Welcome to Season 13 Episode 44 of the ParentingAces Podcast - our final episode of the Season! - a proud member of the Tennis Channel Podcast Network. This week, Lisa talks with Doctor of Physical Therapy and Strength & Conditioning Coach, Kait Ireland, about why a physical therapist should be part of a junior athlete's team.

Kait is a soccer player turned strength & conditioning coach turned physical therapist. She has several degrees including both a Masters degree in Kinesiology (studying exercise & sports conditioning) & a Doctorate in Physical Therapy. She's worked for many years as a strength & conditioning coach and completed internships at notable facilities like EXOS in Arizona and Cressey Sports Performance in Massachusetts where she worked with athletes from most sports and levels including the NFL, MBA, and NHL.

Like many entrepreneurs, Kait went into physical therapy after feeling frustrated by the quality of care her strength & conditioning athletes were receiving from traditional physicians & physical therapists who just don’t understand the unique demands of sports participation. She now runs Empowered Athletics PT in Laguna Niguel, CA, and also offers video consultations for those outside the area.

In this episode, Kait discusses the important role a physical therapist plays in a junior athlete's development. At different stages, young athletes should have their basic movements analyzed by a professional who can intervene when something is askew. Kait explains how a physical therapist can work with the parents, player, coach, fitness trainer, sport psychologist, sports medicine doctor, and others to ensure healthy physical development and timely intervention when an injury or ailment pops up.

You can find Kait on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/empoweredathleticspt/. You also reach her via email at [email protected] or phone/text at 949-584-7787.

A final reminder to register for our upcoming trip to Spain! More info at https://parentingaces.com/articles/jo.... The deadline is coming up at the end of November, so don't miss out!

If you’re so inclined, please share this – and all our episodes! – with your fellow tennis players, parents, and coaches. You can subscribe to the podcast on Apple Podcasts or via your favorite podcast app. Please be sure to check out our logo’d merch as well as our a la carte personal consultations in our online shop.

CREDITS

Intro & Outro Music: Morgan Stone aka STØNE

Audio & Video Editing: Lisa Stone

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