All dressed up and nowhere to go.

My physical therapist is using this strategy of taping my knee to stretch the appropriate muscles. Another way to do this involves a surgeon and cutting the muscles free. That might be one way to loosen them up but I’ll try the non-invasive tape first, thank you very much.

So I’m all taped up and my plans for running sidelined for today and tomorrow. I took the weekend off after an intense week, ran Monday, and skipped Tuesday expecting to get runs in today and tomorrow. So this is really throwing me off my schedule. Moreover, I have the Rockbuster Duathlon in just 25 days.

I think I’ll tell the Physical Therpist about that after the race.

-Karen

My Knee Doctor

Just returned from High Performance Sports Medicine—yeah they agreed to see me despite my modest performance status—Dr. Bradley has offered a diagnosis; Quad Tendonitis and Patello-Femoral Syndrome, AKA jumpers knee.  I asked him point blank about my chances for being able to run 26.2 miles in April and he didn’t say no; he said that I would know soon enough. He did step up the treatment plan a bit. I am now taking some anti-inflammatory meds and will begin physical therapy ASAP.

Doctor Explaining What is Wrong with My Knee

I am going to check Amazon to see if there is an “Orthopedics for Dummies” volume. One of the treatments prescribed is VMO ( Vastus Medialis Obliquus) / Patella mechanics; I think that’s the technical term for stretching my legs properly. Other treatments include Myofascial massage, Electrical Stimulation, Ultrasound and Ionto/Phonophoresis, not to mention Strengthening and Stretching. I feel better already!