Innovation born out of a skiing accident, propelled Howard Head to forever change the ski industry and equipment. An engineer by trade, Head created a lighter, more efficient ski utilizing his aerospace-grade aluminium “honeycomb” construction and in 1950 the modern era of skis as we know them began.
Howard Head was a passionate philanthropist who believed deeply in Vail’s growth and the work taking shape at the hospital. As he followed the surgical advancements of Dr Richard Steadman, he recognized a clear need for an outpatient physical therapy group.
Howard Head Sports Medicine was founded in conjunction with the late Dr Steadman in 1990, introducing his groundbreaking approach of mobilizing an injured joint after surgery rather than immobilizing it, a philosophy that would go on to reshape modern post-surgical orthopaedic and sports medicine rehabilitation.
Today, Head’s pioneering approach to innovation is alive at Vail Health Howard Head Sports Medicine. Built on 36 years of patient-care collaboration with world-renowned orthopaedic surgeons, our experts treat overuse and trauma injuries from professional athletes to weekend warriors.
Our board-certified physical therapists evaluate, assess and treat individuals offering the most comprehensive rehabilitation services available. Some of the evidence-based specialized therapies we offer patients from around the world are:
- Orthopaedic & Sports Rehabilitation
- Return to Ski & Snowboard Program
- Total Joint Therapy
- Concussion Therapy
- Tendon Rehabilitation
- Certified Hand Therapy
Injuries we treat and rehabilitate:
Our surgeons and therapists help patients return to the sport or activities they love faster and stronger. They also focus on reducing the risk of future injuries. Experts provide treatments for all major joint and extremities including, but not limited to:
- ACL Injuries & Meniscus Repair
- Tibial Plateau & Tibia Fractures
- Rotator Cuff & Impingement
- Labral Tears of the Hip and Shoulder
- Complex Hand, Wrist & Elbow Injuries
- Hip Preservation Surgeries
- Joint Replacements
Continuing to innovate
Our board-certified surgeons, physicians and physical therapists conduct ongoing research and regularly publish in peer-reviewed publications. Helen Bradley, PT https://www.howardhead.org/staff/helen-bradley Clinic Coordinator of Howard Head Vail, shares: “At Howard Head Sports Medicine, we believe exceptional care happens where sound science, clinical expertise, and each patient’s individual goals meet.”
A recently completed Howard Head study[1] established a normative benchmark value for shoulder strength across a range of movements. Notably, dominant and non-dominant arms showed essentially equivalent strength, and physically active individuals maintained strong shoulder function across all decades studied. These findings support the use of a patient’s uninjured shoulder as a personalized, reliable benchmark for tracking recovery progress and underscore the importance of staying physically active as we age.
The team’s research has impacted care for the world’s top athletes and orthopaedic patients globally.
| Interested in learning more? Our orthopaedic surgeons and Howard Head Sports Medicine experts are available to provide a second opinion or collaborate on a patient’s care plan. Reach out to our care team at: www.howardhead.org/getback. |
Reference:
- Normative Values of Isometric Shoulder Strength Among Healthy Adults, International Journal of Sports Physical Therapy.
<https://ijspt.scholasticahq.com/article/83938-normative-values-of-isometric-shoulder-strength-among-healthy-adults>
