Created by the Institute for Athletic Medicine, the Next Step is a five-week sports rehabilitation program that bridges the gap between in-clinic sports injury rehabilitation and return to high-intensity sport activities.

Injury and surgery affect the body in many ways. For athletes, muscles and nerves often must be "re-trained" to work together again, and be strengthened to withstand the rigors of activities like sprinting, jumping and cutting.

Physical therapists and certified athletic trainers work one-on-one and in a group setting to provide advanced sports-oriented training to improve strength, endurance, agility, coordination, speed and confidence necessary to competitive play.

Next Step training for lower extremity injuries includes:

• Pre- and post-program testing for agility, jumping and speed 
• Fundamental skills retraining
• Proprioception to increase body awareness
• Sport-specific drills
• Agility training
• Power development
• Advanced strengthening

Get Results
Next Step helps athletes move beyond rehabilitation to return to sport safely and reduces the likelihood of re-injury. On average, participants improve agility, vertical jump and hop scores by 20 percent at program completion.

Here's what past participants have to say about Next Step:

• "I'm comfortable with running, cutting and jumping again."
• "Next Step helped me to regain speed."
• "I learned how to avoid re-injuring my knee."
• "I learned my leg was still weak and I need to keep strengthening it."
• "Next Step motivated me to push harder."
• "The program helped me to become stronger and more confident."  

Get Ready, Take the Next Step
Next Step is a five-week, 10-session program designed to allow a smooth and safe transition back to soccer, basketball, volleyball or any other sport. The program is held at fitness training centers in the metro area throughout the year.

The cost is $300. A $50 deposit is required at time of registration. The remainder is payable at the start of the session. Registrations less than two weeks prior to class start date are subject to availability. Class availability is subject to change.  Physician's approval is required for post-surgical participants.

For more information or to register for the Next Step, call the Institute for Athletic Medicine's Next Step information line: 612-672-7737.

Next Step Program Schedule 2008
Bloomington - Lifetime Fitness 
Jan 7 – Feb 7
Feb 18 – Mar 20
Mar 31 – May 1
May 12 – June 16
June 30 – Jul 31
Aug 11 – Sep 15
Sep 22 – Oct 23
Nov 3 – Dec 8

Minnetonka – The Edge
Blaine – National Sports Center
Jan 14 - Feb14
Feb 25 – Mar 27
Apr 7 – May 8
May 19 – June 23
Jul 7 – Aug 7
Aug 18 – Sep 22
Oct 6 – Nov 6
Nov 13 – Dec 18