“They have great clinicians who care and listen. They’re not just putting you through a system, its individualized.” – Roman Oben, Retired NY Giants Tackle
We’re excited to score a big win for retired NFL players through the relationship we’ve built over the past year with the New York/New Jersey chapter of the NFL Alumni Association. As physical therapists, we understand the unique challenges that come with being a former NFL athlete and we’re ready to tackle those challenges head-on by working as a team to provide comprehensive care and support at every stage. From preventative care for young athletes to addressing lingering issues post-retirement, it’s important for these elite athletes to reach their goals and stay on the path of wellness.
Bart Oates, President of the NFL Alumni Association, shared his excitement about the ongoing relationship, saying, “This provides our players with access to professional rehab services where they can get in quickly, be treated efficiently, and build a solid relationship. We’re especially happy because Ivy provides a one-stop point of service, which is great because whenever our players have an issue, no matter what it is, they know exactly where they can go to be treated.”
As a former NFL player, Roman Oben, knows firsthand the importance of finding the right therapy provider. 25 years ago when he was a professional athlete his body was a lot different than it is today. But now that things have settled, he’s starting to see some of the discrepancies that are effecting him in retirement.
“Our relationship with Ivy Rehab is important because the care they provide along with specific attention to the issues that our current and former players have with their bodies is spot on,” explains Oben, former Tackle for the NY Giants and current NFL Alumni NY/NJ Chapter President. “When you talk about that relationship between the ground and your ankles, knees, and hips, then look at how that affects your low back and gait, you need someone who understands what we’ve been through and how our bodies are reacting. It’s really important to pay attention to those specific things in your body, and Ivy Rehab is the best place for me to do that.”
An emphasis on knowledge and preventative care
It’s not just current and former professional athletes that have cause for concern. Younger student-athletes need to be aware of their bodies as well, putting a great deal of emphasis on knowledge and preventative care.
“When you talk about the culture of training in today’s young athletes, there’s a lot of attention on being explosive and working on quickness, but that can sometimes lead to other issues like stress fractures,” says Oben. “When you start out with Ivy, you’ll learn to build some fundamental core strengths and do proper exercises and drills. When you get to that critical age group of 13-15, you can avoid certain issues if you know how to pay attention to things like deficiencies in hip rotations and how to create those balances in making sure as an athlete, you’re not just overworking and compensating in other ways – you’re fundamentally sound.”
Student-athletes can benefit as well as professional athletes
Oben goes on to share a personal story about how physical therapy affected his son, who suffered a shoulder injury as a senior in high school: “Already having signed with Purdue, his shoulder injury led to surgery in March, causing him to miss track season and football training. He wasn’t cleared to play until August, just as college football games were starting. He trained with the team at Purdue and walked on the field three weeks later, which is incredible. The work at Ivy Rehab was 1000% responsible for his development. When he got to Purdue, they said he was ahead of schedule and were really happy with his development, and I have the team at Ivy to thank for that.”
The relationship between Ivy Rehab and the NFL Alumni Association is a game-changer. We see the unique challenges that come with a career in football, and we’re excited to be able to provide comprehensive care to these elite athletes.
With the support of Bart Oates and Roman Oben, we’re confident that we can make a real difference in the lives of these retired players. From preventative care for young athletes to addressing lingering issues post-retirement, we’re here to support these athletes every step of the way.
