Your beliefs about your body — what it can do, what it can endure, and what it can adapt to will directly impact your training and rehabilitation outcomes. In this blog post, we will explore personal experiences, challenge fears around movement, and emphasize the incredible resilience of the human body.
1. Defying Diagnoses
I am no stranger to pain or scary diagnoses. As a gymnast, I fractured my L4/L5 vertebrae (a literal broken back) and was diagnosed with interspinous bursitis. I was told to give up gymnastics indefinitely. As an adult, I tore my left meniscus in a ski accident. I was told not to run, jump, or lift weights without any guidance on getting back to those things. If there is anything our healthcare system is good at, it’s instilling fear of movement and pushing people toward a sedentary lifestyle. My meniscus is still torn. I run, I jump, I ski, I lift heavy weights, I land flips off of bars. I do all of those things without pain.
2. Navigating Fear of Movement
I recently trained a new client who had meniscal repair surgery over two years ago. When I asked her to jump, she hesitated and told me her doctor told her not to. I explained that in the acute phase of an injury, rest is often needed, but movement restrictions are not meant to last forever. We jumped. She lived. We will jump again. Indeed, you might not have the capacity for something right now, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t ever do it again. Capacity can be built. Yes, even when you are 70+. We’ve created so much unnecessary fear around movement.
Hurting myself in the gym doesn’t scare me. But you know what does? Hurting myself picking up a kicking and screaming toddler. Metabolic disease. Losing the freedom to choose the stairs over the escalator at the airport. Waking up one day and needing help to get on and off the toilet.
3. Embracing Resilience and Healing Through Movement
I think most people hugely underestimate just how resilient the human body can be. We possess an incredible capacity to adapt and heal when we make movement and recovery a priority. I get that pain is complex and scary. But I would also encourage you to consider that avoiding pain just might be the thing keeping you in pain. If you need guidance, a loving push to handle more, or just permission to let a different narrative be possible, I will always be your girl.
So, there you have it – my journey through pain, fear, and discovery of resilience within the human body. I hope this glimpse into my experience inspires you to challenge your fears and narrative. You are more capable than you know.