What the BOSU?
The BOSU isn’t an expletive, although some of my patients do swear when they use it. It is a funny looking piece of equipment: half ball, half platform. You can use one or two at a time, you can use them dome side up or bottom side up, you can put your feet on them, forearms, hands, knees, glutes…
It carries a warning on the bottom: "fall hazard." It’s goal is to stimulate the proprioceptors. What the heck are those? Proprioceptors are found in muscles, tendons and joints. They relay to your brain where you are in space. Yes, you are on planet earth in the Milky Way galaxy but what plane are you in? Is your body up or down, side to side, rotated right or left or a combination of these? The brain responds to this input by telling your body what to do to remain stable so ya don’t fall down!
The proprioceptors can become confused after an illness, injury, or post surgery for example. They then behave a little like your drunk uncle...responding sluggishly. In the therapy world we don’t start with the BOSU right away; it is used in a gradual progression of balance and stability training particularly with athletes.
The BOSU is not just useful for treatment of injury. It is a great tool for injury prevention and performance enhancement as well, especially when used in sport specific ways and always with guidance and instruction from a therapist or personal trainer.
PT Adventure Part I: Down and Out on the Slopes to Pre-surgery Rehab
Coach Amy of Coach Amy PT and Jennifer at her pre-surgery physical therapy appointment.
RRKC runner, Jennifer W. texted Coach Amy of coachamypt.com from a ski patrol hut, "Um. I think I'll be needing an experienced PT in the near future..." Accompanying this text was a picture of her lying on a cot with ice on her knee.
Jennifer fell skiing on the powdery slopes of Colorado and heard a pop in her knee. She was escorted off the mountain by ski patrol. Her main complaint, "...I can't put a lot of weight on it and it feels very unstable."
Suspecting an ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) tear, Coach Amy created a plan to expedite Jennifer's care. Before she left Colorado, she had an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon the day of her return to KC with strict PT orders: no weight bearing, ice, elevation and compression.
Within one week Jennifer had confirmation of an ACL and possible MCL (medial collateral ligament) tear, surgery scheduled and a prehab physical therapy appointment scheduled with Coach Amy PT.
For pre-surgery rehab, Coach Amy instructed Jennifer in a series of exercises to help restore stability of the knee and maintain her cardiovascular fitness. This will aid in a quicker and successful recovery post surgery.
JJ remains in good humor, "...do you have any tips on healing a bruised ego?" Her dedication to and positive attitude will do wonders in her recovery.
To follow Jennifer's adventure and to recieve all Coach Amy Says posts via e-mail, subscribe here: https://www.coachamypt.com/subscribe/
How to: Ice Cup Massage
Contrary to popular belief, icing an injury after the first 24-48 hours isn't the best way to decrease inflammation as it slows blood flow to the area. Blood flow brings nutrients and takes away waste and this is best achieved with moist heat after the first 24-48 hours. Ice can be useful in management of pain with chronic injury by numbing the area. One of the most effective ways to do this is with an ice cup massage.
Fill a 3-4 oz paper bathroom cup 3/4 of the way up with water and put it in your freezer.
Tear away 3/4 of the paper cup (after ice is frozen) leaving the bottom of the cup for you to hold onto, and the ice exposed to rub onto your injury.
rub the ice over the areas of pain or discomfort for 5 minutes or until numb whichever occurs first.
Do not apply ice for more than 5 minutes as this can lead to frostbite. Let's not create another injury! As always, seek medical attention for proper evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of your pain.
How to Choose your Physical Therapist
Did you know you have the freedom to choose your physical therapist? Not all physical therapists are created equal and it is your right to choose your practitioner. Physical therapists vary in their professional and personal experience as well as their specialties personality and approach to treatment.
Consider a physical therapist who...
directs treatment according to your goals and needs, not according to an insurance company or third party payor
determines the root of your injury as opposed to putting a temporary bandaid on the problem
specializes in your needs and goals
listens to you
spends the entire appointment with you one:one
comes highly recommended by your peers, family and friends
uses progressive, active treatment techniques
Remember Kansas is a direct access state. This means you do NOT need a doctor order or script for treatment.