The Proteus Motion: How it Can Benefit You

A black Proteus Motion machine in Bethesda.

Bethesda Physiocare is excited to announce that we will soon be adding the Proteus Motion to our gym!

The Proteus Motion has become popular among athletes of rotational sports such as golf, baseball, and hockey, allowing for versatility to make an immense difference in performance. This system is being utilized at the highest levels of sports by athletes such as Bryson DeChambeau and training centers such as Cressey Sports Performance and Bobby Stroupe. Let’s go into more detail on what Proteus Motion is and some of the unique features it offers. Contact us online or call (301) 656-5613 to learn more about our Proteus Motion in Bethesda.

What is the Proteus Motion?

The Proteus is an exercise machine that operates through all 3 dimensions of resistance. Throughout each segment of any exercise, the resistance stays the same, and any benefit that velocity would have added is removed. It stands alone from other traditional exercise tools that constantly challenge you when exercising, with very limited opportunities to cheat during a movement. This machine is great for everybody, especially athletes needing sports injury physical therapy and those suffering from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome in Bethesda.

What does it feel like?

The resistance from this system is truly unique, and unlike anything we have felt before. It is different from any cable machine or other exercise equipment out there. The closest comparison would be similar to the resistance belt moving through water. Words truly don’t do it justice. We believe it is best to experience it first-hand.

Is the Proteus Just for Athletes?

No, in fact, one of the most valuable usages of the Proteus is for those with joint hypermobility. Due to the unique physics of the Proteus, it is able to offer accommodating resistance, ensuring patients with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome can safely strengthen their joints in a variety of motion planes. Furthermore, this same principle can be utilized for a variety of patients who are recovering from injury/surgery, need physical therapy, and may not be tolerating traditional strengthening machines well, such as athletes in need of sports injury physical therapy.

What are some of the benefits of Proteus compared to other training equipment?

Assessments

One of the primary benefits of Proteus Motion is the ability to assess full body strength, power, and acceleration. You can see the example of a power report below.

A “Power Vs. Acceleration” chart for the Proteus Motion machine in Bethesda.

The areas of the body are color-coded to indicate the percentile rank for each area of the body. In the future, you will be able to compare yourself against others your age and your specific sport. This information can be extremely valuable for making an individualized training program to help maximize your performance and health. It really takes a lot of the guesswork out of the program design process and makes these decisions very individualized to your unique needs. However, you still have to put in the effort and work to get there.

“The Proteus system has been an amazing tool to see how much power and acceleration I am producing in my rotational motions,” DeChambeau said in a statement. “Proteus allows me to see if I’m getting stronger each week, if I need to work harder, and what adjustments I should be making to optimize my training. Proteus Motion has groundbreaking technology that I believe will revolutionize strength training for athletes across all levels of sports.” (Lemire)

Training

There are also several advantages to training with the Proteus System:

Greater Muscle Activation: As mentioned earlier, Proteus provides constant and consistent resistance throughout the entire range of motion, unlike other strength equipment. This can result in greater muscle activation during the exercise.
Less Soreness: This type of resistance also eliminates the eccentric portion of the exercise. Without getting too technical, this is part of the exercise that typically results in post-exercise soreness. While soreness isn’t always bad, there may be times of the training year when we will want to limit this, such as in season. Proteus allows you to still train hard without the negative side of soreness and is great for sports injury physical therapy.
Low Impact: Another excellent benefit of this system is that it is low impact. As mentioned above, the resistance feels similar to the resistance created by moving through water, another low-impact form of exercise. This makes Proteus a good part of physical therapy for all age ranges, from juniors to seniors. The resistance can also be adjusted from 1-35 pounds, allowing us to adjust the intensity of the exercise for those utilizing the machine for Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.
Ability to track your progress: Every user of the Proteus system has their own profile. The system will track and save your results from every exercise you perform, allowing you to assess your progress and also giving immediate feedback on each repetition as a good internal motivator as you perform the exercise.
3D Resistance: Proteus allows you to train in any direction, meaning that there are endless possibilities for training. You are only limited by your imagination.

See the Difference with Our Proteus Motion in Bethesda

If you suffer from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, are an athlete, or are simply looking for a new way to build strength, our Proteus Motion is waiting for you. Call our Bethesda office at (301) 656-5613 to learn more.

A Comprehensive Guide to Sports Injury Physical Therapy: Understanding the Basics

An above view of a physical therapist in a white shirt assisting a person with a sports-related injury in Bethesda.

If you have or are suffering from a sports-related injury, it is important to know your treatment options and how sports injury physical therapy can help.

At Bethesda Physiocare, we take the time to address our patients’ needs. Through decades of education and one on one time with our clients, we have helped local and professional athletes stay healthy and perform at a high level. If you’re ready to start the road to recovery and are interested in hearing more about our services, give us a call at (301) 656-5613 or contact us online today.

Physical Therapy in Sports

Sports injury physical therapy is a specialized form of physical therapy that consists of sport-specific rehab tailored to the individual’s needs. For athletes to return to a high level of competition post-injury, it is essential they work with a trained physical therapist who understands their sport. Cookie-cutter exercise programs are insufficient for high-level athletes.

At Bethesda Physiocare, we take pride in our ability to effectively diagnose and treat athletes of all ages and caliber with our sports injury physical therapy in Bethesda.

While most physical therapy clinics are capable of handling minor strains/sprains associated with sport, at Bethesda Physiocare, we offer specialized care for the following sports-related injuries:

-Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

-Ulnar Nerve Entrapment

-Post-Surgical Knee Pain

-Hip Labral Tears

-Chronic Ankle Instability

-Achilles and Patellar Tendinopathy

-Post-Concussion Syndrome

-Sports Hernia and other groin injuries

-Multidirectional Shoulder Instability

What Separates Bethesda Physiocare from Other Sports PT

At Bethesda Physiocare, we go beyond basic sports injury physical therapy for our athletes. The following are examples of our patients who were seeing limited progress with “traditional” physical therapy. After coming to our Bethesda clinic, we were able to perform a thorough examination and implement a strategic plan of care.

Case #1 Semi-Professional Basketball Player

Due to chronic patellar tendon pain and the subsequent surgery to “clean up” his tendon, this player was considering giving up his professional career. After evaluating the patient, it was evident he had a significant scar and fascial restrictions that were contributing to his tendon pain. Because of this, it was unlikely he would have made significant progress with the traditional strengthening program he was prescribed by his current PT. After several sessions of ultrasound-guided tendon and scar tissue needling, he was able to return to a pain-free strength program which ultimately allowed him to continue rehab and continue his career.

Case #2 Failed-Knee Surgery

This patient had ACL surgery over a year ago but was still limited by daily pain. She was unable to walk more than a mile and was far removed from her goal of returning to skiing. This is after an entire year of traditional physical therapy. After evaluating the patient, it became quite evident there was significant atrophy in the quadriceps on the surgical side. Additionally, there was very limited patella mobility. Treatment was implemented to help facilitate quad strength and patellar mobility. Dry needling and blood-flow restriction training were introduced to improve muscle recruitment. Additionally, appropriate manual therapy was used to address movement restrictions. In 4 weeks, the patient made more progress than they did the entire year before.

Sports Injury Physical Therapy in Bethesda

At Bethesda Physiocare, located in Bethesda, MD, we offer compassionate services for every patient that walks through our doors. We provide a wide range of therapy options, including dry needling, manual therapy, cold laser, blood-flow restriction training, and more. Most importantly, however, we accurately diagnose and treat our patients through a comprehensive assessment. If you’re an athlete who is in need of sports injury physical therapy in Bethesda because of an injury or you wish to prevent one, call (301) 656-5613 for more information about our services and how we can assist you today.