9/14/22 Second Physical Therapy Visit?

 This second visit on Tuesday this week was more to what I thought would be going on while visiting a physical therapist.  The first visit was very slow, and the PT spent time figuring out where it hurt Mijo on his knee.  He then used some inflatable cuffs on his thighs to cut off circulation to his knees.  This starving of blood to the extremities causes a rush of blood after, which is theoretically going to help Mijo to see an improvement to the rate of getting better.  Because the therapy on the first attempt was all fancy stuff with the inflatable cuffs around his thighs, and being that they constrict on their own, it seemed like there was nothing to learn and make sure he incorporates new exercises at home, I figured I was just a taxi for him.

    This time around, there was a slow start to the workout, mostly because the trainer was splitting his time with Mijo and another young lady.  He started by riding a stationary bike, with the cuffs and although he was supposed to do a fourteen-minute ride, Mijo about got off the bike at 7 minutes, half the time given.  The cuffs affected him to the point that this is where his legs reached exhaustion.  He is a big boy, but I know he was routinely running a mile every chance he got around the neighborhood, so these cuffs must be doing something for him to tire out that quickly.

    At this point, it got interesting, as he took off the fancy electronics and went to a more traditional therapy, using some bands around his knees and then feet.  The knees around his knees give tension and pull his legs together.  He was told to do about ten yards of a crab like walk, stretching out his leg against the cuff, then bringing the other leg towards it, but maintaining tension.  Then he was to do it in the other direction.  After this, he moved the cuff to his feet and did what I thought was the best exercise, where he keeps one foot stationary and with the other, he kicks it out about a foot in a 45-degree direction and then back in about 6 inches, keeping tension on the cuff/band thingy.  After doing about 10 of these, do the same thing directly out to his side, then about 45 degrees to the back.  This tension is supposed to be felt in the butt muscles which are very large muscles and can help ease the load from the knees when strengthened properly.

    The PT told him to do these exercises about 3 times a day, in the morning, before starting football practice, and then at night.  I am hoping these exercises get him the strength he needs to get over this injury and maybe even gives him an edge come wrestling season.