When I started mentioning to folks that I was going in for physical therapy, I'd invariably get one of two reactions. From the folks that had never been, I'd get the concerned look and "oh? what for?" sorts of questions. From the folks that have been through it, I'd hear "Oh. Good luck." And they would then launch into some horror story about how their PT or their friend's/brother's/mom's/boss's PT unleashed heretofore unknown levels of torture and torment on their delicate little bodies. Great. Thanks so much for that.
I have to say, that after my first trip to the PT...I LOVE IT. I walked out feeling a little stiff and sore, and now my body aches like I've just run a marathon (well, actually, it's my left knee--sort of odd because it's my right knee/ankle that tend to be problematic...more about that later), but I can honestly say that I can't WAIT to go back. (then again, I always have been a glutton for punishment) I love the girl that is working with me. She put me through more of an exam than I've ever had from any doctor. She watched me do lunges, balance on each leg, touch my toes, bend over backwards...you name it. She was watching to see my alignment and balance, checking to see where my weaknesses are, and on and on and on. She poked and prodded my lower back, looked at the arches of my feet (I have a funky, but common, shape in my left foot that causes the inside of the front of my foot to sort of arch up...so my pinky toe/outer toes touch down first, followed by my big toes.)
I would not have been able to tell you this going in, but apparently my left side (hip-foot) is very weak and tight. She suspects that a lot of my problems in my right knee are due to overcompensation. She also said that it's very possible that a good part of my lower back pain is a direct result of the stiffness that I have in my hips and upper quads/hamstrings. I knew hamstrings could be an issue, but not quads/hips. I just knew that mine were pretty much always sore and tight.
I have some exercises and stretches to do that will a) work on my lower abdominals and obliques, which will help keep my spine aligned and alleviate some of the pressure from the disc protrusion/degeneration) and loosen up some of those muscles that might be drawing everything up too much--causing that pressure.
My PT had a herniated disc last year (a very amusing--albeit sad--story involving a slip down the stairs after trying to step on a particularly annoying cricket), and she's back to being able to run, so I have high hopes. I have a feeling I will quickly grow tired of the exercises I have to do, but I will just have to imagine a sedentary life with out running and mt. biking and I'm sure that will be impetus enough. I'm going back on Wednesday and Friday this week, and I think that I'm going to be doing some weight training and more challenging exercises under her watchful eye, so it should be good.
In other news, I'm still fiddling with the camera--it can do some cooooool stuff...I just gotta figure out how to get it to YOU.
That's all. Dinner awaits.
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