Physical Therapy

Just returned from my third straight day of physical therapy. I use the term physical therapy loosely because what it really consists of is riding a bike for 20 minutes.

When it came time to decide of therapy I had a couple of choices. I could have gone to a regular rehab place or to a gym. I chose the gym because their hours were much more flexible. When I made the decision to go to the gym, the doctor wrote out instructions saying that for the first week I was not to anything but the bike...no weights; no machines; just the bike. Why he would ever think that I might push it is beyond me, but there you have it. :)

So, I drive over to the gym (by the way, driving is super easy with a shoe on instead of the boot) get out of the car and crutch my way across the parking lot. I must say that the patrons at this gym are very polite, they open the doors for me and they try not to stare too hard at the scars on my ankle and knee. They have reserved a bike for me and I hop on, switch to some AC/DC and off I go.

I have been averaging 4.8 miles in 20 minutes which would not win me any races but which for a guy with a broken leg is still a pretty good pace. The great thing about it is that when I have finished, there is no pain or discomfort at all. I can not wait for Friday, when I can start mixing in some other exercises.

I have had a couple of guys come over and ask me about how I hurt myself. It is funny how their faces contort when I get to the part of the story where I hear my bones break. In any case they have offered to spot me when I am given permission to use the other equipment. Fortunately, I do not lift weights that are of a weight that requires spotting, but I thought it was nice of them to offer anyway.