The Experts Say No You hear it with the pros, and it applies to you too: Sports injuries come packaged with physical therapy. You may not be LeBron, but your body works — and breaks — the same way, whether you have a sprained ankle or a torn ACL. Why is physical therapy even necessary when surgery and medication are supposed to fix the problem? According to Eric Dube, a U.S. Ski Team physical therapist, it has a lot to do with Mother Nature’s healing process. “Simply put, it takes the body time to change,” he says. “It takes soft tissue time to heal and mature, and there is also the fact that muscle strength and quality movement needs to return to normal levels.” Most orthopedic surgeons recommend seeing a PT within days of surgical repair or the injury itself. Physical therapy will help you focus on four things:
• Restoring range of motion • Protecting healing ligaments • Activating leg muscles • Slowly returning to a normal stride
Facilitating those processes is a matter of time and function. Your body is governed by biological laws, and you can’t force those laws to work faster. The headline of the article poses the question, is post- injury physical therapy optional? Well, technically, everything is optional. You’ve heard the saying about death and taxes — everything else is up to you. But to restore your body and eliminate pain, physical therapy will get you there and perhaps prevent future injuries. To learn more about the process of recovery — what to expect, what to do, and what not to do — talk to an experienced PT today.
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Sensational Summer Salad
Ingredients
• 1 pound strawberries, thinly sliced • 3 medium peaches, thinly sliced • 1 cup blueberries
• 1 heaping tablespoon fresh basil or mint, chopped • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 1 tablespoon maple syrup • 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
Instructions
1. In a medium serving bowl, combine the strawberries, peaches, blueberries, and basil. 2. Drizzle lemon juice, maple syrup, and balsamic vinegar on top. 3. Gently toss to combine. 4. Serve immediately, or chill for later.
Recipe inspired by CookieAndKate.com
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