For everyone who told me that doing the elliptical was probably bad for my IT Band also, you were right. I’m officially banished to the pool and only the pool for at least the next three weeks. Good thing I already have a bathing suit and goggles, right? Oh and that sexy swim cap.
For the most part PT was really good, I spent the first 10 minutes laying with a heating pad on my hip and on my leg. It was delightful, I wanted to take a nap. Next was a 10 minute massage with the ultrasound machine, this was lovely also, and I wasn’t sure what exactly the purpose was so I googled it. This is what I found.
“Ultrasound treatments are administered using an electronic device. This handheld device (hooked up to a large machine) emits sound waves at a frequency level far in excess of what human hearing can detect. A gel is spread on the surface of the skin covering the area to be treated. This serves a dual role. It allows the device to move smoothly over the skin without causing any discomfort. But more importantly, it prevents air from coming between the apparatus and the skin. A tight connection maximizes the transmission of the sound waves.
The sound waves travel at different speeds, and with different effects, depending on the tissue they encounter. But the healing outcome is owed to two effects: heat generation in damaged tissue, and acoustic streaming, the latter being the more important.
Heat generation can promote healing, and ultrasound is sometimes used for this effect, but acoustic streaming causes heightened excitability in cell membranes which, in turn, maximizes two processes: the body’s healthy inflammatory response and the body’s development of needed scar tissue.
The inflammatory response is the body’s way of healing (although this process can get out of hand). Ultrasound can improve the body’s efficiency in this process. Likewise, scar tissue development can be an important part of healing an injury, and ultrasound can maximize the efficiency of this process as well, by increasing protein fibroplasia and collagen synthesis.”
After that process, the doc massaged my leg using the gel from the ultrasound for about another 5 minutes. At this point I felt like I was at a spa, and not a physical therapy appointment, but then we started working. We did all kinds of different stretches, and during one the doctor actually laughed and sarcastically said “Well, you’re leg isn’t tight at all”. I was laying on my side while he had my leg pulled behind me trying to straighten it, and it just wouldn’t go anywhere.
After the stretching came strengthening exercises. First was a bunch of leg lifts with a weight around my ankle, during which we discovered my hip pops while laying on my back and lifting my leg. Now I’m not allowed to lower below 60 degrees. We did 3 sets of 10, laying on my back, my left side, and my right side. Then onto the cable pulley machine, with the weight around my left ankle this time I did front steps with the left leg, side steps, back steps, and crossover steps. Again 3 sets of 10. The final exercise was step ups on a plyometric box. Right foot planted on the box, stepping up and back with a light toe touch on the ground with the left. 3 sets of 15. This was verrrry tiring for my right leg. Ten minutes of icing ended my hour and a half long session.
I think on my own time I’m going to have to replicate these exercises with my left leg, just so the right one doesn’t end up a million times stronger than it. Hopefully doing these exercises for the next 4 weeks kicks my leg back into shape. Fingers crossed.
Ok, wow I apologize for the absurdly long post, I’ll make the rest quick I promise, and I totes understand if you stopped reading already. After my appointment, I met my sister over at Cheeseburger in Paradise (my go to place on nice days) for dinner and drinks.
My sister enjoying her Blackberry Sangria, isn’t she pretty?
Me and my giant Paradise Beach Ale, please excuse the no make-up face. We split the Chicken Nachos as an appetizer.
These were so good, easily some of the best Nachos I’ve ever had. Then for my main course, I decided to be adventurous and ordered the Caribbean Chicken Sandwich. It was a jerk rubbed chicken breast served on a wheat bun with Pepper Jack cheese, red and yellow roasted peppers with red pepper aioli sauce.
It was very good, and I like how CIP uses whole wheat buns that don’t seem to be smothered in butter. They also have a Gluten free section of the menu for those who need it! While I was eating I ordered another beer, a Landshark Lager this time, but only drank about half of it. It was a fun night out with my sis. When we got home I had to shower and pack for the weekend, and you all know how I feel about packing, so it consisted of a lot of flopping on my bed and complaining. I think I managed to successfully pack enough things for every possible situation though, so we’ll see.
Ok, I swear I’m done now. I hope everyone has a fantastic Friday, and if you’re off today I hate you. Well ok, I don’t hate you but I am one very jealous girl. Hooray for the weekend!
Filed under: Daily | Tagged: cheeseburger in paradise, doctors, packing, physical therapy, traveling, ultra sound | 27 Comments »
We (OK I) ordered six of the Dragon Fire buffalo wings as an appetizer, and omg they were so good. They were just the right amount of spicy mixed with sweet, I loved them!
Um, I may have eaten five to the bf’s one, hehe. Main course was my usual Jerk Chicken Wrap with grilled chicken instead of fried.
I ate half of both the french fries and the wrap. The other halves are waiting for me to devour them at some other point this weekend :). Seeing as Cheeseburger is in the name of the restaurant, the bf went ahead and ordered the Beach Burger, which is just a cheeseburger with pickles, tomato, lettuce, and American cheese.
I was jealous of his burger, but my wrap was equally as good. After dinner we came home and drank a ton, and I mean a ton of Lionshead Light Lager (wooooo for PA brewed beer!) and watched SNL episodes on demand. It was a perfect Friday evening.
My Verbal Vomit 