Former Dominican Stars guard turned physical trainer now dedicated to injury-prevention training for youth
ORLAND PARK, Ill. (BVM) — At 5-foot-1, Katie Blanchard was never considered a threat on the basketball court. By high school, when it seemed that a growth spurt never would materialize, she didn鈥檛 give up. Instead, Blanchard figured she didn鈥檛 have to be big and tall to play ball.
鈥淚 was always the tiniest on the court,鈥� Blanchard recalled. 鈥淧eople would say, 鈥極h that girl isn鈥檛 going to be effective.鈥� But eventually, I realized I could capitalize on my strengths — being quick and smart.鈥�
While in college at Dominican University in River Forest, Ill., Blanchard鈥檚 basketball abilities blossomed under a coach who helped her capitalize on her additional strengths of shooting and agility. Her team won their conference division — something that hadn鈥檛 been achieved in 20 years.
By Blanchard鈥檚 senior year, she was training a lot.
鈥淚 was doing two or three one to two hour-long sessions of running, weights and skills each day,鈥� she said.
And once the season started, she kept running on top of practice.
鈥淚 wanted to be the best player I could, so that鈥檚 what I did,鈥� Blanchard added.
Unfortunately, that intense regimen didn鈥檛 end up serving her well. Competing in her team鈥檚 third game in one week, Blanchard played nearly the entire contest. She had a steal, wide open breakaway, lay-up and a jump shot. There was nobody around her as she jumped. But then, the unthinkable happened.
鈥淢y knee gave out, I heard a pop, I fell on the ground,鈥� Blanchard said of the gruesome moment. 鈥淚 physically could not get up.鈥�
The basketball star had to be carried off the court. And yet, just minutes later, she wanted to get back in the game.
鈥淧ut me in, coach,鈥� she pleaded. 鈥淧ut me in.鈥�
Mercifully, no one let her back out.
Now, as a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT), she has a more vivid sense of what was going on.
鈥淭he ligament had given out and my shin bone and thigh bone crashed together with nothing supporting them,鈥� Blanchard explained.
She was left with no mobility in her knee. Halfway through the season of her senior year, the Dominican guard was done playing competitively.
Blanchard graduated from college and was about to start a nursing program when she shifted course. For six months, she鈥檇 been doing physical therapy (PT) three days a week.
鈥淚 really loved my time in PT, learning about building muscle to heal the body,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 couldn鈥檛 see myself doing anything other than helping people the way PT helped me.鈥�
Blanchard went back to school for pre-requisites, and one year later started a three-year DPT program at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago.
Now, Blanchard works in general outpatient orthopedics at Team Rehabilitation Physical Therapy. But her heart remains rooted in basketball. After trying coaching as a way to keep her foot in the door, she turned to her professional training in physical therapy to stay involved.
As a result, Blanchard launched , an educational platform for young basketball players on how to train properly.
Right away, coaches began reaching out. Some teams would be just midway through the season and already had suffered three ACL injuries on their team. What were they doing wrong?
What began as a hobby, or a way to stay up to date with research while offering free online help, grew into consultations and programming.
鈥淚 realized I could use my expertise in basketball and physical therapy training to help these players,鈥� Blanchard said.
Now, athletes will send her videos in action, and she鈥檒l play it back in slow motion, pointing out where their body mechanics break down. Blanchard is able to see which muscle to strengthen, or which movement pattern to adjust.
鈥淏y the way they move, I can identify precursors for certain injuries,鈥� she explained.
Blanchard has also done a six-week injury-prevention program for a high school basketball team.
鈥淎 lot of it seemed repetitive, but I made them do it specifically,鈥� Blanchard said.
She鈥檇 make the players jump in one place, and jump on one leg 鈥� pretty simple stuff. But at first, the girls didn鈥檛 get it.
鈥淪ome of them looked at me like, 鈥榃hy are you making me do this?鈥欌�� Blanchard said. 鈥淏ut by week four, I had girls coming up to me saying, 鈥榃ow, I actually feel athletic now that I have control over my body.鈥欌��
That high school team didn鈥檛 have a single injury the whole season.
With COVID-19 still present, Blanchard has brought her focus back to the online platform. Right now, she鈥檚 working on a course for coaches to train their athletes before the season so there aren鈥檛 injuries during season. She鈥檚 optimistic that simply getting the information to kids and coaches can make a difference.
鈥淚 look back at my ACL injury and see all the things I did wrong and think, 鈥榃hy didn鈥檛 someone point that out to me?鈥欌�� Blanchard said.
Young athletes specifically need to learn about body control and movement before they do intense training.
鈥淭hey do crazy training and play competitively without the proper tools,鈥� Blanchard said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 when injuries happen. Knowing I could鈥檝e prevented my own injury is what inspires me to put together programs so the same thing doesn鈥檛 happen to them.鈥�
