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I need intensive stretching of my legs, and my doctor and health insurance provider authorized me some visits to a physical therapist. The therapist was not much help, more interested in watching me walk and printing off stretches from the internet that I have difficulty doing on my own. I've tried yoga but that is about various poses, many which I'm unable to do, as my balance is also off.
Is a sports medicine clinic the best choice for intensive stretching? Are there other specialists in the medical field who are knowledgable about stretching out ones legs? Any suggestions appreciated.
I'm a stretching skeptic. If it hurts, don't do it. Warming up yes, stretching no. There is a lot of research out there now that confirms it. Static stretching (stretch and hold) is not beneficial.
Dynamic stretching (what would be commonly known as warming up) is. I suggest just doing some simple dynamic stretching like these toe touches, then some jogging.
I need intensive stretching in my legs. I was an avid runner 2 years ago, and then I noticed numbness in my feet. Over the next three months I went from running 6-8 miles a couple times a week to barely being able to walk. An MRI found something on my spinal cord, which had to be removed. Surgery was successful, but the resulting nerve damage has left me with a limp and major feeling loss, especially in right foot. I have full strength in both legs.
The problem is you cannot walk properly when you are lacking 50% feeling in your feet. When my surgery was over I had no feeling, and could barely walk with a walker and someone holding on to me.
The end result is my leg muscles never relax, they are always stressed. When you don't have feeling, your muscles won't relax, cause they don't want me falling down. Uneven surfaces, stairs, these types of things are challenges now. So since my life has not changed, other than not running, my legs are way overworked, and my muscles need relief!
See someone who can do assisted stretching or manual therapy. I have received both from a physical therapist, a personal trainer, a massage person and a Pilates instructor.
You may want to check out a practitioner specializing in NKT. I LOVE NKT for dealing with chronic or acute injury and patterns of dysfunction. www.neurokinetictherapy.com I don't know if there is a practitioner in Illionis, but if you like, I can ask & let you know. there may be someone training there, which is still good.
I've received assisted stretching from a physical therapist and from a massage therapist. I think you would have to call around and find if they did this. I don't think it is typical from either of these practitioners. It is hard work for them and requires someone who has a good bit of strength.
Try Thai massage. I have had it and it is great, a combination of massage and assisted stretching, with most of the focus on the stretching. It's sometimes hard to find massage practitioners who are experienced in it, but even in my low pop area there are a few.
odanny, I subscribe to the a couple NKT websites, and I found the following report today and I thought of you. If you are on facebook, you can "like" the websites Stop Chasing Pain and see the reports yourself.
From a new student today from me teaching NKT Level 1.
"Just got home from day 1 of a 2 day seminar on Neurokinetic Therapy. It is a form of muscle testing that helps PTs body worker types to really figure where the problems in the body really are.
For example, I have dealt with chronic plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendinitis for forever. I have been told a million different reasons why this is so, but I never get any relief. Today they tested me from the waist down to see why my calves are so tight. Every muscle tested strong, working properly (which actually surprised them). This is not what I have been told in the past. So they checked my neck. You read that right--my neck. Seems that when my calves are active, my neck muscles work and when they are not active, none of the muscles in my neck work. So my poor little calves are plum tired from doing the work of how many different neck muscles. That means they can't do their job properly in the lower leg--hence the problems.
They worked on me, gave me exercises to re-establish good movement patterns.
This is really incredible and game changing stuff!
I'm thinking someone who owns one of these could be of some assistance to you.
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