From Student Athlete to Desk Job & a Surgery

A story as old as there being athletes after college.

This is one of many stories.

Before Desk Job

A few years ago you were an athlete at your school, finding days to practice, to strength train and still get through school. Now you're working a desk job working multiple hours a day sitting and even talking for an hour during a meeting. This has been the only time you’ve felt older that you really feel. The occasional aching back, tighter hips and maybe even a bit of some fluff here and there that you’ve never had before. 

Then one day just out of a whim you're working out lifting weights like you used to do, knowing it would feel good to get a pump in. A chance to feel like yourself again.

A few months later you notice a twinge in your back, thinking it's nothing crazy, maybe, “I just need to stretch it.” And later that week something you’d never think would happen to you but you feel an electric feeling down your leg almost making your feet feel asleep in a painful way. 

This is when you start taking work from home days and sick days more often to manage the uncomfortable and sharp pains. It’s finally time to go see someone for this.

Physical Therapy & a Discectomy Later

About six months later it has not improved as much as you would have hoped. So back to the orthopedic doctor you go, getting a date for surgery. One discectomy later you're feeling a bit better as you’ve continued physical therapy but finding that you’re not sure what else could be done to improve your outcomes. It’s felt like a lifetime to get over this.

This is when you are referred to Julie, a rehabilitation based pilates instructor who has specifically worked in clinics and has many continued education on rehabilitation. Not long after you’re at a point that it feels even better than before. Somehow a different feeling of stronger than what you’ve experienced before.

What Did It?

So what is the difference that surgery and physical therapy did not get the client to their goal in this scenario?

We addressed the body as a whole. Not just the issue of the nerve impingement but also addressing the lack of strength in the same leg, the loss of the arches in the feet and the strength of the spine in all of it’s ranges of motions!

To further their outcome we address impact with the jumpboard and allowing the client to see how a long walk and a run feels like (on a treadmill). The goal for our session is functioning! Not just that the injured area is no longer aching but to make sure that they can enjoy their life to the fullest extent as if it never happened.

So if this may resonate with you I’d love to assist you in your journey as well. Our studio is in Culver City, CA but we offer virtual sessions and programing to get you the same experience no matter how far you are!