BRINGING SCIENCE TO TREATMENT
Tracy is a senior physiotherapist specialising in musculoskeletal and sports injuries within a private hospital in Aberdeen. She is a certified Pilates Instructor and also a pilates course tutor for the APPI.
She previously worked with high level athletes for Scottish Hockey and within rugby, rowing, and triathlon. Tracy blogs about pilates, fitness and rehab on her website and creates videos for YouTube.
Outside of work she is a competitive ice skater, runner and can be found anywhere outdoors with her pug!
In the second part of this two-part article, Tracy Ward reviews the best-practice, home-executed loading techniques for runners seeking a return to sport following injury. Returning to running following an injury is a complex process that requires careful planning and monitoring. The most common running-related injuries are medial tibial stress syndrome, Achilles tendinopathy, plantar fasciitis,... MORE
in Improve, Power development, Prevent, Speed development
Sidelined due to the coronavirus, now is the ideal time for athletes to develop foundational components to enhance performance and prevent injury. In the first of a two-part series, Tracy Ward explains the benefits of adding strength training to a running schedule and deciphers the prescription variances. Now that concerns over the spread of the coronavirus... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Leg injuries, Musculoskeletal injuries
Tracy Ward examines the principles of standard hamstring rehabilitation, expands them to differentiate by anatomical location within the muscle group, and shows how this translates into more specific rehabilitation protocols. Hamstring injuries are the most common soft tissue injuries seen in team field sports and track. The very high rate of re-injury (as high as... MORE
in Improve, Sports psychology, Tools and technology
How soon can an athlete return to sport? Tracy Ward looks at the best-practice research and comes up with three guidelines for clinicians. Returning an athlete to sport following an injury requires clinicians to be part of a decision-making team. While they must ensure adequate rehabilitation, they must also weigh the negative consequences of keeping... MORE
in Prevent
Sports injuries continue to remain high and frequent across many sports and directly affect an athlete’s performance. Tracy Ward looks at the latest findings on injury prevention strategies and offers suggestions for implementation. Sports injuries impact an athlete’s performance, cause a reduction in participation time, affect team performance, impose a financial burden to both them and... MORE
Tracy Ward looks at what the science says on preparing the injured athlete for a full return to sport. The goal of rehabilitation following a sports injury is to bridge the gap from an injured state to full sports readiness. This requires extensive planning to ensure loading produces the appropriate tissue adaptation to withstand the imminent... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Knee injuries
Tracy Ward explores ice-skating injuries, which are common in athletes with rigorous training schedules. Which injuries are most common, and how can they be prevented? Figure skating injury rates have increased in recent years. This is perhaps not surprising; a sport that demands athletic, technical, and artistic excellence will inevitably place new challenges upon elite... MORE
in Prevent, Shoulder injuries, Strength
Tracy Ward explores the subject of shoulder instability; what preventative measures can athletes take to prevent its occurrence or worsening? Shoulder instability is the abnormal movement of the shoulder joint beyond normal physiological ranges, which can result in subluxation (partial displacement) or dislocation (full displacement) of the humeral head in the glenoid cavity (shoulder joint... MORE
in Anatomy, Improve, Musculoskeletal injuries, Overuse injuries
Tracy Ward discusses pelvic floor dysfunction in athletes, outlines the implications for rehabilitation, and raises awareness with a view toward prevention. The impact of female pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a hot topic in women’s health but rarely discussed within the context of sport. This oft-ignored problem affects both men and women and impacts an... MORE
in Diagnose & Treat, Hip injuries
When it comes to sporting injuries, the hip and groin area is one of the most complex regions, presenting a huge diagnostic challenge to clinicians. Tracy Ward dissects this fascinating structure into hip joint, adductor, and abdominal pathologies, and provides suggestions to diagnose and treat. The hip is a major weight-bearing joint, which transfers the... MORE
