Youth Sports Performance
Do you have a child who is an athlete? At PREP Performance Center, we are dedicated to helping athletes of all levels reach their optimum level of physical performance. Whether you have a high-schooler who’s a swimming star or a Little Leaguer who is quickly picking up batting techniques, our Chicago physical therapists can help with improving technique, healing any current injuries, and preventing additional injuries from occurring in the future. To learn more about our youth sports performance programs, contact our Chicago physical therapy office today!
Why are these programs important?
At PREP Performance Center, we understand that youth athletes are still developing in their skills. It wouldn’t make sense to design the same treatment plans for both youth and adult athletes, or even for youth athletes of different age groups. Children have different biomechanics than adults because they are still growing – both physically and mentally. Each youth sports performance program is unique, taking into account the child’s age, level of physical activity, and their continuing physical and mental development.
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Youth Sports Performance
Our sport-specific academy training programs prioritize important aspects of youth athletic training, such as:
– Athletic development
– Strength improvement
– Power improvement
– Speed and body awareness
The goal of these programs is to create a pre-season environment where youth athletes can enhance their skills and techniques, in order to ensure a safe and successful sports season. Our highly trained Chicago physical therapists will assist your child with improvements in strength, stability, and body awareness, in addition to working on jumping, landing, and cutting techniques. Perhaps most importantly, the techniques your child learns will significantly reduce the injury risk of ACL injuries, non-contact injuries, and overuse injuries, such as shin splints or stress fractures.
Sign-up your child today!
If you are interested in having your young athlete participate in one of our youth sports performance programs, contact PREP Performance Center today. After an initial evaluation, one of our Chicago physical therapists will design a unique plan for your child, encompassing speed, agility, footwork, strength, and injury prevention. Contact PREP Performance Center at Lincoln Square, Irving Park, Lakeview, Horner Park, Roscoe Village & Ravenswood Chicago, IL centers today and help your child achieve his or her full athletic potential!
Our Team
Welcome to our Clinic!
Our team of physical therapists at PREP Performance Center has close to 10 years of experience in the sports medicine physical therapy profession and over 8 years of experience running a successful private practice.
Specializing in treating the adolescent athlete, we not only provide therapy post-injury but seek to implement pre-sport participation movement screens and our 8-week Academy Training programs that have been shown to reduce overuse and non-contact injuries. Some of the statistics below support the need for Physical Therapy Intervention at the youth sports level.
MARY CATHERINE CASEY, PT, DPT
Owner and Founder
Four-Time Division | National Champion Lacrosse Player
Movement Specialist
Dry Needling Specialist
Graston Technique Certified
Concussion Management Specialist
Titleist Performance Institute Certified
Mary Kate graduated with her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine and currently specializes in sports medicine rehabilitation. She is a former collegiate lacrosse player with four National Championships as a member of the Northwestern Women’s Lacrosse team, current Head Lacrosse Coach at DePaul Prep in Chicago, and a member of the Wellness Team for the Women’s Professional Lacrosse League (WPLL). In 2019, Northwestern University Physical Therapy Department selected Mary Kate as the Young Alumni of the Year for her innovative contributions to the Physical Therapy Profession.
Mary Kate sustained an ACL injury early in her freshman year of college, which sparked her interest in physical therapy. During a 6-9 months recovery process, Mary Kate followed a strict program that not only focused on strength, speed, agility, and quickness but also included flexibility, balance, mechanical and proprioceptive training during sport-specific activities. This unique training regimen helped her achieve athletic success throughout her collegiate career and into young adulthood. Her holistic approach to injury prevention, sports performance, and mental preparation were born out of this experience. Her experience both as a former collegiate athlete and an experienced physical therapist convinces her that something is missing for those athletes who train extended hours to excel in their sport, yet continuously need to fend off injuries.
This along with her extensive understanding of the increasing prevalence of ACL tears, she developed her own ARSI Movement System which she utilizes during her therapy and sports performance programming. Her methodology pre-and post-injury focuses on the assessment of muscle imbalances, recruitment of specific muscles, stabilization of muscle groups, and integration of proper mechanical loading during sport-specific activities. Mary Kate addresses individuals’ weaknesses with a hands-on approach, employing manual therapy techniques, Graston Technique, myofascial release, neuromuscular control, and dynamic flexibility. Currently, PREP is using DorsaVi wearable technology to provide baseline movement assessments to young athletes to assist with injury risk assessment, limb symmetry, and return to play readiness.
Founder of PREP Performance Center, physical therapy, and sports performance facility, Mary Kate emphasizes the importance of creativity, innovation, education, community involvement, injury prevention, and integration with sports performance. Mary Kate’s team is providing cutting-edge therapy and sports performance that helps athletes of all ages train like the pros and develop into well-rounded athletes despite early sports specialization.
Mary Kate utilized their skills as a former collegiate and high school athlete to develop the knowledge base and skills necessary to run a unique and growing clinic. Mary Kate has the mindset of an elite athlete and implements similar practices into her business to not only provide quality physical therapy but unmatched education and customer service. Mary Kate has to lead a team of 6 employees through the first 2.5 years of a new business and continues to pursue avenues that will keep physical therapy relevant as health care changes and the need for technology is integrated into healthcare. She is willing to take risks and is always looking for the X-Factor that will keep her and her team ahead of the game.
JACK DAVIS, PT, DPT
Division | Golfer
Movement Specialist
Selective Functional Movement Assessment Certified
Titleist Performance Institute Certified
Jack graduated from Belmont University in Nashville, TN with his Doctorate in Physical Therapy. Prior to that, he attended Saint Martin’s University in Olympia, WA where he was a member of the varsity men’s golf team and graduated with a BS in Biology. Jack has experience treating patients with a wide variety of orthopedic conditions but has a particular interest in sports physical therapy. He is passionate about providing individualized, quality care to help his patients achieve their full potential. In addition to his training in orthopedics, sports medicine, and post-operative care, he is trained in Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), blood flow restriction training, and is a Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) certified provider. Jack has a particular interest in golf rehabilitation and enjoys working with golfers of all levels to return to a pain-free game and reach their full potential. As a former college golfer, he can relate to the importance of maintaining a healthy body to stay at the top of your game.
