Posts Tagged ‘physical therapist’
I’m BAAACK! The Next Phase Plan and a Half-marathon!
Posted by admin in Appointments, Try This! on February 1st, 2015
It has been a while since that second triathlon (a.k.a. my last post). In that time, I have finished 4 sprint triathlons, one 10K and two 200 mile bicycle rides (Seattle to Portland (STP) and Ride from Seattle to Vancouver and Party (RSVP))! The reason that all of my triathlons have been sprint distance is in large part due to my run. Specifically, my Posterior Tibial Tendon (PTT) continues to give me pain in distances longer than 4 miles.
Here’s the puzzle: last year in May of 2014, I trained up to and ran a 9 mile training run, which is the longest distance I have ever completed, and I did it without pain. How? I have no idea, and it didn’t last long because quickly after that run, I upped my training with a sprint focused run group with the goal of speeding up my runs and increased mileage on the bicycle rides to accommodate the upcoming STP. Thus, I ended up in the Physical Therapists office with inflamed PTT. Needless to say, I did not complete the sprint speed training nor have I run 9 miles since.
So, why start the blog again? Because on my last visit to Brian Crosier, my Physical Therapist, he unlocked two final pieces to my puzzle, I think, and I want to document this next part of my journey.
In December 2014, I had started training up to a half-marathon, the Whidbey Island Half-Marathon on April 19, 2015, from 2 mile runs. All was great until I started running 3.5 miles and my PTT got inflamed. I also started to feel my tight right hip tighten even more. Hip tightness is a new thing that started over the summer after my STP ride with my untried new awesome carbon fiber frame bicycle, but I can tell you that story another time.
S0, I entered Brian’s office with mildly achy PTT and a fairly tight hip. As he was trying to figure out how to help me since I had already been through PTT treatment, and I was already applying the techniques he had taught me over the summer, he discovered an immobility that he had not considered treating before: my mid-foot.
So, after Brian got the foot model, much like the picture above, he began by telling me about the three arches in the foot. There is the major arch that everyone knows about, then there is an arch on the outside of your foot between your heel and your midfoot, and finally, your toe knuckles are supposed to be an arch, but most people’s are flat and not arched at all. Hmm – I’m definitely in the flat toe knuckles camp: no surprise there.
He then added that my left big toe knuckle cannot touch the ground. I laughed and told him that my left big toe knuckle touches the ground every day 🙂 He responded by using the foot model to explain that on my left foot, my main arch compensates a lot for immobility though the mid foot or the navicular bone and the cuneiform bones, meaning it flexes or “falls” in order to allow my left big toe knuckle to touch the ground because those bones do not flex enough on their own. Consequently, the Posterior Tibial Tendon attaches to the navicular bone, which means that my PTT is already being stretched out everytime I flex my arch.
Whoa! What? When Brian told me this, so many issues that I have been having my ENTIRE life began to fall into place. I have always felt like I walk on the outside of my feet, and I have these weird outer foot calluses to prove it. Also, Brian had been coaching me to land “flat” with my feet (i.e. land mid foot with by toe and outer foot touching at the same time) because I land on the outside of my feet then roll in, which puts a lot of pressure on the PTT since it is in charge of the downward/flex motion of the big arch. Well, I have been trying to land “flat” since summer 2014, and I was not feeling very successful. Guess why – I can’t. I physically cannot get that big toe on either foot (the left is worse, but the right foot suffers as well). Finally, when I ride my bicycle, even after a fancy fitting with the spacers placed to help get my knee in the correct place, I always felt that I could not get my big toes down inside the shoes. Of course NOT! I felt so much better knowing that despite my trying and failing, it was a mechanical restraint.
But with me, I’m not satisfied with just the why. I want to know the next step – how do I correct this? Of course, Brian did not disappoint! He had invented a stretch for those small, largely immobile bones of the midfoot. Â I will post a video soon with details on how to do this stretch. For now, know that after the first stretch with Brian, the tops of my feet were sore (both left and right) for two days, and the stretch is not very big. It is just that that part of my foot had never really been stretched.
Another component of the foot issue is how to get the big toes on each foot to touch the ground while still maintaining as much subtalar neutral (ankle being neutral and arch not fallen) as possible? This took convincing – Brian suggested ProKinetics® insoles that have 3mm build-up under the big toe area on each foot (see red part on the photo below). As most of you know, if you have read very much of my blog, I do NOT like inserts of any kind. After working for over a year to get out of prescription orthotics, I am not very enthused about having to use any kind of inserts again. However, Brian made a compelling point: with these inserts, my feet could possibly be placed into a better position that would allow more natural functioning with less pressure on the PTT. Hmmmmm….why does he always make such good arguments?
So, I got the ProKinetics® Insoles. They have a 3mm build-up (in red) under the big toe as well as a removeable (yell0w) arch support. In addition, they come with an extra set of 3mm build ups (orange) in case you would like a 6mm build up.
ProKinetics Insoles
Since lots of my shoes are more minimal (Five Fingers and Luna Sandals), I also purchased a really cool adhesive lift that you stick directly to the ball of your big toes called SoleMateâ„¢ Comfort MicroLiftsâ„¢. Very cool products.
I am still in the test phase of running with full insoles, but so far the first run has been good, and I wore theSoleMateâ„¢ Comfort MicroLiftsâ„¢ with my cycling shoes today and what a difference! I know what the bike fitters have been telling me about using my whole foot – I could actually do it! My inner thighs are going to be very sore since I can access their power now, too!
The picture shows how the SoleMateâ„¢ Comfort MicroLiftsâ„¢ look and adhere to your foot. Weird, but very effective. I will say that I wore them for my trainer ride on my bicycle, and I put them back on my feet after my shower and wore them for approximately 8 more hours. Around hour six, I could tell that the skin under the adhesive was getting  a little irritated. However, when I removed it I did not have any lasting redness or raw places. The website says that these can be stuck directly to the inside of the shoes, too. So, I’m going to try that to see how it works. Definitely adding the additional 3mm orange pieces to the bicycle shoes, though!
Part two: tight hip
The why – my Sacroiliac (SI) joint on the right side, as seen in the photo below, was tight, which was impeding my ability to do some rotation and other movements, and my hip muscles, specifically the gluteus minimus, were taking up the slack and ending up overworked and tight.Â
Once again, bells were going off all over the place! YES! The SI joint was tight on the right side! Of course, a few years ago I had spent an entire summer using a lacrosse ball on the right SI joint when Brian had suggested that I tuck my tail bone when I run in order to use more core muscles and attain a more efficient running form. I had not really thought much about my tail bone once it had stopped hurting, but I had never really treated it. Well, SI joint, those days are done. I am not going to neglect you anymore.
The how on treating the SI joint? To have Dr. Larry, my wonderful Chiropractor, do his magic on the SI joint when I visit him and to re-start some tennis ball massages on the SI joint. Also, I have a massage therapist, Brad, who has been working on my right hip. He will be better able to attack the problem with the new information as well. Gotta love having a village to keep it all working smoothly!
So, this is the next phase – unlock mobility in my midfoot and loosen up the SI joint on the right side. I’m still signed up for that half-marathon in April, and I’m looking forward to the training! If I can find the right combo of mechanical advantage and training pace, I may just make that race! Stay tuned!
8/19/12 – THE TRIATHLON!
Posted by admin in Triathlon Training and Races on August 30th, 2012
At long last, the day was here! After a week of pouting because my ankles were killing me, I felt rested for the race. READ: I did not go to the gym to do the workout tailored to my need for more stretching in my hip flexors and quads; I did not do my bike, run or swim unless I had to train with my training group; and I barely used my foam roller. I was a mess. I was disappointed. Once again, I had trained too much and injured my feet. MEH.
Well, my wonderful husband also surprised me by saying that we should look at bikes. So, we did, and I got a new, super fast bike! I did not get clipless pedals/shoes because it was Friday before the race on Sunday, and, technically, you’re not supposed to have anything new on race day. However, I figured a road bike (versus the mountain bike that I already had) was a fine exception.
Saturday, I rode my bike to the expo where I picked up my race packet with three numbers and a timing chip in it. What were three numbers supposed to be for? 1. for me to wear on the bike and run 2. to attach to the bike 3. to stick on my bike helmet. Oh, right!
I met Denise Geroux’s (my coach) mentor, Sally Edwards. She was inspiring and very energetic. Then, since I was new, I stayed for the race rundown with Sally. That was completely useful as I learned where all the numbers went as well as a few tricks to use during transitions.
Then, I rode my new bike home enjoying how fast the wind whipped through my hair as I raced along the road at super speeds unattainable on my clunky mountain bike. I then dropped my new bike off at the race transition area and got ready for the race.
Sunday morning at 5am, my alarm went off. Wow! No one said that race day would start so EARLY! Surprisingly, I did not really need any coffee to get going! Adrenaline is amazing.
My husband and I headed out and picked up TEAM ERIN – Ollie, Brandon and Julie (Adam was already in the car with me). They are some of the most amazing friends. They wore the hot pink shirts with “TEAM ERIN” printed on the front and got up at 5am on a Sunday! Thanks guys!!!
Anyway, I got to the race, stood in line for the port-a-potty and squeezed into my wetsuit. I then headed down to the swim start about 15 minutes early to get into the water and acclimate before I had to race. As I was standing waiting for my wave to start, I couldn’t believe it was here. I wasn’t really nervous. Instead, I was excited and incredulous that it was actually happening.
Then, the countdown for the swim began, and we were off! I alternated between swimming all out until I couldn’t breathe and breaststroking until I had control again. I feel like I should send a thank you note to the woman who kept up with me because I shaved 4 minutes off of my time trying to stay ahead of her 🙂
Once out of the water, I had no brain, I was on auto-pilot. “Take off the swim cap and goggles in one swoop, then unzip and peel off the wetsuit to the waste…” In the middle of my refrain, Adam starts yelling from the sidelines. I’m completely disoriented because he’s not part of my plan at this point! What’s he doing here, anyway? Oh, yeah! That’s awesome! He just watched the whole swim and he’s taking pictures (that’s why the pictures are so good- hahaha!).
I continue to the transition area, and just when I think I can get back to concentrating on continuing to remove my wetsuit, while watching for pebbles under my bare feet, Ollie and Brandon show up out of nowhere along the trail! HI!!! Totally awesome! When I arrive at my transition plot, I somehow manage to get out of my wetsuit, but not before removing my timing chip from my ankle. I went through my mental list – helmet, glasses, shoes, number, bike. And I was off!
My new bike was amazing! I did not have pedal cages or clipless pedals or shoes. So, it was just my foot and the pedal with mostly downward pressure to propel me along. I did great until the ramp onto I90 (YES! We got to ride down the express lanes of a major interstate across a floating bridge! SWEET!), I did not gear down enough, and my bike stopped. So, rather than fall over, I chose to get off the bike and run it up the hill. To my great surprise, everyone else was walking their bikes up the hill. I kept thinking in my head, “Isn’t this a race? Shouldn’t we be running?”
Needless to say, my new bike was kicking butt down that express lane. I was feeling really great about my speed until the first person passed me. At this point, I look at her pedals and shoes. My mind responds, “The only reason she passed me is because she’s got clipless equipment.” 😉 I was passed my many more people, most of which also had clipless pedals/shoes. Yep, I’m definitely going clipless now!
Halfway through the ride, I realize that I’m not wearing my timing chip. YIKES! What happens? Will they kick me out of the race? Nah. I’ll just have incomplete times. Good thing I remembered to take note of my bike start time on my own watch.
So, as I entered the transition area, I noted the time at 1:09. I had started the bike at 27 minutes. Yeah, that brain organ is just not cognitively active at present. I’ll ask Adam later – wait! I hear Adam now! AWESOME! The bike to run transition was much quicker – take off helmet, put on hat, put on timing chip and GO!
I started out strong because I knew that “Team Erin” would be there to cheer me on, and I didn’t want them to cheer me walking 🙂 Once out of eyesight, I walked. No one is kidding about that “lead leg.” My legs felt like they were made out of wood or lead or both. Picking them up was torture. Then, one of my team members ran up next to me, and I decided to run again.
I made it about one mile, then my ankles started to burn. Next, shooting pains started to travel along my posterior tibial tendon. GAHHH! I walked. Another of my teammates caught up with me. She and I kept playing catch up for a while. The most amazing thing throughout the entire race was how our team kept cheering for each other when we would see each other along the route. This happened a lot during the run when the route doubled back. We would all high five as we passed one another along the route. Yes, this definitely spurred me on to run as much as I could. I alternated running until my ankles were too painful and walking until I felt like I could run again. I finally gave up after I ran up Genessee Hill and walked in.
Now, I was saving up for the finishers shoot. If there’s one thing I know, people remember how you start and how you finish. So, I was going to RUN down the ENTIRE finishers shoot! And I did. I even pumped it up at the end to finish in 1:48! Less than 2 hours!
Adam and Brandon did the math on the bike, and at 21 minutes on swim and 42 minutes on the bike, I had shaved four minutes off the swim and about 10 minutes off the bike. My run was around 36 minutes (I have no idea how long my transitions were due to forgetting my chip during the bike), which was about 4-5 minutes slower than I normally would have run a 5k, I think.
Overall, what a great way to start triathlons! Ollie bought me a recovery massage at the end, which was such a delight! Thanks, Ollie!
I think meeting up with my training teammates throughout the race was amazing! Seeing “TEAM ERIN” on a field of hot pink was just fantastic! I really would not trade that experience for anything in the world. And next time, I hope to run the ENTIRE 5K.
As for the following days, my ankles got pretty bad – very tight, painful when walking, very painful when running. I started making phone calls – Dr. Larry and Brian Crosier (PT who was recommend by Mac at Born to Run). I plan to make this sort of the final round of foot rehab. I want to get it right this time so that I can run a marathon.
Sad news :-(
On my first day at my acupuncturist’s, I recommended Travis Orth as a Physical Therapist that she could reliably recommend to her patients. I thought of this because they were located in the same building.
She promptly called to set up a meeting with him only to find out that he had moved back to the Mid-west.
Well, one part of the Village has left, again. It is sad for me, but I wish Travis all the best in his new location. May he continue to help his patients with his careful, thoughtful analyses and treatments.
Good luck out there, Travis!
9/23/10 – Last Appointment with Physical Therapy
I had my last appointment with Travis at Seattle Physical Therapy on Thursday, September 23, 2010. It was for my right shoulder that I had spent the last four appointments in that office, and last week, Travis told me that I was good to go. My shoulder has not completely healed, but since I do my “homework” or exercises, he told me that there was really no need for me to keep coming to the office.
So, I’m finished with one part of my Village.
What a mixture of happiness and sadness as Travis is a wonderful motivator and coach. He is also a huge geek about biomechanical processes. I will miss having him explain the functions of the tendons and muscles in the foot and shoulder.
However, I am so glad that I have come so far!
Good bye Seattle Physical Therapy and Travis Orth. You have been invaluable to me in the last year, and I appreciate all of your help in getting me back in working condition! 🙂
Quick and Dirty Update on Last 3 Weeks, Then Back to Regularly Scheduled Blog!
So, these past three weeks have been a whirlwind of excitement and exhaustion. The school year began with full force; at the same time I was house/dogs/cat/fish/newts sitting for friends who go to go to Burning Man; and I was trying to maintain a workout schedule. Whew!
Well, the house/dogs/cat/fish/newts survived; my students are awesome this year (so far); my workout limped along.
I also had several appointments with Travis, my physical therapist, who is currently treating my right shoulder, which I am calling the last of my old injuries. It is well on the road to recovery, and next week I should be released from physical therapy for good 🙂 That is barring any new weird things that might happen. So, Yay!!!
Melissa, my personal trainer, has been awesome! She has been supplementing my physical therapy on my shoulder with more specific and difficult serratus anterior exercises. I really do have a great team!
On the chiropractic front, Dr. Larry has been keeping everything in line – hahaha! While Lynda, my massage therapist, aka the muscle whisperer, has been working with my right shoulder mainly to keep it functioning without all that tightness.
All together, these past three weeks have been challenging and rewarding. I’m looking forward to a more normal routine where I can workout regularly and begin running training again.
8/10/10 – Run 7A – Trying for 1.25 Miles, not so much.
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on August 10th, 2010
Today, I was going for upping my mileage to
Walk 1/4, run 1/2, walk 1/4, run 3/4, walk 1/4.
The first half mile run was going well. My ankle felt great, my quads a little tight, but not too bad. So, I tried for 3/4 mile, but I only made it to 1/2 mile on the second run due to the small, yet, sharp pain running up my posterior tibial tendon just above my left ankle. Even though I could have kept going, I kept hearing Travis in my ear saying, “There should be no symptoms. Stop running if you have symptoms.” Well, I guess a pain in my tendon counts as a symptom.
I will try again to up the mileage next time. For now, one mile it is!
Oh, I was wearing my stability running shoes and prescription orthotics.
Also, next time I run, it will be 90 degrees outside – geeze!
7/21/10 – Run 2A – Exactly 1.0 miles with 0.5 miles running :-)
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.) on July 22nd, 2010
So, I went with Option 3 (as proposed by my Physical Therapist, Travis): I kept the stability shoes and the prescription orthotics.He says, “The symptoms really might just be some increased soreness with breaking in a new pair of shoes and getting use to less support. Â If you continue to have symptoms, again, you should not be increasing mileage, but rather staying at the same level until you are able to complete that distance symptom free.”
He also suggested that I continue the exercises for the “strengthening”, and I could also add stride outs (that he suggested a long time ago) with my Vibram Five Fingersâ„¢ after each run. “Stride outs are brief stints of running ~60-100 yards, where you slowly pickup your tempo until you are at or near top speed running on your toes.” Travis also said that the stride outs would increase strength, while the orthotics and stability shoes during the sustained runs will provide support to help my feet adjust to the impact of running for a longer time.
Ok. This totally makes sense to me, and I, thus, I opted for Travis’s suggested Option 3.
I am really excited about the stride outs, but I did not do them on Run 2A. Those will happen on Run 3A, and I will tell you all about them in good time.
Back to the run at hand. My friend and I had a limited amount of time. So, we found that we could really only squeeze in one mile total.
We walked the first 1/4 mile and ran the second 1/4 mile. Just like last time, this felt really good, but I was really winded. My body was definitely feeling good, and I now need to get my lungs up to speed.
Then, the second 1/4 mile walk, which is when pain will show. I didn’t have any!! None! Woohoo!!! My left foot felt fine, and my right foot was ready to keep going. So, onto 1/4 mile #2.
This one was just as good, and my breathing was getting better (as it does once you are a little more warmed up). At this point we had to stop and go home to get to a bellydancing class, which is a story for another time and blog.
On the way to class, I felt fine. All was well with feet, hips, back, shoulder, etc. I had a difficult time due to fatigued quads in bellydancing, but other than that, the running seemed to be just fine for my feet.
I am thinking that another go of just two 1/4 mile runs with three 1/4 mile walks. We shall see what the next few days bring!
7/14/10 Physical Therapist – “You are a lot stronger!”
Today I had a Physical Therapy appointment with Travis, and when he did the test for strength on the gluteus medius, I was able to resist quite successfully! This is a far cry from how I did on the test in February. Then, he and I got to talking about how it would have been great if we had had actual measurements in February rather than just pictures.
So, we decided to do the measurements today since I am not done, yet. There is more work to be done and more success to be had 🙂
Travis drew a line on the inside of my foot just above the arch, and he explains it below:
“The test where I drew a line on the inside of your foot is called the Feiss Line and with it I check the degree at which your navicular [the bone basically at the top of your arch] changed from a non-weightbearing to a weightbearing position. Â Ideally the navicular should stay very close to this line and if it falls closer to the floor it indicates varying degrees of flat feet. Â The distance on your R [right] foot was unchanged and on the left it was 5 mm (virtually unchanged).”
Right Feiss Line
Left Feiss Line
Woohoo! Did you read that?! My left foot arch was virtually unchanged! I’ll bet that in February it would have been quite different. I cannot help but smile at this 🙂
Next, I had to lay down with my feet hanging off the table so Travis could find subtalar neutral on my feet. He then drew a line on the heel of my foot. This is called measuring the “degree of eversion”, and he explains this below:
“Then I also measured the degree of eversion noted at your subtalar joint while weighbearing and it looked great. Â There was a minimal amount of eversion noted on the left foot and essentially none on the right foot.”
Right Eversion
Left Eversion
OMG – Are you reading what I’m reading? He just said that my right foot is basically “normal” when I am standing! I am standing in a virtually subtalar neutral stance on the right foot, which is as good as it gets. The left is only off by a tiny amount (2 degrees or something).
Now, this does not take into account when I am running, which still has some falling of the arches. So, more work to be done with strengthening the foot. However, standing still with almost normal stance is AWESOME!!
So, today he gave me 6 exercises with the caveat that I may stop the other exercises unless I have symptoms that the exercises correct. Hooray! Less exercises! Oh, wait, these new exercises are not easy….
First, I isolate the gluteus maximus by laying on my stomach and bending one leg at a 90 degree angle at the knee (where else would it bend at a 90 degree angle – duh!). Then, I lift the leg using the glute 10 times for 3 sets.
Next, I do what he calls the “stork”. I stand on one leg leaning against a workout ball. Then, I do one-legged squats (essentially) keeping my hips aligned (not letting one fall). It is harder than it sounds.
Then, he told me that I would be doing a side plank, and I told him that would be too easy. So, he told me to balance my arm on a Bosuâ„¢, then do the side plank. Once in a side plank, I lift up the top leg for 10 reps and 3 sessions. Yeah, that’ll teach me to talk smack.
Another exercise is an oldie, but goodie. I stand on a step on one foot with that foot angled in. I then lift to standing on the toe and lower to slightly below the top of the step and repeat for 10-15 with 3 sets.
Finally, I balance on a very squishy circle with my eyes open for 30 seconds. Try this at home – it is harder than it sounds. When that becomes easy, I close my eyes and when that is easy I close my eyes and then tilt my head. I’m going to look really hot in the gym when I start tilting my head 🙂
Anyway, a very awesome visit, and I hope to document even more cool changes!
Physical Therapist 6/29/10 – MORE PICTURES :-) and an EDIT
This last week has been another bummer. On Friday, I spent the day in the kitchen making tomato sauce (Picture 20lbs of tomatoes, and you’re on the right track.) and baking a Yay-You-Finished-Your-First-Marathon cake for my husband. By the time he got home, my left posterior tibial tendon was crying out for mercy.
Today, at my physical therapy appointment, Travis started me back at what certainly does feel like square one. 🙁
This is just part of the process. I know that my foot is improving because it is USING the posterior tibial tendon, but the tendon is not strong enough (even with all the work I’ve put into getting it stronger), yet.
The Story of Muscle: [Edit – I stand corrected :-)]
Travis Orth, my physical therpist, had a few corrections on my story of muscle.
“So, I think you got the story of muscle close, but not quite right. Â I probably was not as clear as I could have been so here is another explanation. Â With strengthening, if you are actively completing exercises for the first 2 weeks there will not actually be an increase in muscle size, but you may experience a gain in strength. Â This gain in strength is attributed to increased muscle fiber recruitment (of muscle fibers that you already have) from your brain to that muscle group. Â It takes approximately 4 weeks to verify the increase in muscle cross-sectional area, so any strength increases prior to this point are likely attributed to improvements in neuromotor recruitment. Â This is all somewhat flexible and there is likely some actual muscle growth prior to the 4 weeks, but they are the numbers and guidelines that I like to follow. Â So with your feet, there are likely increases in muscle size, that is why you see such a dramatic difference in foot position. Â If you were simply recruiting more muscle fibers of the muscle that you already had I don’t think you would see these changes. Â Furthermore the changes are likely due to increased resting tension on the tendon, tibialis posterior, that is pulling up the arch of your foot and preventing collapse of the foot. Â This increased resting tension is from actual increased muscle size, so congrats you did it! Â However, as you have noted, there are still gains that can be made and the muscles can get even larger and stronger.
A lot of the information that I have provided is from the Shirley Sahrmann book titled “Diagnosis and Treatment of Movement Impairment Syndromes”, and she cites the article:
Moritani H, Devries HA: Neural factors versus hypertrophy in the time course of muscle strength gain. Â Am J Phys Med 58: 115, 1979.”
Travis wrote the above quote in an email after reading the blog. I thought I would share it with all of you fine folks so that you are not misguided by my not as educated guesses on muscles 🙂
——Back to the original post—-
All of this muscle building got me wondering just how my feet may or may not have changed. So, now for the pictures!
Before 2.27.10
After 6/29/10
LOOK!!! I think I can tell that my left ankle is not caving as bad! Yahoo!!!
Before 2.27.10
After 6/29/10
Are those the same feet and ankles? No wonder my posterior tibial tendon is sore. Look at all the work it has been doing! My left ankle is noticeably straighter in this picture. I cannot tell you how very good it feels to have some part of my hard work pay off 🙂
Before 2/27/10
After 6/29/10
After careful scrutiny of these two pictures I have several things of note.
1. I really need to keep the perspectives and lighting the same.
2. In the Before picture the left foot looks like a fan, but in the After picture, it is beginning to look more like a foot. i.e. the left foot getting thicker and straighter from the heel to the toe. 🙂
3. I think I see some muscles that weren’t there on the outside of the left foot!!! Yay!!!
Overall, I am really liking what I see after a mere four months! That is all! And that is a lot. I am looking at a very long time frame. The goal will come. It just might take another year.
Video!!!
Posted by admin in Training (running, cycling, etc.), Try This! on June 25th, 2010
At long last, I am going to share those videos that I have been promising.
Video #1 – Me Running from the side in late May 2010. You will see 5 seconds in my super stiff running shoes and 5 seconds in my Vibram Five Fingers (TM).
Of note: First, I run like an old lady, meaning that I have a very short and inefficient stride. This indicates that I have tight hip flexors, which has been backed up by both my PT and my Chiropractor.
Second, in my running shoes, my stride is really short, while in my barefoot shoes I extend my back leg a little more.
I find this video very eye-opening. No wonder I run a slow mile!!! I am completely wasting energy and holding myself back with my stride.
Video #2 – Me Walking heel view late May 2010. The only video I have from the heel view is of me walking/running in my running shoes.
Erin Walking Posterior May 2010
Of note: First 5 seconds are walking where the problems of the left foot arch falling are not evident. Second 5 seconds are running where several issues are quite evident. First, my left arch does fall, which means many bad alignment issues further up my leg. Plus, the major pressure is on the posterior tibial tendon to keep that arch up. Last, my right foot is turned slightly out, which causes a torque in the right knee, which I have evidence of my body feeling in that my right knee is the one that had “patellular tendonitis” (i.e. your knee hurts, therefore you have an -itis). Someday I will figure out how to get a video of me in my barefoot shoes up here, which really shows the left foot caving in.
These videos brought to you courtesy of many long hours of working with the video editor by my Physical Therapist, Travis Orth.
I also want to say that iMovie made it possible for the clips to be short and provided the ability to play cool songs rather than the foot slapping soundtrack the videos came with 🙂