Maximize Your Training!

April 5, 2015

High Performance Sports Facilities Hit Northern Michigan

Whether you’re a high school athlete, a college player, a local triathlete, or a weekend warrior, specialized sports performance training can help take you to the next level. We talked with two professional sports trainers – Joe Heiler, owner, physical therapist and strength coach at Elite Physical Therapy Sports Performance in Traverse City, and Patty Schmoldt, athletic trainer at Northern Michigan Sports Medicine Center in Petoskey – who shared the scoop on these amped-up training sessions.

WHAT THEY DO

You might picture sports training involving court drills, pitching sessions or hours running on treadmills, but these facilities take a different approach. Their job isn’t to teach you how to dunk a basketball or hit a home run, but rather to help you build a healthy foundation to do all of the above.

"Our main emphasis is getting people to move better and making them more resistant to injury," Heiler said.

Schmoldt agreed that both training centers share the same basic goals.

"Our primary goal is also to prevent injury," she said. "And how we do that, and with who, depends on the season. In-season, we’re often helping athletes recover from injury. Pre-season and off-season, we help develop conditioning programs to prevent people getting hurt in the long run."

HOW THEY KNOW WHAT THEY KNOW

Heiler is certified with the National Strength and Conditioning Association and is also certified as a Level 1 Sports Performance Coach with USA Weightlifting.

"I already had a masters in physical therapy, so I just had to go out and test for the others," Heiler said.

Schmoldt, who attended Kent State University for her PTA (Physical Therapist Assistant degree), is also certified as a Strength and Conditioning Specialist.

WHY THEY DO IT

"My enjoyment is in helping someone get back to their chosen sport or activity, especially after an injury," Schmoldt said. "I also really like being able to see everyone else enjoying their activities more as they increase their performance levels."

Heiler’s draw to sports training started even earlier.

"I loved this stuff back when I played sports in school," Heiler explained. "Working out was my favorite part of the whole sports scene, so I like teaching people to do this the right way."

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Dumbbells, kettlebells, medicine balls, push n’ pull sleds, cones, hurdles, and agility ropes and ladders are examples of the gear you’ll be using at both facilities.

A typical one-hour workout at Elite includes a warmup, speed and agility training, plyometrics (jump training) and weightlifting to gain strength.

"If you’re on a school sports team, it’s usually twice a week for two weeks," Heiler said.

"Individual adults will usually workout one or two times a week."

Over at Northern Michigan Sports Medicine Center, body weight is used as the primary resistance, along with the gear. A sample hour there would include a dynamic warmup, aerobic training, high-intensity sprint training, and agility drills, with each program tailored to the athletes’ needs.

"The creativity of the individual running the class is what makes each session unique," Schmoldt explained.

BENEFITS FOR THE ATHLETE

Good training equals injury prevention, Heiler emphasized. That solid foundation means you can stretch yourself to the max and continue to push yourself physically.

"Everyone wants to be stronger, jump higher, move faster, be more powerful," Heiler said, "so we work on those athletic qualities, but, in doing so, we try to help them perfect their technique, and do so safely."

"We try to get agility, coordination and core strength back up, so whether you’re a performing athlete or a recreational athlete of any age, you’re back at your peak performance," Schmoldt added.

For more information on training sessions and fees, visit elitepttc.com or northernmichigansportsmed.com.