You Have to Start Somewhere–Thanks, Sandy!

Hip surgery, actually, a periacetabular osteotomy and a hip arthroscopy. That’s what I’m recovering from. The surgery was Nov. 11, 2005. I’m finally able to get into a fitness routine, so I feel it’s time to start tracking what I’m doing.

PTs–my surgeon doesn’t recommend them. He thinks they tend to be a little over-zealous with their work. However, I believe that’s a bit of a generality, and have decided to seek the advice of a PT against my surgeon’s wishes. I’m a creature of habit and tend to do better when given a regimine to follow, plus I’ve got a lot of PT friends, so I’m not hurting for advice.

I’ve noticed remarkable changes in my flexibility and muscle strength since working with PTs, so I think it’s time to start tracking my progress!

My first session–Sandy
Sandy has been a pro mountain bike racer. She’s an unbelievable athlete and someone whose advice I trust. She was the first to help me out with a exercise routine in the swimming pool.

1/13/06 Routine 1
UBE 15 -20 minutes

Pool exercises:

• Frontwards walking – concentrate on good form, heel to toe foot strike, neutral hip position (i.e. don’t let your foot turn inward). 15 “1/2″ laps or as deep as you can go
• Partial squats 2×20, increase to 2×30 as tolerated
• Heel raises 2×20, increase to 2×30 as tolerated
• Hip abduction 1×30 each leg (this is the motion where you take your leg out to the side)
• Hip extension 1×30 each leg (this is the motion where you extend your leg behind you)
• Hip flexion 1×30 each leg (this is the motion where you kick your leg out in front of you)

Results: By the end of 1 week, I was up to 25 minutes on the UBE and had increased to the max sets/reps recommended. Workouts were difficult at first and became easy by the 4th day.

1/24/06 Routine 2
Continue UBE

Pool exercises (do the above as a warmup and continue with the below):

• Backwards walking (4 laps)
• Marching (4 laps)
• 4 points (1×10)
• Squares (1×10)
• Sidestepping (2 laps)
• Front cross overs (2 laps)
• Back cross overs (2 laps)
• Braiding (combining front and back cross overs)(2 laps) – wait until you are comfortable with the cross overs before starting this!

Results: By the end of an additional week (2/4/06), I’m up to 45 minutes on the UBE and can do all the above exercises. I forgot about the Sidestepping!! I’ll add that into the routine. In the interest of time, I’ve reduced the forward walking in Routine 1 to 4 laps.

Sandy encouraged me to see Sallie for some formalized PT assistance. I’ll cover Sallie’s routines to date in the next blog.