LIFTERSVoltex Physical Therapy · North Austin
Shoulder pain on bench or overhead, a tweaked back on deadlifts, or knees that complain on squats? A Doctor of Physical Therapy at our North Austin clinic gets you back under the bar, and keeps you there.
Most clients feel a difference within the first few visits.
The short answer
Lifting injuries are usually overuse, not accidents. In powerlifting the low back, shoulder and knee are hurt most; in CrossFit the shoulder and spine lead the list.
At our North Austin clinic, a Doctor of Physical Therapy watches you squat, press and pull, finds the position or load that is driving the pain, treats it hands-on, then rebuilds the strength and mobility to get you through your next training cycle, from garage gym to the CrossFit Open to HYROX.
Understand your pain
The 6 most common injuries we see in lifters, CrossFit and HYROX athletes at our North Austin clinic, and the signs of each one.
Feels like: a pinch at the front or top of the shoulder on bench, overhead press or snatches.
Often caused by: a stiff upper back and a rotator cuff that can’t keep the shoulder centered under load.
Feels like: a sharp catch or a deep ache across the low back after heavy pulls, sometimes into the buttock.
Often caused by: losing position under fatigue, adding load too fast, or hips and upper back that don’t move enough.
Feels like: pain at the front of the knee or under the kneecap at the bottom of a squat, wall balls or lunges.
Often caused by: a quick jump in squat volume, limited ankle mobility, or tendons that haven’t caught up with your strength.
Feels like: inside- or outside-elbow pain on pull-ups, cleans and the front rack, or wrist pain on push-ups and handstands.
Often caused by: high-volume gripping and pressing without enough forearm strength or wrist mobility.
Feels like: a pinch at the front of the hip at the bottom of a squat, or a tight pull behind the thigh on deadlifts and sprints.
Often caused by: hip mobility limits, a change in stance, or hamstrings loaded faster than they were trained.
Feels like: a sharp side or rib-cage pain with twisting, toes-to-bar, or a deep breath after a heavy set.
Often caused by: a sudden spike in gymnastics or twisting volume with a core not yet conditioned for it.
Sound familiar?
Shoulder pain? See shoulder pain treatment in Austin. Back pain? See back pain & sciatica treatment.
What the research says
Powerlifters average about 1 to 4 injuries per 1,000 hours of training, lower than most team sports. The back, shoulder and knee are the areas hurt most often.
A review of CrossFit studies found about 3 injuries per 1,000 training hours, with the spine (27%), shoulder (26%) and knee (16%) leading the list. Most build up over time rather than from one bad rep.
In a trial of people with mechanical low back pain, an 8-week deadlift program improved pain and function, especially for those who started with less pain and better back endurance. The right load, at the right time, is part of treatment.
Your plan at Voltex
Every visit is one-on-one with a Doctor of Physical Therapy for the full session at our North Austin clinic.
A 75-minute evaluation of your mobility, strength and the lifts that hurt, bar in hand.
Manual therapy, dry needling and smart changes to your programming so you keep training where possible.
Targeted strength, mobility and position work for the weak links the evaluation found.
A step-by-step plan back to your working weights and WODs, with checkpoints along the way.
