Cross-Training During Injury Recovery

Runner Takes on Physical Therapy

Cori is a bright, happy, teal wearing athlete. She came to Iron early this year with knee pain that kept her from her #1 passion, running! It took a few months (she'll tell you how many days-haha!) until she was able to even run a lap around the track without debilitating knee pain, but being sidelined helped her discover a new love for cycling. She’s learned that all athletes need cross-training and strength work to stay as healthy as possible. She is beyond dedicated to her rehab and is the definition of Iron. We still have a little ways to go, but she's going to finish this "marathon" on top! KEEP IT UP CORI!

IN HER WORDS...

1) List three words to describe you: Determined, persistent, stubborn

2) What brought you into physical therapy? As a runner, I have seen several of the doctors at Iron over the years for minor aches and pains. I knew right when this knee injury happened that I needed to be seen by a team that I trust. 

3) How would you describe physical therapy to people who don't know what it is?  Physical therapy is what keeps me going while being sidelined from an injury. It is putting yourself in the hands of doctors that are also athletes; the main goal is to make you stronger so that you can get back to doing what you love.  My physical therapy appointments have been what has kept me staying positive these last few months. I have had several setbacks, but with each one, I felt confident I would get through it if I stayed patient and trusted the plan. Like everything else in life, you have to do the work if you want the results. Physical therapy is the best way to keep yourself strong and pain free if you are injured or feel that you have an area of weakness. 

4) What exercise or technique helped you the most? They all helped at some point; ART, Graston, Stim, running against the wall, step exercises with weights on my ankles, the compression boots! I sometimes cried doing Graston but it always felt better afterwards.

5) What would you say to someone who is living in pain and putting off physical therapy? Just go. There is no reason to live in pain. Physical therapy is the greatest form of self care, just go.

6) What activities are you most excited about getting back to? RUNNING, hiking, spin and keeping up with my kids.

7) What did you enjoy most about your PT experience? I am a different person than I was when I walked (limped) through the door in January. My mantra in the past was 'eat, sleep, run.' This injury has completely changed my mindset. My main goal is not just to run again; it is to be a strong, healthy athlete. That includes respecting my rest days, cross training and strength training. While being sidelined I discovered that I LOVE indoor cycling; I would never have taken a spin class in the past if I had the option to run. I can be a runner and still find other ways to workout. I've been thinking now might be the right time to get in the pool and finally learn how to swim.

Who knows? Maybe I have a triathlon in my future.