The Big Red Ball

For as long as I can remember, athletics has been central to life. Acompanying that very active life has been pain and injuries. Starting with knee injury in middle school, on to shin splints in high school, and serious back pain through college. 35 years of playing "wack-a-mole" with pain...solving one issue and another crops up. The past few years has brought surgeries for knee, achilles and shoulder. Now, one might think that any sane person would give up and think...gosh, maybe my body simply is not built for all of this! Why not take up needle point or read a book? Truth is, I guess I'm just not that smart.

With all of my recent injuires, I'd like others to benefit from what i have learned in recovery and injury prevention. Yes, I admitted to a limited faculty when it comes to acknowledging pain and treating it. But with an education in Athletic Training and years of an active life, I might have something to offer in this regard.

This year, I have never felt better! This is a result of actively attending to some trouble spots of weakness and tension. The most important discovery of all? Stretching the very deep muscles of the abdomen. There are a few ways to accomplish this, and the best I have found is laying supine over a yoga ball, allowing yourself to relax and take the shape of the ball with your back. I would add a photo of this exercise, but I am quite certain that I look absolutely ridiculous. This 6'1" frame with legs a half of a mile long has got to be quite a sight!

Additional discoveries:

• The incredible value of deep tissue massage
• Balanced strength quads to hams...translation? My hamstrings are weak!
• Countering the effect of tasks always done in front of us...computer, carrying children, etc. results in need to stretch pecs and strengthen mid-back

As I stated, this is the first year in at least ten where its September, and I feel great!

Thanks to my Physical Therapist and Massage Therapist ..oh yes, and of course to those surgeons...