My First Physical Therapy Session
Today was my first session with the physical therapist. I've never been to a PT before so the only thing I knew about them was based on TV shows and movies.
So, here's what I imagined:
Here's what I got:
Apparently, having loose knee ligaments is not the greatest attribute to have as a runner. If I understood correctly, it is good to have ligaments that are tight enough to support your knee. If that is not the case, the quad muscles and the muscles connecting the two parts of your leg together get over-worked and prone to strain.
In other words, the muscles in my quads, core, and hips need to be stronger in order to pick up the slack of my loosey-goosey knee.
Until the pain is gone, I need to stay away from activities that will aggravate my leg. That means my 18-mile long run/walk on Saturday is out. I've been given some simple, non-aggravating exercises to do in order to start the process of strengthening my quads and hips.
I'm still hopeful I will be able to walk the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. Since there are a few half marathons I want to do in the fall and winter, however, I will skip the Rock 'n' Roll if it means being strong enough to run the half marathons I want to do.
Meanwhile, I need to be more motivated to keep up my strength training and stationary bicycle. I miss running, though. I can't wait to get out there and run!
This is the Hulk of my youth. That's how old I am.
So, here's what I imagined:
- Someone who looks a lot like The Incredible Hulk (minus the green, of course).
- A loud, bossy, Drill-Sargentesque guy in scrubs.
- Me, sweating and crying in pain as I strive to pull myself across the parallel bars... all the while, the PT yells at me to be strong... to stop being such a wuss or I will never, ever run again!!
- After I find the strength within myself to reach the end of the bars, my tormentor applauds and tells me I have what it takes... I will run again (start the sappy music).
Here's what I got:
- An athletic-looking, lean-muscled young man (dang, I'm getting old!). Turns out he is a runner.
- A soft-spoken, kind individual who listened to me and didn't immediately toss out my idea that I might have a stress fracture of the femur.
- Me, getting to relax while he stretched my legs for me... I didn't even have to put forth the effort to stretch, he did all the work! Sweet!
- Hearing that he didn't think it is a stress fracture... but the ligaments in my right knee are loose.
- But... here is where the sappy music starts... I will run again.
Apparently, having loose knee ligaments is not the greatest attribute to have as a runner. If I understood correctly, it is good to have ligaments that are tight enough to support your knee. If that is not the case, the quad muscles and the muscles connecting the two parts of your leg together get over-worked and prone to strain.
In other words, the muscles in my quads, core, and hips need to be stronger in order to pick up the slack of my loosey-goosey knee.
Until the pain is gone, I need to stay away from activities that will aggravate my leg. That means my 18-mile long run/walk on Saturday is out. I've been given some simple, non-aggravating exercises to do in order to start the process of strengthening my quads and hips.
I'm still hopeful I will be able to walk the San Diego Rock 'n' Roll Marathon. Since there are a few half marathons I want to do in the fall and winter, however, I will skip the Rock 'n' Roll if it means being strong enough to run the half marathons I want to do.
Meanwhile, I need to be more motivated to keep up my strength training and stationary bicycle. I miss running, though. I can't wait to get out there and run!
This is the Hulk of my youth. That's how old I am.
Comments
Ps...your blog is so pretty!! I don't know how you guys figure out all these neat things to do.
Good luck with the exercises.
What specifically are you doing to keep the "run" alive inside?? Are the exercises helping?
I had a simiar problems earlier this year. Long term resolution was to run further but slower. These days I'm back up to 35 miles a week! You can do it - just be patient!
the PT does work though!!