Rewriting Rehab for Gymnasts with Dr. Sam Shively, DPT, CSCS

About this episode

Dr. Gina Fick interviews Dr. Sam Shively about evolving physical therapy practices for gymnasts.

In this episode of the PT Rebels Podcast, Dr. Gina Fick, PT, ScD, sits down with Dr. Sam Shively, DPT, CSCS, to explore how physical therapy must evolve to meet the unique demands of gymnastics. Drawing from her extensive gymnastics background, Dr. Shively shares why sport-specific knowledge is non-negotiable when treating gymnasts and how traditional rehab models often fall short. Together, they discuss integrating strength and conditioning into rehab, building individualized treatment plans, and the importance of clear communication with coaches and parents. Dr. Shively makes a compelling case for performance-driven rehabilitation that not only restores athletes but also elevates them to elite performance. This episode is a must-listen for clinicians who want to rethink how they approach rehab for high-level athletes. 00:00 Introduction to PT Rebels Podcast 00:25 Meet Dr. Sam Shively: Gymnastics-Specific PT 01:31 Sam's Journey from Gymnast to PT 03:43 Challenges in Traditional Physical Therapy for Gymnasts 04:47 Understanding Gymnastics from a PT Perspective 06:47 Day-to-Day Gymnastics-Specific Physical Therapy 10:20 Blending Strength and Conditioning with Rehab 17:54 Advice…

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Gina Fick

Guest: Dr. Sam Shively

Topics covered

• rehabilitation
• gymnastics
• physical therapy
• strength and conditioning
• athlete performance

Keywords

• rehab
• gymnastics
• physical therapy
• strength training
• athlete recovery

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Fick PT and Performance

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