Skip to main content

DREAM BIG!



I was 12 yrs old. My favorite pitcher, Orel Hershiser, just returned to playing after shoulder surgery. No one knew if he’d be able to pitch again. But there he was, on the mound again! He spoke of his journey & gave raving credit to his team physical therapists. I looked at my parents & said, “That’s it! That is what I want to do! I want to be a PT for the Dodgers.” I remember the look on their faces. A little shocked, but wide-eyed in revelation. “You really would be good at that!"

I never looked back. The dream was planted. The steps I took to get there weren’t always as I envisioned, but they led me to an invitation to the annual Pro Baseball Athletic Trainers Society conference…in LA!! Orel was going to be there!

I remember sitting on the couch trying to convince my husband it was worth the cost…worth the time away…worth getting out of my comfort zone. I reminded him of the little 12 yr old girl & her dream. I said, “nothing may come out of this if I go, but it’s a sure thing nothing will if I stay here on the couch!” I wanted my boys to see that reaching your dreams IS possible. We did whatever it took to get me there.
I knew no one. I was far from home. It was a LONG flight. I'm no extrovert nor a celebrity seeker, but I told my story to everyone I met. I promised my family if they got me out there, I was going to tell Orel my story. When I did get the chance, I called out “Bulldog!”

“No one’s called me that in years!” I had my own moment with him. I told him how God planted a seed in me so long ago & “I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for you.” We snapped a photo. My parents were in tears. “We've never heard of anyone having a dream at such a young age actually make it happen."

That was my motivation. The dream-seekers. The little girls with big visions. No, I'm not the team PT, but I realize that wasn’t the plan for me. I HAVE worked with many pro athletes, MLB included. And I DID experience being an insider in the sport & stadium I love. Dream Come True.

Dream Big, my Friends!

💓, Kristen

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Those "Tricky" Hamstrings (Part 3)

So far, we have discussed the consequences of OVER STRETCHING and the role of the NERVOUS SYSTEM in treating and preventing hamstring injuries.  Now it's time to dive in to the ROTATIONAL component of our hamstrings.   We cannot treat the hamstring group in just one plane of motion.  Look at the diagram and notice that there are some hamstring muscles that attach to the inside (medial) side of the knee, and others that attach to the outside (lateral) side of the knee. When working together, the medial and lateral hamstrings will act in a coordinated manner to bend the knee and extend the hip.   Individually, the medial hamstrings turn the thigh inward (Internal Rotation or IR) and the lateral hamstrings turn the thigh outward (External Rotation or ER).  This means that the hamstrings are also a crucial player in side-to-side and rotational movements.  On the same lines, the hamstrings will act at the upper attachment at the pelvis.  The med...
Post a Comment
Read more

We Are ALL Asymmetrical - Why it Matters

  Have you noticed a harder time with your front splits on one side? Or maybe it’s always been a struggle for you to get your turn-out on one side? No matter how much you stretch and strengthen, you will not achieve symmetry without compensation (which leads to injury).   Here’s why … Our bodies are NOT symmetrical! Take a look at these images of different systems in our bodies.   Notice how NONE of them are exactly the same on the left as the right. Illustration from Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Website.                     Photo credit – Khan Viqar blogspot.com http://cnx.org/content/col11496/1.6/ , Jun 19, 2013.   The diaphragm inserts, on average, 1 full spinal segment lower on the Right (L3) than on the left (L2).   The Diaphragm - Actions - Innervation - TeachMeAnatomy The difference in the diaphragm dome height and attachment sites make every human better at inhaling into our left lungs...
Post a Comment
Read more

SoftWave Therapy - The Latest Technology in Regenerative Medicine

There is a new "secret weapon" hitting the Medical and Performance industries - SoftWave Therapy. It is the latest technology in Regenerative Medicine and has been tested extensively in Europe for the past decade. Recently making it's way into the U.S., SoftWave is quickly taking hold.  We have been seeing exciting results with this device in our office over the past months, both immediate and long-term.  Read on for a summary of what makes SoftWave so unique and effective!  What is SoftWave?   Softwave Therapy essentially “tricks” the body into thinking a fresh trauma has occurred.   A series of pulses are applied to painful areas, which thin the cell membranes and alert the brain.   This kick-starts the natural healing process without actually causing trauma .   This response includes releasing RNA, attracting Stem Cells, increasing circulation, modulating inflammation, releasing growth factors involved in tissue regeneration, and formi...
Post a Comment
Read more