Anyone can run! 50 million Americans run every year. All you need is a pair of shoes, and even that is up for debate.

Runners and the running community are extremely close to Dr. Phil Welsh’s heart. Phil was a medical volunteer at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. He helped treat patients with traumatic amputations of their lower limbs, folks with severe psychological distress, and numerous other conditions. For more information check out: Portrait of a Rescue and BU Volunteers at 2013 Marathon Vow to Return. He was also a guest on the Running Around Charlotte podcast, published 8/9/22, to speak about running in the area and medical volunteering in the Boston Marathon, among other topics!

Runners present with our own challenges. We try to run through injuries until pain is unbearable. We can sometimes set unrealistic expectations and we have trouble pacing ourselves even if we say it’s “going to be an easy run today.” But here at Premier Physical Therapy, we have the very best technology in the business to assess biomechanics and to return runners to their sport as quickly and safely as possible. And remember that every runner is different, so a strategy that works well for you may not work well for someone else, and vice versa. That’s why we specialize in individualized, one-on-one care!

Running is often considered a sagittal plane sport, meaning most people focus on activities that propel us forward (quads, calves, etc). But we are runners living in a 3D world! We need to also focus on the other planes of motion (frontal and transverse) and on abdominal stabilization, so we have a solid base to move from! Think about the different angles encountered on the roads and sidewalks, and certainly the variability that comes with trail running.

Phil ran the (virtual) 2022 Charleston Marathon and has run in numerous other races in the Charlotte and Boston areas. He runs at several brewery run clubs each week, including Wooden Robot and Triple C, and he enjoys connecting with fellow runners in Around The Crown 10K and with sponsoring the South End Shuffle. Running is a great release of energy, both physically and mentally, and it allows him to center himself. Get your running-related injury treated by the running expert in town!

The world’s most popular sport. The beautiful game. The U.S. has more than 24 million soccer players annually and soccer is one of the most popular youth sports in the country.

Dr. Phil Welsh worked part-time with the Charlotte FC Academy from 2021-2022, treating the younger athletes’ injuries and improving sport performance on the field. Phil received his FIFA Diploma in Football Medicine in 2021 to further advance his knowledge.

He uses this information and high-tech force plate analysis equipment to tailor specific recovery programs to the person in front of him and to assess their response to interventions. Additionally, the technology can be used for safe return to sport. For example, if an athlete continues to have 15% less eccentric force production during the landing phase of jumping on the right leg vs left leg, this significantly predisposes the athlete to right leg injuries, including ACL tears. Even if they aren’t having pain at the time, strength and power production imbalances like these can have terrible consequences for the athlete when they return to the dynamic demands of their position on the pitch.

This technology and movement analysis can also be used for injury prevention! Individual athletes (and even whole teams) can have their baseline strength/power metrics taken in preseason, and any asymmetries or abnormalities that arise can be addressed quickly to prevent injuries. If an athlete does suffer an injury during the season, their baseline data can be used as a safe return-to-play guideline as they approach returning to sport.

Phil is privileged to have helped grow the sport, too! He founded, was president of, and captained the Boston University men’s club soccer team (2010-2016) before then coaching the team for 3 seasons (2017-2018). As the head coach and chief injury prevention specialist, all athletes were required pre-practice and pre-game to undergo a quick but efficient program to reduce risk of injury. During his 3 seasons at the helm, Boston University’s men’s club soccer players had 0 moderate and severe injuries (ACL tears, fractures, ligament damage, etc). Additionally, Phil worked as a referee for 10 years in NJ and MA, and knows the physical (and mental) demands placed on these folks, whether they’re a center referee or AR.

Soccer players won’t receive better care for their injuries than from Dr. Phil Welsh. He is an expert in soccer injuries, soccer-specific rehabilitation and performance, and he understands the nuances of each position on the field and how that pertains to different formations, throughout the age cycle. If he’s not in the clinic treating, he’s probably watching soccer!