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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Cori --- Running Assessment

Today was a good day.
I went for a running assessment at the Kansas City Orthopedics Institute. I met with a physical therapist named Chris Carson who specializes in treating runners.

And I now have another name to add to my list of running gurus:
1. Eladio
2. Galloway
3. Chris Carson

I heard about these assessments through my friend Rachel. Rachel is a triathlete, and she just finished her second Half Ironman on Saturday. Rachel has run more than one marathon, too. As a side note, Rachel is also doing Chicago, but she lives in Oklahoma, so that's why we never run together. Oh, and she is hardcore. (She has a $5,000 bike and a running coach---to me, that is hardcore.)
I met Rachel at KU, and then we went through Nursing School together, and we pick each other's brains from time to time. Rachel has the same IT band issues that I do. She has given me a lot of helpful advice in the last year. I would definitely not be where I am at right now without her wisdom.
So when my....flare-ups started again, she was one of the first people that I called. After I told her my story, it went like this:

Me: "So, do you think I should see a doctor?"
R: "Well, he or she will probably tell you to stop running for a while. Are you going to stop?"
Me: "No."
R: "Well, then start training with the Galloway method, use your foam roller, ice, and go get a running assessment."

I am very pleased with the quality of the assessment that I got. Chris said that mechanically I am in good shape. He said my shoes are good, too. After a few tests, he also said that I am very strong everywhere except my right hip and right gluteals. This is what is causing the muscles to pull up when I fatigue, and therefore make my ITB tight. I don't have many issues on the left, and he could tell that by palpating the ITB, and also because during his "tests", my left hip/glutes are much stronger. He thinks that if I isolate and strengthen these muscles, along with some special stretches, I will stop having these issues.

Houston, we have HOPE.

He doesn't know why my right side is so much weaker, but he suspects that just being female, and having my 3 kids so close together, could have something to do with it.
So tonight I start my fantastic, hope-building, butt-kicking strength and flexibility exercises.
Oh, and to the friend (who I won't name), who asked me if I felt like an old person going to the KC Orthopedics Institute, the answer is "no".

I felt like a jock. Ha!

3 comments:

  1. you know I said that out of love :) we old ladies have to stick together!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Well, you can say those things to me....because you're older. LOL If the 28 year old smarts off like that, she's in trouble! :)

    ReplyDelete

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