Stay Safe as You Get Active in the New Year

The new year inspires people across the country to move more, get stronger, and feel better. Unfortunately, many of those people will start new workout programs in January, only to find themselves injured by spring. 

At Rebound Fitness & Rehabilitation, we see this pattern every year, but we also help people break it. With the right plan, pacing, and support, you can safely reach your fitness goals in the coming year.

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Patient Success Story

“Greg and his team provide the most professional and personalized care for young athletes looking to get back to their sports even stronger than before! Highly recommend!”

– Ashley

Why New Year’s Fitness Injuries Happen

Most injuries occur because the body isn’t prepared for the sudden workload. Your muscles, tendons, and ligaments need time to adapt to the added activity. When you ramp up your intensity too quickly, you overwhelm these tissues, leading to microtears, pain, and inflammation.

However, other factors contribute to your New Year’s injury, too. Some common ones we see at our clinic include:

  • Unrealistic goals and trying to do too much, too soon
  • Skipping warm-ups and cool-downs, which puts your tissues under unnecessary stress
  • Poor technique that overloads joints
  • Compensating for weak or painful areas, which causes strain elsewhere in the body
  • Not incorporating recovery into your plan, which keeps your muscles from developing

How a Physical Therapist Helps You Train Smarter In the New Year

The good news is that all of these issues are avoidable, especially with help from the Rebound Fitness & Rehabilitation team! Here’s what you can expect when you work with us.

Step 1: Assessment and Baseline Testing

Before starting any program, it’s critical to know how your body moves. Your first session will focus on discovering your strengths and identifying areas that need attention. These tests give us insight into designing a plan that works for you.

  • We begin with a movement screen to observe how you squat, reach, bend, and balance.
  • We check your posture and joint alignment to see if tight or weak areas could limit your progress.
  • We may use video or gait analysis to assess how your muscles work together during motion.
Step 2: Building a Personalized Performance Plan

Next, we’ll develop a plan tailored to your fitness goals, such as weight training, running, cycling, or general wellness.

  • Our programs focus on gradual progression to build strength safely.
  • You’ll learn activation drills that prepare your muscles before workouts.
  • We can address mobility challenges using stretching or manual therapy techniques.
Step 3: Optimizing Movement and Technique

Before you add intensity, it’s important to perfect form. 

  • We teach proper mechanics for squats, lifts, lunges, and push-ups, helping reduce stress on your spine and joints.
  • We also identify and correct imbalances or compensations, such as overusing one side of your body or shifting weight unevenly.
Step 4: Strength, Control, and Performance Training

Next comes building strength and endurance that supports your goals and helps you improve without setbacks.

  • We’ll introduce functional exercises that mimic real-life movements, improving balance and stability.
  • You’ll work through core and hip stability drills to enhance control and reduce the risk of injury during exercise.
  • We may incorporate performance conditioning to improve power, speed, or agility, depending on your needs.
Step 5: Recovery and Long-Term Maintenance

Progress doesn’t stop when you leave the gym. Physical therapists teach strategies to help your body recover and stay resilient, which ensures your results through 2026 and beyond.

  • Learn how to manage muscle soreness with stretching, hydration, and smart rest intervals.
  • Use tools like cold compression or Kinesio taping for muscle support when training hard.
  • Get advice on sleep, recovery timing, and load management to sustain steady improvement.
Stephanie Berman
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Stephanie Berman

ATC, General Manager

Greg Cadichon
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Greg Cadichon

ATC, LAT, Founder and Director, Rebound Fitness & Rehabilitation, Inc.

John Brna
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John Brna

MD, Medical advisor and consultant

Get a Head Start on New Year’s Resolutions

Who said you had to wait until January to make healthy changes? While December is a busy time of year, it also offers that glorious week between Christmas and New Year’s Day when work is slow (if not non-existent). Why not use that time to consider how you might incorporate new health routines in the new year?

You could…

  • Incorporate a few minutes of jogging on your walks.
  • Try out a fitness class you usually can’t take because of work.
  • Perfect a few new healthy recipes.
  • Experiment with meditation.

The post-holiday slump is also a great time to schedule an appointment with the team at Rebound Fitness & Rehabilitation. We can help you resolve any lingering pain or help you plan out a new exercise program–just in time for the new year.

Recipe of the Month: Cinnamon Rolls

Ingredients:

DOUGH

  • ¾ cup milk
  • 2 ¼ teaspoons active dry yeast
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 4 tablespoons salted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 large egg plus 1 large egg yolk, at room temperature
  • 3 cups bread flour, plus more as needed
  • ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
  • Extra-virgin olive oil, for greasing the bowl

FILLING

  • 4 tablespoons salted butter, softened
  • ⅔ cup packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon

CREAM CHEESE FROSTING

  • 4 oz cream cheese, softened
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoons salted butter, softened
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

  1. Warm milk in a microwave-safe bowl for 45–60 seconds, until 115°F. Pour into a stand mixer bowl fitted with the paddle attachment and sprinkle yeast on top. Add sugar and let sit until foamy, about 5 minutes. Add melted butter, egg, and egg yolk; mix on medium speed until combined, about 30 seconds. Stir in flour and salt with a wooden spoon until a dough begins to form.
  2. Attach the dough hook and knead on medium speed until soft and slightly sticky, 8–10 minutes. Add up to 3 tablespoons more flour if needed. (Alternatively, knead by hand on a floured surface for 8–10 minutes.) Warm a clean dish towel in the dryer during this step. Lightly grease a large bowl with olive oil. Transfer dough to the bowl, cover with plastic wrap and the warm towel, and let rise until doubled, 1–1½ hours. Dough is ready when an indentation from a finger does not spring back immediately.
  3. Dust a surface with flour and roll dough into a 10×14-inch rectangle. Spread softened butter evenly, leaving a ¼-inch margin on one short edge. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon; sprinkle over butter and gently press into it. Roll tightly from the opposite short side, pinch to seal, and place seam-side down. Trim ½ inch off each end. Compact the roll slightly by pressing inward from both ends. Cut into nine 1-inch slices using dental floss or a serrated knife.
  4. Line a 9-inch round or square pan with parchment. Arrange rolls in the pan, cover with plastic wrap and towel, and let rise until doubled and touching, 45–60 minutes. Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake rolls for 20–25 minutes, until golden on the edges but soft in the center. Cool for 10 minutes.
  5. In a mixer with the whisk attachment, beat cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter, and vanilla on low for 30 seconds, then on medium-high until smooth and fluffy, 1–2 minutes. Spread over warm rolls. Cover pan tightly or place rolls in airtight containers. Refrigerate up to 5 days. Reheat individual rolls in the microwave in 15-second intervals until warm.