Work It Out!!

Did you know that the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) guidelines recommend at least 30 minutes of moderately intense cardiovascular activity 5x/week or 20 minutes of vigorously intense exercise 3x/week?

In addition to cardiovascular training, strength-training is recommended 2x/week for at least 8-10 different muscle groups. Sounds like a lot, well it's not. There simple things that you can do and you can look up the guidelines at: www.acsm.org for more details.

Thanks to Jeanene Cannon of Physique Complete for helping us start/continue on that plan with a nice small group Boot Camp tonight. If you are not sure how to start your program, she can be of great assistance to you. Check out her website at: www.physiquecomplete.com to see all of her offerings which include: 1-on-1 Personal Training, Boot Camp Classes, Nutrition Consults, Mommy/Baby Training Classes and much more.

At ESPT, we also offer personal training, with the goal of improving sports performance or postural conditioning. Two of our physical therapists are certified by the NSCA as Strength and Conditioning Specialists. This is the gold-standard of personal training certifications and is required by anyone wanting to work with Intercollegiate or Professional athletes.

Feel free to contact us at 510-656-3777 or jchun@espt-ca.com for more details about our personal training packages.

ESPT Begins 3rd Year in Fremont!!!

On February 1, 2009, Elite Sports Physical Therapy (ESPT) began its third year providing sports and orthopedic rehabilitation to Fremont and the surrounding communities.

"It gives me great pleasure to see the satisfaction of our referring physicians and all of our valued patients," says Jacon C. Chun, MPT, ESPT's Director of Physical Therapy. We opened up our doors in 2007 to 1 patient. We now regularly see close to 20 patients a day."

To some, those numbers may not seem like a lot, as it is typical for a single physical therapist to see 15-20 patients a day in many clinics in today's world of declining reimbursements. With assistants and aides in a factory-like setting, some clinics can see 45-60 patients a day. Patients are shuttled around between clinic staff and only get to spend about 15 minutes with the treating therapist.

"At ESPT, our goal was not to be focused on revenue from the get go. Of course we want to make sure we cover our expenses, but I knew that if we took care of the clinical aspect of things, the referrals, patients, and respect would follow," comments Jacon. And they have. So  much so, that ESPT just hired their 3rd physical therapist in February.

At this very difficult economic time, when most clinics could be cutting back on professional staffing and looking to increase productivity with assistants and aides, ESPT stands by their commitment to the best quality rehabilitative care. With the hire of their latest PT (see this post), Elite Sports Physical Therapy is holding true to their promise of providing the most 1-on-1 Physical Therapist time in Fremont.

"It is very important now that the little surplus/cash reserves that families have goes to ensuring they get the best medical care possible," says Chun. "We don't want people to come in and feel like they could have received the same treatment from a personal trainer, massage therapist, or from just reading a blog on some website. We want to make sure that people get the most out of their hard-earned money. We want them to see what Evidence-Based Physical Therapy is all about." (See here).

In addition to the most 1-on-1 PT time in Fremont, ESPT is the only PT clinic in Fremont with a Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist and that does not double-book their patients. What this means is your treatment dollar will get you more at ESPT. You will have access to cutting-edge equipment seen only in the Bay Area's top sports medicine facilities, you will not be shuttled between assistants or aides, and you will enjoy the experience of being treated like a pro!!!

Feel free to contact our office if you have any questions about our services or our insurance coverage. Our clinic manager will be more than happy to explain and to show you why ESPT is the Best in Fremont!!

Recession Blues? ESPT's The Answer For You!!

At Elite Sports Physical Therapy, we understand that it is a very difficult time now for the economy. We also know that everybody is trying to make sure their dollars stretch as far as they can. Budgets are going to be tightened and compromises will have to be made. But one area, where that shouldn't have to happen, is your medical care. We feel, as you probably do, that your health is a top priority.

There are several reasons why we think you should consider ESPT for your orthopedic and sports physical therapy care, especially at this time:

1) Flexible Scheduling- At Elite Sports PT, we are now seeing patients on Saturday!! That's right. If you do not want to take time of work during the weekday, we can fit you in for a Saturday visit. We understand that most people do not want to be away from their workplaces, so we don't mind spending extra time at ours to serve you. We are open 8AM- 5PM on Sat., as well as 8AM-7AM Mon-Fri.

2) In-Network Provider- We are a network provider for most major insurances, medicare, and we accept cash patients. As a network provider your out-of-pocket expenses with us would be the same as any other clinic in

Fremont. Except that you would have access to the premier sports and orthopedic rehabilitation facility in the area. (More about this below in #4). For the insurances that we are not in networks with, we can compare our cash rates to what your out-of-pocket expenses with your provider would be to find you the best way of accessing ESPT's services. These are only a few of the insurances we accept. Please call us for specific information about your particular plan.

3) Multiple Payment Options- We are committed to making sure that everyone has access to the highest quality orthopedic and sports physical therapy care. We accept cash, checks, and most major credit cards at ESPT. We will also work with you on a payment plan if you are not able to pay your invoice in full at the time that it is due. The most important thing to us is that you get the care you deserve, when you need it. Not when you can afford it. Please call our clinic manager Jake, to see how we can best help meet your needs. He is very helpful and a joy to talk to. 

4) Best Physical Therapy In Fremont- No other clinic in the Fremont area can provide you care that is as comprehensive and as complete as Elite Sports Physical Therapy. We have the only Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist in the area, 2 athletic trainers, and 2 certified strength and conditioning specialists on staff. No one else in Fremont can provide you with that level of expertise all in one place!! (Check us out at www.espt-ca.com.) The most clinical experience and the most 1-on-1 physical therapist time in Fremont means better outcomes. Getting you better in fewer visits, means less out-of-pocket expenses for you.

We certainly understand the situation that our nation and most everyone is in. We are not immune to economic struggles ourselves at this time. We, at ESPT, love our jobs and what we are able to do. And though we may have our own financial struggles, we want to make sure that everyone has the opportunity to access us. That way you can get the best in physical therapy in Fremont and you can see why we are so passionate about what we do.

Dance Rehabilitation

Elite Sports Physical Therapy is proud to provide another 1st to the Fremont area. True to our motto of being the premier in sports and orthopedic rehabilitative care, ESPT is the 1st clinic in the area to offer true dance rehabilitation.

It's no surprise that with the grueling practice schedules of today's dancers/performing artists, acute and overuse injuries to the musculoskeletal system also become more commonplace. And it's important that the therapist treating these artists fully understand the skills involved and the goals of the performer. And that's why we at ESPT, have decided to provide this service to Fremont and it's surrounding communities.

Our physical therapist, Charissa L. Chaban, MPT, ATC, had the privilege of training at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries in New York. In addition to treating dancers, Charissa herself is a professional ballet dancer in the Oakland Ballet Company. You will not find anyone in Fremont better equipped to treat your dance related injuries.

At ESPT, we also offer the most 1-on-1 time with the physical therapist and we have the only Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist in the area. So if you are looking for a more complete team equipped to address your orthopedic issues, you won't find one in Fremont. You can check us out at www.espt-ca.com to see why we are the Best in Fremont!!

So, what is Dance Therapy? Well at ESPT we offer several unique services specifically tailored to these special "athletes." You will find a description of each below:

Injury Prevention Screening- This is designed to evaluate the dancer as a whole and to discuss the dancer's concerns before and injury occurs. After the assessment, the dancer is given an individualize injury prevention program with recommendations regarding technique modification, training strategies, and posture.

Pointe Shoe Readiness Screening- Designed to evaluate the readiness of the dancer with regards to pointe work including core, hip, leg, and ankle strength and ankle/toe flexibility. The dancer will be given an individualized home program tailored to address concerns and maximize pointe work abilities.

Physical Therapy For Dance-Related Injuries- With a doctor's prescription, the dancer can receive individualized treatment tailored to address pain and to help prevent future injury.

Feel free to contact us at (510) 656-3777 for more details about any of the above offerings. We accept all PPO insurances and have special cash-rates and payment options available.

Pediatric Overuse Injuries Part 2- Let The Kid Be A Kid

As I mentioned in my previous post, overuse injuries in athletic children are increasing at an alarming rate. Most of this is due to lack of cross-training/multi-sport participation and is the result of sport specialization at a younger age. The consequence of this specialization is undue stress to an immature musculoskeletal system, resulting in overuse injuries.

So, other than having children play 2,3, or 4 different sports, how do we prevent these types of injuries? The first step is recognition. As mentioned in the last post, if your child or a child you coach is having pain in one of the following areas, they may benefit from a visit with an orthopedist: heels, shins, knees, hips, back, elbows, or shoulders. (Feel free to contact us at ESPT if you would like a referral to a local orthopedic physician).

Once you have identified a painful area that is not resolving, you can follow the RICES principle:

Rest- In children, most of their painful areas will resolve with appropriate rest. Since most of the symptoms in children are the result of stress to immature bones (growth planes), appropriate time for these areas to mature will often alleviate the pain. There are also taping techniques and assistive devices that can be used to take stress of these painful sites. A sports physical therapist with experience treating athletes can help you find the right equipment for your child.

Ice- Try icing the painful area for 15 minutes with an ice pack. You can use a ziploc bag with ice and a little water or a commercial gel pack. Be sure to place a wet towel between the ice and skin to prevent any irritation to underlying tissue. This can be repeated several times a day to minimize swelling and symptoms at the painful site.


Compression- As mentioned earlier, compression garments and equipment like braces/straps/tape can be used to help decrease symptoms. Check with you physical therapist or doctor for more details.

Elevation- Try to elevate the painful site above the heart to assist with carrying swelling away from that area.

Stretch- Release tension and muscle imbalances that could be putting stress to the immature bony sites and causing pain. A physical therapist that understands the sport requirements for your young athlete and the biomechanics of the specific recreational activity involved, will be able to design a program tailored to each individual's needs. No one is more qualified to do this than our therapists at ESPT. With experience treating athletes in 34 sports from lacrosse to water polo, synchronized swimming to football, no other clinic in Fremont can provide you a more complete sports and orthopedic evaluation to allow your child to return to the activities they love.
If your child's symptoms are not relieved with the RICES principles, it is highly recommended that you follow-up with your pediatrician or with an orthopedist for further medical evaluation. Early detection can help address issues while they are still manageable and help prevent progression to a condition that would require mandatory rest.

The bottom line is that it's important to keep kids healthy, to allow them to have positive developmental associations and pleasure with sports. This will allow kids to stay active and maintain a healthy lifestyle. It will allow kids to just be kids. And it may even allow some kids to emerge into the stars of tomorrow.

Pediatric Overuse Injuries- Too Much Of A Good Thing?

I remember in high school when we voted someone most athletic, they usually were good at more than one sport. It may have been a guy that played football, then basketball, then baseball. Or a girl that played soccer, then ran track. That, however, is becoming less common today and specialization is becoming the norm.

Kids are becoming dedicated to a particular sport at a younger age. They focus themselves year round on trying to be the best. They go from their high school team to the club team. They hope for a possible college scholarship and perhaps a professional career.

Along with year-round preparation and practice though, there are consequences- an alarming increase in overuse injuries. In the 2005-2006 school year, more than 1.4 million injuries were sustained by high school athletes. Most of these, could have been prevented with proper education and timely treatment.

The important thing to realize is that children are not little adults. Coaches need to be educated in the effects of overtraining on an immature musculoskeletal system. What worked for them and what is tradition, is not always in the best interest of the young athlete. With the evolution of science and medicine, training methods also need to evolve.

If you bend a piece of metal repetitively, it will eventually break at its weakest link. And that is what happens with an immature musculoskeletal system. Where adults can get tendinitis, strains, or ruptures at their weakest links, children can get traction apophysitis injuries. These are irritations to the growth plates because children have bones that are not completely fused. Injuries at these vulnerable sites produce inflammation, pain, and can stimulate bone growth.

Common sites for these types of injuries are: heels, shins, knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders. If your athletic child is experiencing pain in any of these areas, the best thing to do is set up an appointment with your physician to have them evaluated, so the proper course of treatment can be recommended. (I'll talk a little more about treatments in my next blog). And remember, just because a physical therapist says they treat sports injuries, doesn't mean they have direct experience in a sports setting. At ESPT, our director is the only Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist in the area. (Check us out at Elite Sports Physical Therapy).

The bottom line is that kids aren't immune to injuries and they are in fact becoming more common. Increased awareness by the athletes, parents, and coaches can aid with earlier detection and prevention. And this in turn will allow kids to continue playing the sports they love and to continue just being kids.

(To Be Continued)

ESPT Welcomes New Staff

Elite Sports Physical Therapy is thrilled to introduce its newest staff members to the Fremont Community. Each of our therapists have been hand picked because of their experience and qualifications. At ESPT, our commitment is to provide you with the best physical therapy services in the Fremont, Newark, Union City area and this begins with our clinicians. Nowhere else in the area will you find a more complete orthopedic rehabilitation team, than at ESPT.


In September 2008, Floyd VitoCruz, MSPT, CSCS joined our team from the Riekes Center in Menlo Park. Floyd earned his Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy from UCSF. He has since worked in both acute care and outpatient orthopedic settings. He has had the opportunity to work with a wide array of patients, including high school/collegiate level athletes, weekend warriors, and professional athletes.

Floyd believes that by empowering patients with the appropriate knowledge, they can be proactive in achieving their personal goal, be it returning to a desk job or competing in the Olympics. Outside of the clinic, Floyd enjoys cycling, keeping up with a variety of sports, and keeping up with his culinary skills. During the winter, you can always find him planning his next trip to Lake Tahoe, waxing/tuning his snowboard, and praying for the next perfect powder day.


In February 2009, Charissa Chaban, MPT, ATC joined ESPT from the ValleyCare Health System in Pleasanton. Charissa earned her Master of Physical Therapy degree from CSU Fresno. She has since worked as an outpatient clinic manager in beautiful Hawaii and as a traveling therapist throughout California.

Charissa is an accomplished dancer and has had the unique privilege of training at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries in New York. Though her passion is in treating dance-related injuries, Charissa enjoys working with all types of patients from young to old and from sports injuries to everyday overuse injuries. Charissa is trained in mat and reformer pilates and continues to dance professionally with the Oakland Ballet Company. She will help us start a Dance Rehabilitation/ Dance Therapy program at ESPT- the 1st in Fremont!! (More on this in a future blog).


It is an honor an privilege for us at ESPT to continue to add only the best clinicians to our team. No other clinic can boast the credentials that we have at ESPT- the only Board Certified Sports Clinical Specialist in the area, 2 NATA Certified Athletic Trainers, and 2 NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialists. All of this shows our commitment at ESPT to the highest level of clinical care.