Snap, Crackle, Pop – The Shrinking Jeans of Lisa

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July 12, 2010 By lisa

That was the sound my back made as the sports chiropractor flipped me around and “popped” my back in various places at rehab appointment #2 today.  He is obviously very skilled at it as I never saw it coming and my back felt so good afterwards.

My 2 appointments so far have consisted of him working on me- twisting my back and popping it, pulling my legs down (realignment is what I call it), and Active Release Techniques (ART)- basically where he has me do certain leg movements and then he digs deep into my muscles, attempting to break down the build-up of scar tissue I have.

It feels awesome.  NOT.

It hurts like a mother-trucker and several times I found myself wanting to say “No, I can’t do it anymore” but just as I felt those words about to erupt from my mouth, I would think about how long I have been sidelined from running and how badly I want to be healed and I would bite my tongue and find it within me to keep “taking what he had to give”.

After he was done with that, he asked me when was my last run.

My last REAL run was May 1st, a 10 mile training run for Team in Training.  I have not done a “real” run since then although I did suffer through the 1/2 marathon race at the beginning of June with the help of drugs.

He looked at me and said, “It’s time for you to run again…..today…..right now”.

I squeaked out, “Really?  Right now?  Do I have to?”

His reply was a resounding YES.

We went outside and he asked me to run to a point about 100 yds away and back.

I did it.  Nice and easy.  A little soreness but no limping.

He watched me run and he says, “Lisa, you are ready to run.  I noticed no limping and your stride looks great.  I want you to run tomorrow, 2-3 miles and let me know how it goes.  Tomorrow.”

And then I spent the rest of the time doing some mean-ass stretching exercises, again breaking down the build-up of toxins.  Next up was strengthening exercises specifically for the hips and IT bands.  Ouch, ouch, ouch.   I did 4 exercises of 30 reps (twice) on EACH leg and by the time I was half-way through, I really thought I might die.  These exercises just re-emphasized to me how NOT strong my hips are and how important it is for me to strengthen them.

As if that wasn’t enough fun, they then had me lay down on a massage table and hooked up a machine to my lower back muscles.  There were four electrodes that sent electronic pulses to two muscles on each side.  As it was explained to me, the pulses (it feels like ants a consistent “tingling” on the muscles) warm and stimulate the muscles to bring in new, fresh blood to the area.

So first I did exercises to break down the toxins in my muscles, then I did strengthening exercises, then I had some kind of “therapy” to bring in new blood.

This stuff is fascinating to me.

So tomorrow I run.  For the first time in a very long time.  And I am a little freaked out about it.