What is FULL HEALING?

I was a competitive runner through college & young adulthood. It's a talent & source of joy I picked up kind of late in life. I excelled at something many others didn’t & people were noticing! At such a crucial time in my life, I was gaining confidence in who I was by my ability to run long & run fast. I beat the guys in my ROTC unit, drew the attention of my peers & coaches. I was “the runner”. I won the awards. I won the races. I ate, slept, & breathed running.

I also struggled w/ body image & perfectionism. I'd only eat when I felt like I'd run enough to deserve it. Clearly, all this running & restrictive eating took a toll on my body. I eventually developed pain in my shins. I denied it & kept on going, until I physically couldn’t run anymore. My brain was smarter than my will & it shut down my ability to run. A few wks before Air Force bootcamp, tests showed stress fractures so far along they could fully fracture w/ even 1 more run. No bootcamp. No running. 6 wks seemed like an eternity!

I didn’t LOOK injured. No crutches or boot. I appeared to have just stopped running. I wished I could wear a shirt that said “I AM a runner. I’m just injured”. Sick, huh? I was a mess. I didn’t know who I was anymore. I'd wrapped myself so much into this 1 identity that I'd lost my true self. This hit me hard one day when I snapped at my sister at a bowling alley for no justified reason. I went into the bathroom & cried. A 20-yr-old woman, bawling her eyes out in a public place. “What is wrong with me?!” I remember asking myself, "How did I get HERE?". At that moment I decided never to let running fully define me anymore.

IT WAS MORE THAN MY BONES THAT NEEDED HEALING

I returned to running - competitively. But this was different. It didn’t consume me. It didn’t define me. If not for that forced break, I wouldn't have discovered other activities I enjoy, my true value, ALL of my gifts. I may never have found who I really am as a whole. I am so much more than a runner!

Struggling w/ injury & ALL that comes with it? Don't go through it alone. Let me support & guide you through it ALL.

Email me to start YOUR healing journey. 

💗,  Kristen

Comments

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 and better at emptying our right lungs. These underlying asymmetries tha

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 medial hamstrings will pull the p

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 forming new blood vessels

PROSPER Performance & Physical Therapy

Search This Blog