I spent the morning at the doctor's office. The reason?
Last night: 2 mile run followed by 1.5 miles walking home in tears.
Ruth asked if I've tried ART (Active Release Technique) when I talked to her last weekend. No, I haven't. I actually looked it up yesterday and intended to make an appointment, but got so busy with other things at work that I didn't have a chance.
After last night and waking up with super tight calves this morning, I called at 8:30 as soon as they opened. I got an appointment for an hour later. I was there 1 1/2 -2 hours.
What I learned: I have freakishly tight calves that will require multiple sessions of ART to loosen up, I run on the inside of my feet too much - hence the shin pain and previous stress fracture occuring on the inside of my legs, I have limited range of motion in my ankles (which is why it's so hard for me to do foot circles because everything is so tight!), I should not wear high heels, I should not run on the road.
I'm not sure I believe in some of this stuff. I'm still hurting, even walking. After a brief exam, I had an ultrasound done on my lower legs - purpose is to provide deep heat to the muscles. Next was the ART (essentially a massage) - he started out working on the front where the shin pain is, but then quickly realized just how tight my calves are and spent most of the time working there. It was definitely painful - but a good kind of pain. Then, I had 30 minutes of anodyne therapy (FDA approved infrared medical device that increases circulation and decreases pain by inducing the release of nitric oxide, a powerful vasodilator, from the blood).
I have no idea how much all of this is going to cost me.
I have another appointment for ART on Tuesday at 4pm.
I'm hoping for magic.
1 comment:
I have shin splints right now, and a lot of what they told you is true. But massage/ART will defitely help you manage the things you can't avoid (heels).
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