Forster says that, when possible, it’s best to treat injured athletes twice daily to resolve the injuries faster. It also keeps them on task and prevents depression and anxiety about missing competitions and training time. “This allows more repetition of goals and rehabilitation philosophy,” he says. “You will usually find a very active listener in injured athletes, who are focused on doing whatever it takes to get back.” Among the tools most effective in treating elite athletes, he says, is cross-fiber friction massage for most connective tissue disorders, used to release scar tissue and improve function and performance capacity. “Next is a well-thought-out and carefully progressed therapeutic strength and flexibility program, again for its ability to improve function. We find phonophoresis with dexamethasone very effective in reducing inflammation, and the ultrasound does well to prepare the tissues for deep tissue friction massage,” he says. Ultrasound contrasts are very effective in improving pain and inflammation, Forster says, and all treatments end with ice; athletes are advised to ice three to five times daily for 20 minutes with ice cubes and water in a plastic bag or using an ice bag. Gel packs are not effective in managing inflammation and swelling, he says, because they don’t stay cold long enough to reduce temperatures within deeper tissues, and yet may initially come out of the freezer too cold, placing athletes at risk for frostbite. “An effective icing program is the single most important thing an athlete can do when treating their own injuries in addition to protecting the injured tissues from additional aggravation with bracing or taping during cross-training and daily activities,” Forster says. As soon as it is possible, we get our athletes in the pool. Pete Sampras, Jackie Joyner Kersee, and Allyson Felix suffered nearly career ending injuries shortly before their dreams of Wimbledon and the Olympics. Holding and raising an athletes fitness while injured is critically important. Both Jackie and Allyson suffered injuries that had to be treated with his Waterpower© program; they emerged from Forster’s rehabilitation program and set world records.

Hip impingement syndrome has become common among teen girls and can often lead to surgery. However, certain exercises can prevent these invasive procedures. Dr. Bruce Hensel interviews Robert Forster, PT and reports for the NBC4 News.

Robert Forster, PT has worked with Professional Athletes for his entire career, spanning 26 years. His early work at Centinela Hospital and with The Kerlan Jobe Orthopedic Group put him in rehab programs for professional athlete within months of completing his Physical Therapy Training and Education. Over the years, Forster has worked closely with the most successful Olympic and Professional Sport coaches in the world, and they have come to rely on his expertise and insight to solve the most difficult injuries and performance problems.

Understanding the needs of the professional athlete is central in the Phase IV Professional Athlete Program. The total commitment to performance and knowing what it takes to win permeates the Phase IV comprehensive approach. Today’s pro athlete needs not only work hard, they work smart utilizing science in the pursuit of Fitness and Health to get an edge over the competition. Accurate structural and metabolic assessment of fitness, injury factors, nutritional needs and skill execution all play a significant role in the Phase IV evaluation process. At Phase IV Health & Performance Center, Exercise Physiologists conduct state-of-the-science fitness assessments and prescribe accurate heart rate specific training regimes to correct voids in the spectrum of metabolic fitness needed for your sport. Physical Therapists evaluate for joint Pathomechanics to correct and predict and prevent where future injury may strike. Registered Dietitians evaluate and fine tune high-octane nutritional regimes to power your performance towards victory. Biomechanical experts and some of the world’s best technique coaches utilize DartfishTM computer video analysis to diagnosis and correct faulty technique in your sport specific movements. Together, your Phase IV performance team will work with you to set up a yearly plan of Periodization training and diet to match the requirements of your sport, all season long. You will be educated in proper strength development and stretching regime, warm up, cool down and aggressive recovery techniques. You will gain the knowledge of when to workout, when to rest and recover and how to eat to excel in your sport. In short, you will learn to utilize science to improve performance, avoid injury and preserve your body in a comprehensive program aimed to extend your career and earnings.