August 14: Trying Something New
Today was the first day of my physical therapy. I decided to take a new approach with the ongoing issues I'm having with my right shoulder and my left shin. I definitely feel much better than when those strains were at their worst. However, I can still feel them on a daily basis, and they serve as a constant reminder to me that they could flair up at any time and put me out of training for this triathlon completely.
I arrived at Physical Therapy Specialists, located just under a mile from where I work in Troy. I know them well, though I have never been a patient there. I used to be their freelance art director long ago, when I would design their updated business cards and newspaper ads. There is one person there, Al, from those days long ago. He's a sweet man not much different in age than me, so when I arrived it was wonderful to see him again after all of these years.
After extensive strength testing with my physical therapist Mark, I was shown how to execute my home exercises that I had been given. Today would be a light day, with no exercises or strength training on site.
One treatment I did receive, however, was ultrasound therapy. Candis, one of the assistants there, applied this to both my shoulder and my shin, each for 10 minutes. It's hard to believe that this technology could do anything, but I was amazed once it was all done, as my pain (which I had rated at only a 4 out of 10) had dramatically diminished by over 50 percent. How could this be? I didn't question it, I was only grateful.
After my session was over, I left immediately for Cranbrook pool, where we had a scheduled swim practice.
Though my shin and shoulder were feeling much better, my sinuses were a mess. I believe I was suffering from the tail end of one gigantic episode of pollen allergies that had come on quite suddenly after my business trip up north.
The long two sleepless nights I had before really affected my swim. One night it was the euchre games with my business associates that took us into the wee hours of the morning, or the four hour drive back after spending the whole day on the golf course in a scramble.
I was very tired, and I decided early on that this was the biggest struggle I had ever encountered in the pool. I ended up swimming half my distance, a mere 1850 yards. I was just looking forward to going home and going to bed. And I did, and had the best sleep in a very long time. And the best thing of all was that my shoulder (and shin) still felt great.
Chalk one up for physical therapy. Let's hope it sticks this time.
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Join me on August 19th at Dragonmead and help me raise money towards my goal!
For details, go to http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/DunCAN
I arrived at Physical Therapy Specialists, located just under a mile from where I work in Troy. I know them well, though I have never been a patient there. I used to be their freelance art director long ago, when I would design their updated business cards and newspaper ads. There is one person there, Al, from those days long ago. He's a sweet man not much different in age than me, so when I arrived it was wonderful to see him again after all of these years.
After extensive strength testing with my physical therapist Mark, I was shown how to execute my home exercises that I had been given. Today would be a light day, with no exercises or strength training on site.
One treatment I did receive, however, was ultrasound therapy. Candis, one of the assistants there, applied this to both my shoulder and my shin, each for 10 minutes. It's hard to believe that this technology could do anything, but I was amazed once it was all done, as my pain (which I had rated at only a 4 out of 10) had dramatically diminished by over 50 percent. How could this be? I didn't question it, I was only grateful.
After my session was over, I left immediately for Cranbrook pool, where we had a scheduled swim practice.
Though my shin and shoulder were feeling much better, my sinuses were a mess. I believe I was suffering from the tail end of one gigantic episode of pollen allergies that had come on quite suddenly after my business trip up north.
The long two sleepless nights I had before really affected my swim. One night it was the euchre games with my business associates that took us into the wee hours of the morning, or the four hour drive back after spending the whole day on the golf course in a scramble.
I was very tired, and I decided early on that this was the biggest struggle I had ever encountered in the pool. I ended up swimming half my distance, a mere 1850 yards. I was just looking forward to going home and going to bed. And I did, and had the best sleep in a very long time. And the best thing of all was that my shoulder (and shin) still felt great.
Chalk one up for physical therapy. Let's hope it sticks this time.
-------
Join me on August 19th at Dragonmead and help me raise money towards my goal!
For details, go to http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/DunCAN
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