In praise of physical therapy
September 5, 2008
I’ve had back problems for years. I’ve seen chiropractors, acupuncturists and had all sorts of energy work. Somehow my inclination to use alternative treatments caused me to overlook physical therapists (PTs). Recently, when two friends with chronic back problems both said “what helped me the most was my physical therapist”, it really struck me. I had an evaluation with a physiatrist who couldn’t be sure about the cause of my current pain and stated “the back is a mystery”. When he offered to refer me to a physical therapist, I was eager to give that a try.
I came away from my first visit with the physical therapist (Dawn) with a clearer understanding of what was going on with my back, and most importantly, what to do about it than I’d ever had. I’d picked up bits and pieces of information here and there in the past and understood quite a lot about the spine, nerves, muscles, etc. I knew about the benefits of stretching, and stretching had made a big difference for me. But the session with Dawn made everything fall into place.
I’d had various evaluations before, but Dawn’s seemed more comprehensive. She seemed to hone it on exactly what was happening with my back. She evaluated areas of weakness, muscles that needed stretching and others that needed strengthening. Above all, she communicated what she found in such clear terms and gave me stretches and exercises that are very specific to my back and spine (which has a mild scoliosis).
Even though I’ve had an understanding of proper body mechanics and posture in the past, Dawn was able to help me experience it in my own body. She helped me to feel in no uncertain terms what “neutral” is for my spine (with the lumbar area neither too concave or too flexed). She watched me do every stretch and exercise making sure I was doing it properly.
I walked out of the session feeling that I was given what I needed in terms of understanding the situation with my back and a clear plan of action to follow. Because Dawn explained everything so clearly and her instructions made such perfect sense as remedies for my problem, I’ve been highly motivated to follow them.
Finally, what made the session with Dawn so valuable is that is was completely geared to my own self-care. Although physical therapists do provide treatments through manipulation and other means, Dawn’s focus was to show me what I needed to do to get stronger. I’ve long ago become disillusioned with repeated trips to practitioners like chiropractors who would make an adjustment which would then go out and required re-adjustment a short time later. The most valuable thing a practitioner can give us is knowledge of how to take care of ourselves.
Of course, only time will tell what impact this will have for me. The most important ingredient in achieving a healthier back will be my follow through, and this is true of any healing program. It’s our own self-care that brings success.
When I’ve had a kind of “breakthrough” session like this, I always have to ask the question as to whether it happened because the practitioner had the right training and skills or whether I was simply ready to more forward. Certainly the many experiences of the past and what I’d learned from them, as well as various ways in which I’ve grown, created a readiness to take a leap forward. Perhaps some other kind of practitioner could have done it for me. But given the experience of my friends with PTs and my experience with Dawn, I’d encourage anyone with back (or knee or neck) problems to give physical therapy a try.
Have you “Turbosonic’d” yet? Whole Body Vibration Therapy.
February 28, 2007
I’ve been using a machine called the Turbosonic for several months now, for only 10 minutes a couple times a week. The results have been quite remarkable. My muscles are much stronger. I have more energy and sleep more deeply. My digestion is better and I feel “lighter” in general.
(In case your wondering, there is no financial or other benefit for me in promoting this product.)
I’ve heard from others, either first or second hand, that they have had similar results. In addition to people experiencing what I have, I’ve been told of one woman’s depression lifting and another whose fibromyalgia symptoms vastly improved. A friend of mine lost an inch all over in less than 2 months’ time and I ran into a woman coming out of her session who states she lost her cellulite. (I must say, however, she was fairly trim and probably didn’t have a whole lot to begin with.)
These are rather remarkable changes for something that takes so little time and minimal effort. You are advised not to use the machine more than 10 minutes a day, and all you do is stand on a platform which moves up and down with various frequencies and amplitudes. There are many claims for what the machine does from increasing serotonin and growth hormone to strengthening bones. Apparently there is research substantiating some of the benefits, but so far I’ve only read about one study done in Belgium and reported in the Journal of the American Geriatric Society. The study demonstrated that whole body vibration is as efficient as standard resistance training for improving strength and speed in older women. There is a lot of enthusiasm for the benefits of the machine for the middle aged and elderly, but I know of at least one very athletic man who is very enthusiastic about the machine.
Interestingly, whole body vibration therapy reputedly was developed by the Soviets for the cosmonauts in order to help them recover from weightlessness in space. The machine I have been using was apparently developed in Korea where the technology was supposed to have been considerably improved with input from a qigong master. I haven’t done the research to verify that all this is fact. It’s enough for me that I and others are directly benefiting from using the turbosonic. I’d certainly be interested in comments from anyone who knows more!
You can read about the turbosonic at www.turbosonicusa.com and find a dealer near you. The machine is quite expensive, but in our area several people have bought them and rent out time to others for a nominal fee. There are contraindications to using the turbosonic so be sure to check on that if you have any medical conditions or concerns. I’ve also found that like anything, there is a right “dose” for everyone. Some people use it everyday. Two times a week is plenty for me and more is over-stimulating for my particular makeup.
Please add your comments if you’ve had any experiences with the Turbosonic or can share any information about it!
April 27, 2008 Update: Although it appears whole body vibration can be very beneficial, I wanted to add a note about my own experience that has made me want to caution people in using the machine. After using the machine for about 4 months (only twice a week), my ankles started to swell. I did some research and discovered that some people do get this side effect. When I stopped using the machine, the swelling went away. There is a list of conditions for which use of the Turbosonic is contraindicated, but I don’t have any of those conditions. Clearly there can be side effects that aren’t known so far. If you decide to use whole body vibration, just be alert to any unfavorable changes.