Physiotherapy for Athletes – I’m an Athlete! – FIT IS A FEMINIST ISSUE

I have a terrific physiotherapist who has been helping me with hip and shoulder issues of the past few months. I almost didn’t go to her because her profile at the clinic says she likes to work with athletes.

I went to the other physiotherapist at the same clinic instead, up until she went on maternity leave. Then I debated going to another clinic, but finally decided to be brave and see Emma.

I’m glad I did. It turns out that Emma is really good at listening to what I say about the activities I enjoy, and helping me find exercises that not only make me better at those things, but are exercises that may already be somewhat familiar.

A couple of examples for you, related to strengthening my glutes: lying on the ground and doing lifts while wearing a band is great, but standing at the ballet barre and doing a similar move while lifting up my core until I feel the glutes engage (just like I need to do in ballet class but often don’t) is also really good. Similarly, doing clamshells while wearing a band activates the same glute muscles I should be using when I do whip kick in the pool. If I adjust my swim to make sure I’m doing that, it totally counts toward physio.

I have written before about how important it is for me to use mental images to help me position my body correctly. The more I have worked with Emma, the better I have gotten at feeling what parts of me need work and how to get them engaged.

It’s still a work in progress, but I’m feeling much better about my balance, posture, and the state of my knees than I did when I first started going to physiotherapy as a somewhat broken older woman who was afraid of falling. So good, in fact, that this week Emma sent me off with no follow-up appointments. I will check in for a tune-up when needed, but I no longer need her regular supervision. Yay!

There will definitely be tune-ups; I’m still really bad at moderation and will undoubtedly overdo some sport or other.

Diane in a colourful hat and coat at a small skating rink. It was the first time skating in at least three years, and came on the heels of two dance classes and two hard swim workouts. Ow, but so much fun!