One80 approach identifies the underlying biomechanical load distribution causing the growth plate stress and corrects it, allowing most young athletes to continue participating at a modified level while resolving the condition — rather than sitting out for weeks or months.

Shoulder and Elbow Overuse in Overhead Athletes

Baseball pitchers, swimmers, volleyball players, and gymnasts are particularly vulnerable to overuse injuries in the shoulder and elbow. Little League elbow, shoulder impingement, and rotator cuff tendinopathy in teen athletes are increasingly common, and increasingly serious.

Hip and Groin Issues in Cutting Sport Athletes

Hip flexor strains, labral irritation, and hip impingement are common in soccer, hockey, and basketball players, and are frequently mismanaged because the hip is a complex joint and conventional PT protocols don’t address the movement driving the problem. We see young athletes who’ve been told they have “hip flexor tightness” for two years. Usually it’s a muscular control issue that resolves in 2 to 3 visits when treated correctly.

Ankle Sprains That Keep Coming Back

The single most common youth sports injury is also the most chronically mismanaged. A lateral ankle sprain treated with rest, ice, and a brace returns the athlete to play structurally intact but neuromuscularly compromised, meaning the stabilization systems that should protect the ankle haven’t been restored. The result is a pattern of recurrent sprains that accumulates through a career. At One80, most acute ankle sprains are cleared for return to play in 2 to 4 visits with the stability systems fully restored.

Why “Rest and Ice” Is Often the Wrong Prescription for Young Athletes

The standard management of youth sports injuries in the conventional medical model follows a predictable pattern: symptoms appear, athlete is told to rest, symptoms subside, athlete returns to play, symptoms return. Repeat.

This cycle happens because rest addresses the symptom — the tissue irritation, the pain — without addressing the cause. The neuromuscular dysfunction that allowed the injury to occur remains intact. The compensation patterns that developed around the injury remain intact. The athlete returns to full load with the same vulnerable movement system they had before they got hurt.

The One80 System breaks this cycle by identifying and correcting the underlying dysfunction — not just waiting for the pain to go away. For young athletes, this means returning to play faster, with a movement system that is more resilient than it was before the injury.

What Parents Need to Know About One80 and Young Athletes

We work with youth athletes from across the Northern Colorado competitive sports community, from club soccer and travel baseball to high school varsity programs from Boulder to Cheyenne. A few things that matter to parents:

• No referral is needed. You can call and schedule directly without a physician visit first.
• Most young athletes see significant improvement in 2 to 4 visits. We will give you a clear recovery timeline at the first session.
• Our visit packages are household-based. If you have multiple athletes at home, the same package covers the whole family and can be used for up to 12 months.
• We accept HSA and FSA accounts. We also provide superbills for plans with out-of-network benefits.
• We do not just treat the injury site. We examine your child’s full movement system and correct what’s causing the breakdown — not just where they feel it.

The Case for Injury Prevention Over Injury Management

The most expensive conversation we have with parents is the one that starts: “We wish we’d come in sooner.”

A movement screening for a youth athlete costs significantly less — in time, money, and disruption to their season — than treating an ACL tear, managing a stress fracture, or working through a shoulder that’s been compensating for two years.

If your child is a competitive athlete in Northern Colorado and hasn’t had a movement screen, that’s where we’d start. We identify the specific vulnerabilities in their movement system before those vulnerabilities become injuries. For many families, it’s the best $105 (up to 20% off with packages) they spend all year.

Frequently Asked Questions

My kid has been playing through knee pain all season. Should I wait until the season ends?

No. Pain that persists through a competitive season is indicating an active problem, not soreness that will self-resolve with rest. Waiting until the season ends typically means the problem has become more entrenched and recovery takes longer. Early intervention almost always means a faster return to full function.

Our pediatrician told us it’s just growing pains. Should we get a second opinion?

If your child’s pain is affecting their ability to train or compete at full intensity, it warrants evaluation by a specialist in youth athlete movement and biomechanics. Growing pains are a real phenomenon, but they are frequently used as an explanation for conditions that are entirely addressable. We’re happy to provide a free consultation so you can make an informed decision.

My daughter tore her ACL and had surgery. When should she start working with One80?

As soon as possible — typically within the first week. The early phase of ACL recovery is critical for restoring neuromuscular function, and the difference in outcomes between patients who start structured neuromuscular rehab early versus late is significant. Our ACL post-op patients consistently return to sport ahead of conventional timelines.

Do you work with coaches and athletic trainers?

Yes. We work collaboratively with coaches and athletic trainers throughout the Northern Colorado area and are happy to communicate directly about return-to-play status and activity modifications. Keeping the whole team informed speeds recovery.

📞 Is your young athlete playing through pain?

Call (970) 593-9300 for a FREE consultation — or book by clicking HERE.

Sources

1. Brenner JS; American Academy of Pediatrics — Sports specialization and intensive training in young athletes. Pediatrics, 2016.
2. Myer GD et al. Rates of ACL injury in youth athletes: risk factors and prevention. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 2013.
3. Rauh MJ et al. Epidemiology of musculoskeletal injuries among high school cross-country runners. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2006.
4. Soligard T et al. Comprehensive warm-up programme to prevent injuries in young female footballers. British Medical Journal, 2008.
5. Paterno MV et al. Incidence of second ACL injuries 2 years after primary ACL reconstruction. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 2014.

Does Dry Needling Really Relieve Pain in Northern Colorado?

Having tiny needles poked into a painful muscle knot is unnerving. But can it help?

By Andrea Javor

April 20, 2026

Over the past decade, a strange practice has worked its way into physical therapy offices. It’s not exactly acupuncture but still involves a therapist sticking tiny needles under your skin and letting you suffer for a short time.

Dry needling — the insertion of ultrathin needles into trigger points to loosen them — was codified by the American Medical Association as an acceptable form of therapy in 2016. Since then, it has become a standard part of orthopedic care, with superstar athletes like Travis Kelce and Caitlin Clark using the treatment for recovery and maintenance.

Fans of the procedure say it can offer near instant relief, describing a melting of pain or a feeling of release at the needling site. Others say at best it’s a temporary fix.

And while the therapy is largely considered safe, sticking needles in the body does carry some risk. In December, T.J. Watt, a linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers, suffered a collapsed lung after a session of dry needling. (He eventually recovered and finished out the season.)

So what do you need to know about dry needling?

Is it a clinical breakthrough for chronic pain or just another overhyped wellness trend?

What is dry needling?

The basic idea behind dry needling is to create a tiny injury in a painful part of the body in hopes of increasing blood flow and loosening tight muscles, tendons and other tissue. The needles don’t inject anything — hence they are “dry.” The treatment is most often used to treat overuse or stress injuries tied to “trigger points,” or muscle knots.

Generally, practitioners will either leave the needles in place or gently slide them up and down under the skin (called pistoning). Other times, they may run electricity through the needles to further  relax the muscle. Either way, the sensation can be strange. “I saw the muscles on my arm dancing while it was being done,” said Caroline Miller, a 64-year-old competitive swimmer from Maryland, of her experience with standard dry needling. But, she added, “the next day all the pain went away.”

Though dry needling has generally been used to target muscles, over the last decade the treatment has expanded to tendons, scar tissue, fascia and bone surfaces. Some evidence even suggests that it may improve headaches. But despite their similarities, dry needling is not the same as acupuncture.

“Dry needling focuses solely on musculoskeletal targets, like trigger points,” said Melissa Monroe, an acupuncturist in Los Angeles. By contrast, she added, acupuncture incorporates traditional Chinese medicine principles around energy and fascia pathways in the body.

Does it work?

The answer, as with many physical therapy procedures, is: It depends.

While evidence of long-term benefits of dry needling are low-quality, many studies have found it’s is more effective than a placebo and at least as effective as traditional physical therapy techniques, like exercise and massage, in the short term.

Many patients report an immediate sense of relief after a session, as well as an increase in muscle strength and range of movement, said Jan Dommerholt, a physical therapist in Maryland who runs a certification program.

Oddly enough, it’s still not clear exactly how needling works. While experts agree that muscle knots exist, not all agree they are the cause of myofascial pain or whether needles are the best way to release them.

“Dry needling at best is a short-term solution that ignores the root cause of the issue,” said Rhett Polka, a physical therapist in Loveland, Colo. He argues that dry needling only temporarily calms symptoms like tightness or spasms and bypasses deeper physiological issues.

“There are therapies like heat and gentle massage that are just as effective for loosening muscles,” said Nelin Krull, a physical therapist in Toronto.

Even those who promote needling say it’s not a panacea, and that it should be administered by a qualified professional, often alongside other treatments, like joint mobilization, soft tissue work, therapeutic exercise or gait training.

Some studies have found that electro-stimulation can deliver faster pain relief, but again, only in the short term. When used for headaches, randomized trials have found that needling can help, but no more than other therapies.

While Medicare does cover the treatment for lower back pain, many insurance companies do not.

Is it safe?

Studies show that when practiced correctly, dry needling rarely leads to significant complications, though the risk is not zero. Minor side effects, like bruising, bleeding or temporary pain after treatment are common, according to one 2020 study.

More serious events, like worsening symptoms or forgotten needles were exceedingly rare, appearing in less than 0.1 percent of cases. The risk of a collapsed lung, as Mr. Watt experienced, is even rarer.

Certification programs have expanded in recent years, so it’s important to find a qualified, experienced clinician, though it’s often complicated. State laws dictate certification requirements, but they vary. Maryland and New Jersey, for example, require 80 hours of education, while Virginia asks that a clinician simply “show competency.” Seven states have no laws at all.

Because of a lobbying effort by acupuncturists, California, New York and Hawaii currently restrict the procedure to licensed acupuncturists.

Ashley Katzenback, a physical therapist in Cape Cod, Mass., recommended treating dry needling as you would any other specialized medical care, asking clinicians “what type of certification they have, where they did their training and how long they’ve been practicing.”

Regardless of who does it, dry needling isn’t appropriate for pregnant people or those with bleeding disorders, a weakened immune system, lymphedema (swelling), cancer or an active skin infection.

At the end of the day, dry needling is relatively safe and effective at loosening muscles and easing pain in the short term. Some patients swear by the therapy, though it’s probably no more effective than other treatments, and it may not address the underlying causes of pain.

A version of this article appears in print on April 21, 2026, Section D, Page 6 of the New York edition with the headline: Dry Needling and Pain Relief. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe

One80’s stance on dry needling in Northern Colorado? We don’t use it because it is at best a placebo and has greater chance of causing more damage than solving the problem. We avoid a gimmick treatments (needling, cupping, decompression, shockwave, etc) because they never get to root cause and end up costing patients more time and money lost.

If you’re in Northern Colorado and you’d like to experience the opposite of everything else out there, you are ready to do a One80. Our patented techniques have been proven over the last 20 years to get patients better and back to normal activity in an average of 3 visits. To find a One80 provider near you in the US, Canada or Europe, visit our provider page at www.one80pt.com.

To schedule a FREE consultation at the original One80PT in Loveland, Colorado just click here or call (970) 593-9300

If you are a 20–40-year-old logging 15–50 miles a week around Loveland, Fort Collins, Berthoud, or Windsor and you keep fighting foot, plantar fasciitis-type pain, knee pain, hip pain, or back pain, it is not because running is “bad” for you.

You have probably tried inserts, rigid shoes, soft shoes, stretching, foam rolling, massage, tape, a Theragun, maybe even multiple rounds of physical therapy or chiropractic.

If you are still hurting, the problem is not you – it is the conventional, symptom-based model.

The patented One80 System® is the opposite of everything you have tried: 1:1 care, no protocols, full-body testing, and patient-specific exercises that target the root cause so you can prepare correctly and run without pain dominating your training.

If You Run Around Loveland, This Will Sound Familiar

You love running.

Maybe it is a quick 5K before work, weekend 10Ks, or building toward your first marathon.

But somewhere between 15 and 50 miles a week, something always flares up:

• Foot or heel pain that feels like plantar fasciitis
• Achy or sharp knee pain after hills or speed work
• Hip tightness that creeps into every long run
• Low back pain that shows up the day after a hard effort

You have:

• Bought expensive shoes and custom inserts
• Tried massage, foam rolling, and a Theragun
• Done all the stretches Instagram told you to
• Seen a chiropractor, personal trainer, or a big orthopedic center
• Even completed weeks of “traditional” physical therapy

And yet, the next training block, the same pain shows up again.

It is exhausting.

Why Conventional Rehab Keeps Runners Stuck

Most PT, chiropractic, and sports medicine care around running pain is built on the same assumptions:

• Where it hurts is where the problem is
• If a muscle feels tight, it needs to be stretched or smashed
• If a joint is stiff, it needs to be manipulated or adjusted
• If the scan shows something, that must be the cause

So you get:

• Ultrasound, electrical stimulation, or dry needling
• Cupping, massage, or joint manipulation
• Foam rolling, static stretching, and “corrective” exercises
• Generic protocols based on your diagnosis code

Even the fancy gadgets do not magically retrain how your body moves.

Here is the issue: all of that focuses on symptoms, not the system.

Your knee hurts, so everyone stares at your knee.

Your plantar fascia screams, so all the attention goes to your foot.

Meanwhile, the true root cause – usually a combination of limited motion, decreased strength, poor stability and/or motor control somewhere else in the chain – is totally missed.

No wonder the pain returns as soon as you dial your mileage back up.

The One80 System®: The Opposite of Everything You Have Tried

At One80 Physical Therapy in Loveland, we use a patented methodology created by Dr. Rhett Polka that does not look like conventional PT or chiropractic at all.

One80 is literally the opposite of everything you have tried:

• We do not rely on dry needling, cupping, foam rolling, stretching, kinesio tape, massage, or Theragun-style gadgets.
• We do not chase pain or blame your “bad posture” or “over-pronation.”
• We do not run you through standard plantar fasciitis or ankle pain protocols.

Instead, The One80 System focuses on how your entire body moves and responds under load.

We look for the root cause, and breakdown motion, strength, stability and motor control into their smallest pieces. This process is one aspect that sets One80 apart.

Then we use our patented therapy techniques to reverse it.

Every session is:

• 1:1 with a Doctor trained in The One80 System
• Full-body, not just the body part that hurts
• Built on patient-specific evaluation methods
• Exercises you perform in the clinic then at home to maintain progress
• Brokendown to the “what” and “why” so you know exactly what the plan is
• Designed to create immediate change after each visit

No passive care.

No cookie-cutter printouts.

No protocols.

No handing you off to a tech.

What a Visit Looks Like for a Runner

When you come in with recurring foot or knee pain while training for a 10K, half marathon, or marathon, here is what really happens:

1. We listen. We want to know how much you run, your goals, where you feel pain, and what you have already tried.
2. We test the whole system. Feet, ankles, knees, hips, pelvis, low back, trunk – all functionally, not just on a table.
3. We target the muscles that are not doing their job. Often, the painful area is overworking to cover for something else that is underworking.
4. We treat actively. Using One80 manual therapy, we get the right muscles back online while you move.
5. We re-test under load. We do not just ask, “Does it feel better?” We want to see your movement and running mechanics actually change… each visit.

Our goal is always to move you toward running, not away from it, as quickly and safely as your body allows.

Need a starting point?

If you are curious how our approach applies to your sport, call One80 for your free assessment today at

(970) 593-9300 or request it online at One80pt.com.

Even if you aren’t a runner, a free consultation lets you see exactly how different

The One80 System feels compared with conventional rehab.

Why Running Is Not Supposed To Be Painful

According to multiple sports medicine reviews, a large percentage of recreational and competitive runners experience a lower extremity injury each year.

That does not mean running is the problem.

It means too many runners are training on top of poor preparation and unresolved movement issues.

Running pain-free becomes much more realistic when you:

• Have adequate hip and trunk control so your knees and feet are not overloaded
• Have feet and ankles that can move and respond, not just be held in place by rigid shoes and inserts
• Train your system to be strong and stable at the same speeds you use while running

That is exactly what our patient-specific exercises target.

Not generic “mobility work” and stretches because you are a runner.

Not three sets of ten clamshells because you have knee pain.

But specific movements based on what we found during your One80 assessment.

Fast, Lasting Results: What That Actually Means

We are not promising magic or an “instant cure.”

But we are very clear about this: when you treat the right problem, your body responds quickly.

For many runners we see from Loveland, Fort Collins, Berthoud, and Windsor, that means:

• Noticeable change in pain or function on the first visit
• A clear understanding of why the pain showed up in the first place
• A focused plan that usually takes a handful of visits, not 2–3 visits per week for 6–8 weeks

The goal is not just to get you through your next 5K.

It is to change the way your system works so you are not stuck repeating the same injury cycle next month.

Is One80 Right For You?

You are a great fit for One80 Physical Therapy if:

• You are a 20–40-year-old running 15–50 miles a week
• You live within 12 miles of Loveland, Colorado, including Fort Collins, Berthoud, or Windsor
• You have dealt with recurring foot pain, plantar fasciitis, knee pain, hip pain or back pain
• You have already tried conventional PT, chiropractic, massage, or a personal trainer
• You are done chasing symptoms and want a root-cause, science-based approach

You can learn more about us at One80pt.com and see stories, videos, and updates on our Facebook page.

If you are ready to see how the patented One80 System® can apply to your running:

Call One80 for your free running assessment today

(970) 593-9300 or request it online at One80pt.com.

We will walk you through how our 1:1, root-cause approach can help you prepare properly so running feels like it should – strong, confident, and without pain.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider with questions about your individual condition or before starting any new exercise or rehabilitation program.

Horse riding does not have to mean chronic back, hip, knee or shoulder pain for riders. If you or your chiuld finishes every ride with a sore back, hips, or knees, the problem usually is not the saddle, the horse, or your “tight” muscles. At One80 Physical Therapy in Loveland, we use The One80 System – a patented, full-body, root-cause approach – to help riders prepare their bodies to ride well, ride strong, and ride with far less pain in far fewer visits than the conventional PT model.

Horse riding should not hurt every time you tack up. . Most conventional “rider rehab” focuses on stretching and exercises that chase symptoms and often make things worse. The One80 System® uses a patented, full-body, root-cause approach that helps horse athletes in Northern Colorado ride better and hurt less, usually in just a few focused visits instead of months of appointments.

If riding always hurts, something is off – not just “normal.”

You know the routine.

 

You ride, you ache, you ice, you stretch, you pop an anti-inflammatory, and you tell yourself, “This is just what riding does to a body.”

Or you or your daughter step off after riding session with a sore back or knees, and you’re to

ld to just  “stretch the hip flexors” or “work the core” or “ice it down.”

Pain is common in riders, but it is not automatic or unavoidable.

Research from reputable health organizations shows that most adults will deal with musculoskeletal pain at some point in their lives, especially in the low back and hips. But in our clinic, we see over and over that rider pain is usually a movement problem, not a “normal horse riding” problem.

Why conventional rehab keeps horse riders stuck

If you have already tried traditional PT, chiro, or massage, you have probably seen some version of this play out:

• You say, “My low back hurts when I ride.”
• They stretch or rub your hamstrings, hip flexors, and back.
• You get a sheet of “core” or “glute” exercises.
• Maybe you get dry needling, cupping, foam rolling, or a Theragun to the sore area.

For a an hour or two, it feels a bit better. Then you get back in the saddle, move the same way, load the same pattern, and the pain comes roaring back.

That is because almost all of those things you tried are symptom-chasing. They are not built to find and reverse the real reason your back, hip, or knee is overloaded every time you ride.

At One80, we know symptom modification strategies, conventional stretches and “corrective” exercises riders are given are at best a temporary band-aid, and at worst, they reinforce the same faulty patterns that caused the pain in the first place.

The One80 System: the opposite of everything you have tried

The One80 System® is our patented approach that flips the usual PT model on its head. We do not start where you hurt. We start with how you move.

We look at how you:

• Ride, post, mount and dismount
• Walk, squat, and lunge
• Rotate through your tr
  unk and hips
• Stabilize when you shift weight in the stirrups

Then we apply our own thoughtprocess: every injury or pain problem comes from a breakdown in one or more of four ingredients – motion, stability, strength, or motor control.

Instead of mobilizing everything that feels “tight,” we find what muscles aren’t firing. Instead of randomly “strengthening your core,” we figure out which muscles are not doing their job at the right time when you ride.

We do not treat the painful area – we treat how you ride

Here is a common pattern we see in riders:

• Pain shows up in the shoulder after riding.
• The real issue is a stiff ankle, weak hip, lack of abdominal firing on the opposite side.
• That leaves the shoulder out on it’s own, causing compination, overuse and pain.

If we just stretch and rub your shoulder, we’d be missing the real problem.

With the One80 System, we restore motion where it is missing, lock in stability where you are dumping into your joints, and retrain your body to share the workload the way it was designed to – from the ground up.

That is how riders often notice a measurable change in how they feel on the horse after the first visit, not after six weeks of generic exercises.

What a One80 session looks like for riders and horse families

You are one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy who is a One80 Practitioner for the entire visit. We are not bouncing between three patients or handing you off to an aide.

A typical session for a horse athlete includes:

• A full-body movement assessment, not just the painful area
• Hands-on neuromuscular work to immediately change how key muscles fire
• Functional movement training that looks a lot like how you actually ride and live
• Constant retesting: “Does that movement still hurt? Can you do this stronger, faster, with more control?”

We focus on MoStreBility (motion + strength + stability together) instead of long lists of isolated “corrective” drills. The goal is simple: walk out the door moving differently than when you walked in.

That is why we typically see riders 2-3 times… total, not 2-3 times per week for 6-8 weeks.

How to prepare your body to ride with less pain

Everyone is different, and this is not a diagnosis or a personal treatment plan. But there are some general principles we use with our riders to help them ride pain free for longer:

• Ditch static stretching before you ride. Because stretching reduces power and stability. Instead, focus on active movements.
• Warm up off the horse for 5 minutes. Think controlled squats, lunges, step-ups, gentle trunk rotation and easy shoulder exercises.
• Wake up your hips and mid-back. Movements that combine hip hinge, hip rotation, and upper back rotation prepare your body to absorb force in the saddle.
• Train single-leg stability. Simple, active balance work translates directly to how you manage the stirrups when things get dynamic.

If any of these movements make your pain worse, stop and get evaluated by a qualified professional.

Ready to stop accepting pain as “part of riding”?

If you or your daughter rides in the Loveland, Fort Collins, Berthoud, Greeley area and you are tired of the same stretching routines, the same “core work,” and the same lack of lasting change, there is a different option.

You can learn more about us BY CLICKING HERE and see what we are sharing with athletes and parents on our Facebook page here.

call to schedule your free consultation so we can see whether The One80 System is the right fit for your situation. You can reach us at 970 593-9300 or online at RIGHT HERE.

The bottom line for horse parents and riders:

You invest in your horse, your barn, your trainer, your tack, and often your child’s entire competitive schedule. Your body – and their body – deserve the same level of attention and strategy.

Horse riding does not have to equal chronic pain. With the right root-cause approach, you can prepare to ride in a way that protects your joints, builds real strength and stability, and lets you focus on performance instead of pain.

If you are ready to get out of the conventional model and finally address why riding hurts, call to schedule your free consultation at 970 593-9300 or request a visit RIGHT HERE.

If your club or high school athlete keeps missing games despite weeks of conventional PT, rest, and stretching, the problem probably is not their hamstring, knee, or shoulder – it is the way they are being treated. At One80 Physical Therapy in Loveland, our patented One80 System finds the root cause of your athlete’s pain so they can return to sport in as few as 3-5 visits, not 3-5 weeks on the sideline.

Your club or high school athlete is constantly moving and growing (soccer tournaments in Windsor, volleyball in Fort Collins, football under the lights in Loveland, or gymnastics and swimming meets in Berthoud every weekend). That combo alone can cause issues. Add on top of that hours a day of practice, months without rest and repetitive motion sports, and you’ve got the recipe for injury.

So when they start limping through practice, grabbing their shoulder after throwing, or needing ice and anti-inflamatories every night, it’s time to bring them to the experts at One80.

The longer you wait, the longer the recovery.

According to U.S. health data high school athletes account for an estimated 2 million injuries and hundreds of thousands of doctor visits every year.

In other words, you are not alone – but “everyone gets hurt” is not an excuse to accept chronic pain as the price of club sports.

Pain is a signal, not a life sentence.

Why conventional sports medicine keeps young athletes on the sideline

Most families around Loveland, Fort Collins, Berthoud, and Windsor follow the same path when a young athlete gets hurt.

You see a primary care provider or orthopedic center, maybe get some imaging, then you are told to rest, ice, stretch, and eventually start physical therapy.

Or your athlete bounces between a chiropractor, massage therapist, and massage therapy, hoping one of them finally “fixes” it.

Conventional PT and sports medicine usually focus on:

The site of pain, not the root cause

Protocols and checklists, not the individual athlete

Passive stuff like dry needling, cupping, foam rolling, joint manipulation, massage, electrical stimulation, and “corrective” exercises that feel good but rarely create lasting change

That often looks like 2-3 PT visits a week for 6-8 weeks, with generic band work, stretching, and a sheet of exercises your athlete could have Googled.

Meanwhile, they are weaker, tighter, scared to move, and still not back to full soccer, football, baseball, volleyball, or gymnastics.

If this sounds familiar, you are seeing the problem with the symptom-chasing model.

One80 is the opposite of everything you have tried.

Call One80 before you accept another season on the sideline

If your athlete is stuck in the cycle of injury, rest, repeat, you do not have to wait it out.

Call One80 for your free athlete assessment today at 970-593-9300 or reach out at One80pt.com.

You can also request an appointment directly at our Loveland clinic here:

call One80 for your free athlete assessment today

The One80 System: our patented root-cause approach

The One80 System is a patented, science-driven method created by Dr. Rhett Polka in Loveland, Colorado.

We work with athletes from club soccer and football to competitive swimming, baseball, and volleyball across Northern Colorado.

Here is what makes it different.

1. We do not treat “knee pain” or “shoulder pain” – we treat the athlete

Where it hurts is often not where the problem is.

A high school soccer player’s “knee injury” may actually be coming from how their hip and trunk absorb force.

A pitcher’s “shoulder problem” may be driven by how their foot and ribcage load during their windup.

The One80 System looks at the entire body in motion to find the true driver of stress.

2. No protocols, ever – only patient-specific exercises

We do not pull a generic ACL, ankle sprain, or low back “protocol” off the shelf.

Every young athlete gets 1:1 treatment for the full visit, with testing and re-testing in real time.

We use our MoStreBility approach – combining motion, strength, and stability in the exact patterns your athlete needs for their sport.

No cookie-cutter band walks, no endless stretching, no three-page home programs they will never actually do.

3. Immediate, measurable change in 3-5 visits

Because we target the root cause, results come faster.

Many of our youth and college athletes notice meaningful changes on day one – more motion, less pain with cutting, jumping, sprinting, or serving.

Instead of planning for 3-5 weeks of rest and rehab, our goal is often 3-5 focused visits to get them safely back into soccer, football, baseball, gymnastics, swimming, or volleyball.

Is every case the same?

Of course not.

But when you stop chasing symptoms and start fixing the driver, you stop wasting time.

How we help prevent the next injury, not just patch this one

Most conventional care ends when the pain calms down.

That is exactly why the same injury keeps coming back.

At One80, we use the “Recipe for Injury” to find which ingredients are missing:

Motion

Stability

Strength

Motor control

Then we build patient-specific exercises that match the forces of their sport.

For example:

A club soccer or football athlete might need better single-leg strength and trunk control when cutting.

A gymnast might need stronger, more stable shoulders and hips in loaded overhead positions.

A swimmer or volleyball player might need rotational strength from the ground up, not just band work for the rotator cuff.

This is not about making them “more flexible.”

It is about making them more resilient.

What a visit to One80 Physical Therapy looks like

Here is what you and your athlete can expect at our Loveland clinic.

A thorough, full-body assessment – not just where it hurts

1:1 time with a One80-trained physical therapist for the entire session

Hands-on treatment plus active movement, not passive modalities

Clear, simple home work that is built for your athlete and their sport

A plan to get them back into club or high school competition as quickly and safely as possible

We regularly work with athletes and families from Loveland, Fort Collins, Berthoud, Windsor, Timnath and surrounding areas who are done wasting time and money on approaches that do not last.

Ready for a different outcome for your athlete?

If your athlete is stuck in pain despite PT, chiropractic, massage, or personal training, it is time to flip the script.

Our patented techniques get to the root cause, deliver focused 1:1 treatment, and use patient-specific exercises with no protocols, so your athlete can stop rehabbing and start playing again.

Call One80 for your free athlete assessment today at 970-593-9300 or contact us online:

call One80 for your free athlete assessment today

You do not have to accept “that is just part of sports” for your high school or club athlete.

There is a better way.

Is One80 Right For Your Family?

You are a great fit for One80 Physical Therapy if:

• You have an active family of athletes
• You live within 12 miles of Loveland, Colorado, including Fort Collins, Berthoud, or Windsor
• Your family has dealt with recurring foot, knee, hip, shoulder or back pain
• You have already tried conventional PT, chiropractic, massage, or a physician
• You are done chasing symptoms and want a root-cause, science-based approach

You can learn more about us at One80pt.com and see stories, videos, and updates on our Facebook page.

If you are ready to see how the patented One80 System® can apply to your running:

Call One80 for a free consultation today at (970) 593-9300 or request it online at One80pt.com.

We will walk you through how our 1:1, root-cause approach can help you prepare properly so running feels like it should again – strong, confident, and without pain running the show.

 

This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about any questions you have regarding a medical condition or your child’s health.