Strength for Pain and Performance (SPP)

Hi! I’m Dr. Kerry McCarthy, the physical therapist at GMCF Physical Therapy. I wanted to introduce myself through this blog article to our community. Some of you may already know me as a friend, fellow athlete, coach, personal trainer, or physical therapist. For those that don’t, I was born at the hospital down the road from GMCF and have spent my whole life in Central VT. I’ve been a physical therapist since 2008. I’ve developed a passion for helping people heal from pain and injury using an approach that gives them tools, strategies and knowledge for a healthier, fitter, happier life.

I don’t patch people up for one more game of pickleball next week; I guide them through a program geared to create lasting mental and physical robustness for a fearless future, conquering goals in the gym and beyond. 

I have found myself having many conversations about strengthening recently. It got me thinking about the tagline on all the t-shirts here at Green Mountain Community Fitness: Everyday Stronger.

There is a reason the motto at GMCF is Everyday Stronger and not Everyday Faster or just Everyday Fitter. Everyday Stronger speaks to the mission of GMCF: to foster strength in the Central Vermont community. But why strength and not cardiovascular fitness or flexibility or some other tenet of fitness? 

For decades the epitome of fitness was viewed as the mastery of cardiovascular endeavors like triathlons and marathons. Yes, these are amazing feats of athleticism and physical fitness. But they aren’t the only measure of fitness. In both the performance and rehabilitation literature, strength training has become THE key to injury recovery, injury prevention, and improved performance. This article is the first of several in the Strengthening for Pain and Performance Series. My aim with this series of articles is to break down why strengthening is such a potent treatment for pain, how it can help prevent injuries, how to use it to improve performance for endurance sports (or any sport for that matter), and the myriad of health benefits it imparts to people at any age.

Disclaimer: These articles are for informational purposes only and are not intended to be used as instructions for the treatment of any injury, ailment or health condition. The information provided is not meant to replace the advice of any medical professional. You should seek care from a medical professional if you are in pain, sick or unwell.