Dr. Adam Loiacono comes from 15+ years working with professional sports organizations, most recently as the Director of Rehabilitation with the Phoenix Suns.
As “team PT,” the non-stop hustle was thrilling for Dr. Loiacono who played a small but mighty role in the success of many athletes. According to the esteemed physical therapist, “The players have an extreme level of competitiveness and their desire to constantly improve was second to none.”
Fans don’t often realize a pro athlete’s livelihood depends on their ability to maintain an insane degree of physical health. Whether it was providing rehab during an injury or coaching them through performance training, Dr. Loiacono was always there to maximize player availability and help them achieve their goals.
After transitioning from working with the Suns, Dr. Loiacono now runs Loiacono Performance Therapy, offering his expertise to optimize performance and enhance longevity among those who crave it. As part of 360 complete care, he services all degrees of physical therapy and performance training.
We asked Dr. Loiacono four pain prevention tips he gives pro athletes and those living an athletic lifestyle. Here’s what he said.
1. 80/20 rule: 80% of the time, the basics are what you need. Although the basics may seem boring, they provide the biggest bang for your buck. There’s a reason why the basics have withstood the test of time and fitness fads come and go. The other 20% leans into what you enjoy such as infrared therapy, alternative medicine, or advanced technology. With anything, consistency is key.
2. Strength is imperative. Everyone wants to jump higher and sprint faster, so we instantly want to do cliché sexy, fun activities. However, strength is, in fact, the foundation for all athletic movements. It is also one of the strongest predictors for both increasing lifespan and decreasing risk for injury. If you’re not strong, you are not laying the foundation for injury prevention.
3. Pay attention to detail. This is what prospective Hall of Famers obsess with. It’s amazing how subtle details in executing a particular exercise or being attentive during physical therapy can make the biggest difference. Going through the motions without respecting the details can lead you down a path of pain.
4. Understand the difference between fatigue, soreness, and pain. These body signals are similar yet different. Fatigue tells us we have run out of energy and cannot complete the activity. Soreness is a warning signal that we may have done too much activity. Pain is the danger sign telling us enough is enough. Fatigue leads to soreness which could lead to pain. Recognize and listen to the early signs before it’s too late.
Dr. Adam Loiacono, PT, DPT, CSCS utilizes a variety of manual therapy, corrective exercise, dry needling, and cupping. His methods for performance training programs utilize cutting edge technology such as force plates, VO2 max testing, resting metabolic rate testing, and more. He offers concierge at-home and in-studio sessions. Limited exclusive memberships are available. adamloiacono.com
"I enjoyed playing a pivotal role in the success of many pro athletes."
"Strength is the foundation for all athletic movements."