When it comes to sports, so many parents these days are looking for the edge for their children to compete in athletics. No matter what sport they are playing, having a good trainer is key. When I was in high school from 1991-1995, the only formal training I received outside of practice, was at 7:00 a.m. in the weight room with the football team. Lift weights, get stronger, and hope for the best. I think lifting did give me an edge over some athletes, but I definitely would have benefited from something more. Nowadays, there are plenty of programs out there to give you an edge over the competition. Last week, I did a tour of the Athletic Republic in Auburn Hills. It’s a 20,000 square foot facility that houses a doctor’s office, a physical therapy clinic, and a sports training room that any professional athlete would salivate over. There’s anything and everything to work out with and trainers there to maximize your full potential.
What I heard from a couple of professional athletes, the facility director, and the doctor that helped create the facility, was that this program is in place to help athletes PREVENT injuries. How many times will someone get hurt and wish that they had stronger hamstrings or shoulder muscles? All the time! Preventative medicine occurs everywhere else except when it comes to orthopedics. Dr. John Samani and Dr. Thomas Perkins have 10 children between the two of them and both realize that prevention is the key to success. They would rather their children and the athletes that they treat, go through a preventive program like the one at Athletic Republic, before they cut open a knee or a shoulder.
If you or your child would like more information on this facility, check out their website:
http://www.unleveltheplayingfield.com/
-Katrina Hancock
WDIV sports 
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