Day 357 - I Am The Worst On The Planet?



source

 Yesterday I went to the physical therapist for my knee/hip pain. First time ever with a physical therapist if I remember correctly. So I went with an open mind, a bit skeptical to be honest as to just what I'd get out of it. After two hours I left beaten down and if I am not mistaken, violated!

After an initial evaluation, she told me I have the worst flexibility on the planet. Yes, she said "worst" and she said "planet". Ok, I know I don't really know my head from my butt when it comes to proper stretching, but, I am the worst on the planet?

That means the likes of Jack Black, Drew Carey, and Larry the Cable Guy have better flexibility than me? Oh I refuse to believe that.

She then put me through a battery of stretching exercises to work on the iliotibial band which is the source of my pain, and my over all flexibility which is the source of my planetary status. I held my own just fine, worst on the planet my butt.

Now, speaking of butt, when the stretching was done it was time for a heated ultrasound massage. Ok, sure, why not. The target area was my hip. But she had me drop my sweat pants far enough I was a good 75% bare-butt.

Between the warming gel and the vibration of whatever she was working me over with, I soon forgot what I was there for. And then when that was done, she tells me were about to get a little rough. Usually I have to spend money on a good meal and a bad movie to get that kind of action.

In the end I walked out of there worn out in more ways than one. I'll be going back to see her a couple of times for the next three weeks for more 'therapy'.


Yesterdays puzzle, Tish again was first to join in with the correct answer. She is the puzzle-master!

Have a great weekend!

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!

Day 220 - Flexing It Together

source

This month I have been incorporating flexibility exercises into my exercise routine. I hesitate to use the word routine as I am not a big fan of routines in general. But as I am exercising regularly and trying to do a certain amount of specific exercises each week, well, perhaps I am on my way to warming up to routines.

What I am looking for is a set of flexibility or stretching exercises, call it a program,  which I can do once a week as my primary workout for that day. Then I'd like to be able to use some from that same set as warm up/cool down exercises before/after hitting the cardio or strength training on other days. Realistic? I would have thought so but thus far I have not come across good program for flexibility training. There are a zillion sites out there with such exercises but I've yet to find a flex program I am comfortable with. And it well could be that I am just not where I need to be physically yet to feel comfortable doing the exercises. Yeah, I sound so confused I am sure with this post.

The best I have come up with thus far are the charts you see in this post. The chart at the top is very basic and I see it as decent for the warm up/cool down want that I have.

Below is a chart that focuses on stretching the back, a good thing. They look simple but looks can be deceiving...

source


Between those two charts I think I have the basics and the back well accounted for. For whatever reason the program I am trying to find seemed to need more so a hundred or so more mouse clicks and I found this comprehensive chart below. The problem with it is I cannot view the text since it is an image associated with a product for sale. I can see the images well enough to get a handle on the moves themselves which is good, but I'd really like to read that text. But for $285, regardless the currency, that text will remain a mystery forever...

source

 So I am getting on with what I have come up with so far. Reality is I just may need to crack open the wallet and go buy a good book on the topic. But if finding a 'good book' is as challenging as finding good references on the net, then I may be in for a long day at the book store.

How about you; do you do any flexibility exercises as a matter of routine? Or do you just do a few basic stretches and get on with it?

Responsibility 199 - Gotta Do It!!