Posts tagged ‘therapy’

November 8th, 2012

Runner’s Knee and Runner’s Pasta

by Tiff

Happy Friday Eve!  It has been a while since I’ve said that, but given my big plans for the weekend, it needed saying.

egg

Jalapeno Egg Breakfast with a Corn Tortilla

As you noticed from this month’s workout and last month’s workout, I’m devoting actual gym time to physical therapy.  These are exercises is could do from home, but whenever I say, oh I’ll get around to them in the evening, it never happens.

Although I have “PT Exercises” listed on my training schedule, I haven’t spelled out most of the moves.  I shared one last month, but I want to start highlighting some of my favorites.  These are a mix of exercises for both runner’s knee and my more recent hip aggravation/injury.  I think both are related, so I find one no more important than the other.

Runner's Knee     Runner's Knee


Click either image above to view source.

The move above is one I do regularly.  I perform 3 sets of 8 or 10 reps per side with my foot pointed toward the ceiling at 90 degrees (as shown), but I sit up nearly straight when I do them.

pasta

Kev’s Dinner: I made baked pasta with pork sausage

Then, after a little stretch, I do it again with my foot pointed at a 45 degree angle outward.  After another little stretch, I do it again with my foot pointed inward at about 135 degrees.  These are really hard for me, so I usually just do 3 of 8 for both sides.

pasta

Tiff’s Dinner: Butternut squash pasta n’ greens

Sorry about all the random food photos throughout this post.  What can I say, runners love pasta.  Of course, so does the hubby, a non-runner but a good eater.

In case you were wondering, I sort of followed this Cooking Light recipe while making his dinner last night.  I’m still wondering how this magazine gets away with using the word light.

 

July 13th, 2012

Hip Therapy (Video)

by Tiff

Happy Friday!  As if Friday didn’t make me happy enough, I had extra bits of joy to share.  Larabar so kindly sent me a few new-to-me flavors to review, and boy were they good!

i like bars

I even liked the coconut cream pie flavor even though I’m not nuts for coconut.  My favorite was definitely the chocolate chip cherry bar (duh… girls <3 chocolate), but the cappuccino was a very close second.

bar

I guess I can still say that I haven’t met a bar I didn’t like.  I enjoyed these as afternoon snacks, but I also really like to have Larabars before races.  Lucky for me, there were free mini Larabars after my half marathon.  Score!

larabar

I also have a video to share.  This is one of the hip exercises I’ve been doing (when I remember to do them) for my physical therapy.  You can easily do it at home since all you need is a resistance band.

Happy Friday!

  • Do you guys like the exercise videos, or is the video aspect unnecessary?
  • What have you got on tap for this weekend?
May 17th, 2012

1 Month

by Tiff

I have wonderful news. The new sports doc I visited yesterday says he can have me running again in about a month. Woohoo! I’ll briefly explain the appointment and because I have no pics from the doc’s office (it’d be odd if I did), here are breakfast pics instead. Who doesn’t love breakfast???

breakfast

Wednesday's Breakfast: Tree Hugger Smoothie

I told him my issues in detail and he first wanted x-rays. No hip fracture – hurray! Then he moved my legs around to see what hurt. For one or two test movements, I was supposed to push my leg against his hand, and he laughed at how week my hips were. Whoops!

pancakes

Sunday's Strawberry Pancakes with Strawberry Compote

Then he diagnosed the problem, which isn’t news to me: inflammation of the bursa (sacks in your hips), IT band strain, and possible hip muscle tear or strain as well. Then he stretched me out a bit. Believe me when I say it’s awkward having a male stranger stretching out your hips on an examination table. I must say, it worked well though. We stretched hip muscles I didn’t know existed.

pancakes2

So Exciting - My 1st Time Cooking Pancakes

Then there was a vibration thingy and then electric therapy. Electronic sensors put on my hips that felt like little pins and needles. It is used to bring blood flow to the area. I guess it’s similar to the ultrasound I once got on my knee for the same reason.

So there ya have it. Of course, with this news I’ve already looked up races. (I think I’m addicted.) I want to try the Race to the Bar 10k at Natty Greene’s Brewing in September. I like North Carolina beer. I like running. Runners get two beers after the race. Is this not perfect for me???

beer

Got any races or other fitness-related events on your calendar?