#astym

It looks worse in person. ;P

Today was my second Astym treatment and for some dumb reason I thought she might take it easy on my because of all the leftover bruising from Friday.. HA! No such luck. If anything, she was more relentless. I was wincing and gripping the sides of the table almost the entire time. You can't tell much in this picture, but my ankle is starting to darken all the way around because she really focused on that area today. NOT FUN.

The only good part about it is the soothing, gentle leg massage and stretch that she gives my leg when she's finished.

After the torture, we worked on all the usual hip exercises, plus a new elastic band walk. Same wide-legged, squatty position but traveling forward instead of side to side:

I also did a ton of toe taps (for my shins) and calf raises. Those hurt like heck because of the bruising.

My physical therapist decided that last week was probably going to be my last ASTYM session.  She said she might still do it periodically if my leg seemed tight.  But I consider that progress.  My leg feels less tight, I think walking is easier (at least around the house), and my scars feel like regular skin and no longer like there's 14 layers of scar tissue.  Yesterday I just did some run-of-the-mill physical therapy, trying to strengthen my core and leg muscles.  10 minutes on the recumbent elliptical, then lots of leg lifts with 3 pound weights on my legs, side lifts, some bridges, and finally some stand up sit downs.  Or "no plopping," as she called it.  I protested.  I've been plopping for years now.  But she said it would strengthen my legs so I'm down.  Husband says they're like squats with a chair.  Sounds good til I can do real squats.  

Today I had my first acupuncture appointment with my sister in law. I have never been needled before so it was such a different experience.  I have been getting ASTYM for my upper back.  I had some scar tissues built up from riding horses and from bad posture. 

She took my pulse in a few different places and deciphered that there was not harmony throughout my body. She said that my digestion was stronger than my heart or lungs. I don't know exactly what modalities she used but it was very new and interesting for me.  There was only one spot that hurt and that was my lower to mid back on the left.  She said that I was extremely tight and it was nothing to worry about.  The pain would only be temporary.  

I completed my second week of Physical Therapy.  Today Alison did Astym on my ITB... I heard rave reviews and at the same time, that it hurt like a beyotch.  Both are valid descriptions. 

ASTYM treatment is a physical therapy treatment that regenerates healthy soft tissues (muscles, tendons, etc.), and eliminates or reduces unwanted scar tissue that may be causing pain or movement restrictions.

...and since scar tissue is the story of my life...well, I think this will be a lasting love affair.  I could already feel a difference when I got on the foam roller.  My ITB wasn't screaming at me as I rolled over it.

The best part about this treatment is you continue doing what you are doing...get on the bike, swim, run, lift, etc.  You actually don't want to lay around because then the body will regenerate the same way, but taking on your activities, your body learns to regrow healthy tissue as you utilize full range of motion, without the restriction of scar tissue and limited mobility.  (Or something like that...)