Laura Baden

As sports performance coaches and sports medicine professionals, we often hear parents say, "My child has flat feet." or "My daughter has really high arches. Is that a problem?" The truth is that neither foot type automatically prevents athletic success. We've seen elite athletes perform at the highest levels with both flat feet and high arches. However, each foot structure can influence movement mechanics, force absorption, injury risk, and training adaptations. Understanding these...

Female athletes are up to eight times more likely than male athletes to tear an ACL. Not two times. Not "somewhat higher." Up to eight times [1].

By Laura Baden, LAT, ATC, OPE-C, CES, PES | Earn the Edge Performance | Pittsburgh, PA If your athlete plays basketball, volleyball, soccer, or football, you've probably wondered: how do I help them reach their goals? Most parents invest in more travel teams, more showcases, and more skill work, but overlook the one thing that actually drives performance: physical development. Without it, athletes get overworked, underprepared, and more prone to injury. Here's what actually moves the needle...