|
19 February 2013
I went to my first physical therapy appointment last week. It was a long wait in the waiting room, but when I got to see the physical therapist, she spent 45 minutes with me. She tested my strength, balance, and flexibility. I did pretty well, except for some weakness in one of the exercises. She evaluated me and wrote everything down in my chart. We discussed my past injuries, my fitness level, my recent setback (knee pain from overexerting myself), and my goals. I told her I want to advance in my fitness level – gain muscle, get in better shape, get stronger – and be able to run and jump someday.
I told her my concerns about there being something else/more wrong with my knees than what the arthritis/joint doctor said and how I wanted to get an MRI. She said that it would be best to see if physical therapy helps and if not I could go back to the doctor to get an MRI. Her reason being that an MRI might tell me that I have a problem that would need surgery, which could set me further back with my fitness goals, so it is best to see if physical therapy will get me to where I want to be first. I still want to get an MRI, because I want to know what is wrong so that I can do things to help it. I probably wouldn’t get surgery, even if it could possibly help whatever problem it is, but I would still like to know what is wrong. Ignorance is not bliss. I’d like to know the truth, even if for just peace of mind.
So I have a feeling I’ll be going back to the arthritis/joint doctor and getting an MRI. But in the meantime, I’m hopeful about my physical therapy. She gave me a list of exercises to do everyday. However, I’m doing them every other day, because I push myself as much as I can with the reps and holding time, so it takes me at least an hour to do them, and since it’s strength training, I know I should only do them every other day. I’m not trying to go against doctor’s orders, but I know what is best for me. Besides, doing squats and lunges everyday is what caused knee pain before, and one of the PT exercises is squats. Oh, and since my last post, I began doing the workout DVDs again! To make sure I get in my stretches, I do the 5 minute warm-up, then I pause the DVD and do my own stretches, then I resume the workout. I was doing the DVDs every other day until I began doing my PT exercises. Now, on the days when I don’t do PT exercises (which are all leg exercises), I do weightlifting and body-weight exercises for my arms, back, and abs; plus, I always do a thorough stretching. So I think I’m doing a really effective workout regimen.
When my PT appointment was over, I schedule four more appointments for the next two weeks. My first of those appointments is tomorrow. So wish me luck!
|
1725 kcal
|
Fat: 86.15g | Prot: 88.56g | Carbs: 158.59g.
Breakfast: Trader Joe's Raw Almonds, Pears, Bananas. Lunch: Smucker's Natural Chunky Peanut Butter, Apples, T. Marzetti Ranch Veggie Dip, Cauliflower, Celery, Earth's Pride Organics Baby-Cut Carrots, Broccoli, Beef Pastrami (Cured), Ralphs Pepperjack Cheese. Dinner: Pork Chop, Earthbound Farm Organic Spinach, Sweet Potato, Blue Diamond Almond Breeze Unsweetened Vanilla Milk, Land O'Lakes Unsalted Sweet Cream Butter. Snacks/Other: Coffee (Brewed From Grounds, Decaffeinated), Garelick Farms Light Cream, Clementines, Trader Joe's Raw Sliced Almonds, Chobani Nonfat Plain Greek Yogurt (Container), Strawberries. more...
|
|
2677 kcal
|
Exercise:
Housework - 30 minutes, Stretching (yoga) - 15 minutes, Calisthenics (heavy, e.g. pushups) - 10 minutes, Driving - 15 minutes, Shopping - 25 minutes, Sleeping - 9 hours and 30 minutes, Resting - 12 hours and 16 minutes, Walking (brisk) - 4/mph - 39 minutes. more...
|
|