Smith Performance Center Blog​

Your Trusted Physical Therapy and Strength Training Blog for Injury Rehab and Pain Management

Welcome to the physical therapy blog from Smith Performance Center—your source for expert guidance on injury recovery, pain management, strength training, and sustainable health habits. Whether you’re managing chronic pain, recovering from surgery, or building long-term fitness, our team shares actionable strategies backed by clinical experience and real-world success. Stay up to date with new posts on rehab phases, movement progression, exercise programming, and the science behind making healthcare work for you.

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The 5 Big Problems Facing Clients with Pain and Injury Who Want to Get Back to an Active Lifestyle
By defining the problem, you know where to start during rehab and developing an active lifestyle. Once you know your problem, you can focus on what needs to solve it.
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The 8 Reasons All HHP Clients Go Through a Movement Assessment
There is an entire area of research devoted to what behaviors keep people moving and what makes them stop. Keeping people active is not simple and there are numerous reasons why a person will stop. The purpose of the movement assessment is to figure out issues that will stop you from moving.
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7 Signs Your Heel Pain Is Not Coming From Your Plantar Fascia
As a general rule, you will be diagnosed with plantar fasciitis if you have heel pain. I have not seen a patient reporting heel pain that was diagnosed with anything other than plantar fasciitis for the last 5 years. This is not the only structure on the bottom of the foot that can cause pain.
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Understanding Vestibular Issues
When it comes to dizziness and balance issues, few areas of physical therapy are as fascinating and misunderstood as vestibular rehabilitation. Dr. Alex Griffis, PT, DPT, sheds light on common conditions like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and the surprising role of vision and proprioception in maintaining balance. With techniques like habituation training, he helps patients regain control over their symptoms. If you’ve been struggling with unexplained falls or dizziness, discover how a multi-layered approach at Smith Performance Center can help you regain confidence and improve your quality of life.
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Male triathlete running outdoors with overlaid quote emphasizing tissue capacity over training volume, alongside the Smith Performance Center logo.

Triathlon Injury Rehab: How SPC Phases Prevent Setbacks

Recurring injuries derailed Alex’s triathlon training for years—until he adopted a structured, phase-based rehab approach. This case study shows how the Smith Performance Center Phase System helped him move from chronic pain to consistent performance by focusing on what most athletes overlook: building tissue capacity to match training demands.

Read More »
A clinician at Smith Performance Center performing manual therapy, assessing elbow range of motion. Hands-on assessment techniques help diagnose movement limitations and guide treatment

Meniscus Tears & Knee Pain: Why Rehab Needs More Than Just Cutting Out the Problem

The Evolution of Thought Around Meniscus Injuries Clinical practice is filled with successes and failures. For some reason, failures tend to linger in memory the longest and often drive the biggest changes in how we approach patient care. A significant moment in my clinical career involved a meniscus tear, knee pain, and the need for surgery. One of the most impactful shifts in my approach to knee pain, particularly in cases involving meniscus tears, came from a repeated clinical pattern: patients improving, then regressing, over and over. This frustrating cycle forced me to rethink my process and align it with a more structured framework—one that incorporates the Smith Performance Center Phases. This helped me answer the question, “Does a meniscus tear require surgery, or can

Read More »
Alex Griffis, physical therapist, performing knee traction on a patient lying down at Smith Performance Center to improve mobility and reduce pain.

Understanding Vestibular Issues with Alex Griffis, PT, DPT

When it comes to dizziness and balance issues, few areas of physical therapy are as fascinating and misunderstood as vestibular rehabilitation. Dr. Alex Griffis, PT, DPT, sheds light on common conditions like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and the surprising role of vision and proprioception in maintaining balance. With techniques like habituation training, he helps patients regain control over their symptoms. If you’ve been struggling with unexplained falls or dizziness, discover how a multi-layered approach at Smith Performance Center can help you regain confidence and improve your quality of life.

Read More »
Black and white photo of Kenny Sewall performing an elevated push-up at a gym station in Smith Performance Center, showcasing strength and form.

From Pain to Progress: Building an Exercise Habit After Injury

A perfect time to build the exercise habit occurs when you overcome a painful injury. At Smith Performance Center (SPC), this happens during the “activity progression” phase after stabilizing symptoms. Unlike a standard exercise routine, activity progression focuses on managing and improving tissue capacity—your body’s ability to handle physical load without pain or injury. If these terms sound unfamiliar, don’t worry. The following signs indicate you may have skipped the fundamentals of activity progression: Why Delaying Exercise Is a Mistake Many individuals delay exercise until they feel completely better. However, this approach has drawbacks: Your Path at SPC At SPC, we’ve developed a clear plan to help you build fitness while overcoming an injury. Here’s how it works: 1. Your Home Plan: Manage Symptoms and

Read More »
Smith Performance Center strength coaches lifting in a gym, demonstrating proper form and technique, emphasizing their expertise in strength training and injury prevention.

Unlocking Your Health Potential: The SPC Phase Concept of Exercise, Maintenance and Monitoring

At Smith Performance Center, you will hear us mention “phases” or see references on the website or social posts.  If this is your first introduction, welcome! The SPC Phase Concept is the cornerstone of our approach. It’s a system designed to solve health challenges, keep you moving, and provide a shared framework for our team to deliver exceptional care. Why the SPC Phases Matter Our mission is to help people stay active, healthy, and capable of enjoying their lives. The five SPC Phases guide you from identifying your problem to progressing toward peak performance. The phases aren’t a one-time journey—they form a cyclical process designed to meet you where you are, adapt to your needs, and keep you moving forward. A key turning point in

Read More »
Male triathlete running outdoors with overlaid quote emphasizing tissue capacity over training volume, alongside the Smith Performance Center logo.

Triathlon Injury Rehab: How SPC Phases Prevent Setbacks

Recurring injuries derailed Alex’s triathlon training for years—until he adopted a structured, phase-based rehab approach. This case study shows how the Smith Performance Center Phase System helped him move from chronic pain to consistent performance by focusing on what most athletes overlook: building tissue capacity to match training demands.

Read More »
A clinician at Smith Performance Center performing manual therapy, assessing elbow range of motion. Hands-on assessment techniques help diagnose movement limitations and guide treatment

Meniscus Tears & Knee Pain: Why Rehab Needs More Than Just Cutting Out the Problem

The Evolution of Thought Around Meniscus Injuries Clinical practice is filled with successes and failures. For some reason, failures tend to linger in memory the longest and often drive the biggest changes in how we approach patient care. A significant moment in my clinical career involved a meniscus tear, knee pain, and the need for surgery. One of the most impactful shifts in my approach to knee pain, particularly in cases involving meniscus tears, came from a repeated clinical pattern: patients improving, then regressing, over and over. This frustrating cycle forced me to rethink my process and align it with a more structured framework—one that incorporates the Smith Performance Center Phases. This helped me answer the question, “Does a meniscus tear require surgery, or can

Read More »
Alex Griffis, physical therapist, performing knee traction on a patient lying down at Smith Performance Center to improve mobility and reduce pain.

Understanding Vestibular Issues with Alex Griffis, PT, DPT

When it comes to dizziness and balance issues, few areas of physical therapy are as fascinating and misunderstood as vestibular rehabilitation. Dr. Alex Griffis, PT, DPT, sheds light on common conditions like Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV) and the surprising role of vision and proprioception in maintaining balance. With techniques like habituation training, he helps patients regain control over their symptoms. If you’ve been struggling with unexplained falls or dizziness, discover how a multi-layered approach at Smith Performance Center can help you regain confidence and improve your quality of life.

Read More »
Black and white photo of Kenny Sewall performing an elevated push-up at a gym station in Smith Performance Center, showcasing strength and form.

From Pain to Progress: Building an Exercise Habit After Injury

A perfect time to build the exercise habit occurs when you overcome a painful injury. At Smith Performance Center (SPC), this happens during the “activity progression” phase after stabilizing symptoms. Unlike a standard exercise routine, activity progression focuses on managing and improving tissue capacity—your body’s ability to handle physical load without pain or injury. If these terms sound unfamiliar, don’t worry. The following signs indicate you may have skipped the fundamentals of activity progression: Why Delaying Exercise Is a Mistake Many individuals delay exercise until they feel completely better. However, this approach has drawbacks: Your Path at SPC At SPC, we’ve developed a clear plan to help you build fitness while overcoming an injury. Here’s how it works: 1. Your Home Plan: Manage Symptoms and

Read More »
Smith Performance Center strength coaches lifting in a gym, demonstrating proper form and technique, emphasizing their expertise in strength training and injury prevention.

Unlocking Your Health Potential: The SPC Phase Concept of Exercise, Maintenance and Monitoring

At Smith Performance Center, you will hear us mention “phases” or see references on the website or social posts.  If this is your first introduction, welcome! The SPC Phase Concept is the cornerstone of our approach. It’s a system designed to solve health challenges, keep you moving, and provide a shared framework for our team to deliver exceptional care. Why the SPC Phases Matter Our mission is to help people stay active, healthy, and capable of enjoying their lives. The five SPC Phases guide you from identifying your problem to progressing toward peak performance. The phases aren’t a one-time journey—they form a cyclical process designed to meet you where you are, adapt to your needs, and keep you moving forward. A key turning point in

Read More »