Published Jul 8, 2003
Up until recently, I was getting physical therapy for shin splints and for plantar fasciitis. The treatments went well, the shin splints are almost gone and the pain from the plantar fasciitis is greatly reduced. I’m almost ready to start running 2-4 miles/day again!
I’ve got my physical therapy at Kerlan-Jobe in Westchester, near LAX. They have a competent and knowledgable (if somewhat overworked) staff, and great bedside manner.
The facility is pretty dee-luxe, what with all the fancy equipment:
And even a pool! Some days I wish i could be in that pool. But the only people who get to be there are so badly injured they need the support of water to be able to move.
I don’t get to use much of that, though, mostly they set me down on a treatment table and commit various unspeakable acts upon my person:
Tools of my mistreatment include:
Yes, with these fiendish implements, they make me carry out all sorts of sinister shiftings, stirrings and agitations, all with the stated goal of fixing my infirmities. Sometimes I suspect that some exercises are just designed to amuse the therapists — although, in all honesty, this round of physical therapy is much easier than what I had to go through for my badly sprained ankle last year. Most of these evolutions are designed to increase the flexibility of my lower legs. It’s a sad story, really, because running actually makes you less flexible, so I’m pretty tight from the thigh down. If ya know what I mean.
I use that rope to try to pull my leg towards me and stretch my hamstring. Frankly, with as small a stretch as I get, I can hardly believe that I can walk:
Much more fun is rolling the metal tube with my foot. It’s like a little foot massage! Breaks up the scarring and swelling in my arch.
Of course, my favorite part is the real massage:
Then I get to run on this extra-deluxe treadmill. Apparently, it cost $100,000! And it feels like it too — as good as the springiest, softest track I’ve ever been on.
The treadmill
Look how comfy that track looks!
And all these controls!
But after the run comes the ice!
Some people love ice, some people hate it. I hate it for the first couple of minutes, then I tolerate it ‘cause it makes me feel better — but I don’t get the soothing feeling that others get. It could be worse, though, last time I got physical therapy I had “The Bucket”
A trash can filled with ice — ouchie!
Well, supposedly I’m cured, and I’ll have the appointment to prove that to the doc tomorrow. Updates as events warrant.