Anyone who has active hobbies knows the pain–both physical and mental–of a sports injury. Returning to the activities we love always requires more patience than we’d like. Sometimes in our eagerness to return we end up reinjuring ourselves by rushing our recovery. Most of us could use a little help in expediently getting back to full health without suffering setbacks. The physiotherapists at Club 360 are here to provide guidance.
I have been plagued by a heel deformity called Haglund’s Syndrome (simplified, a bony heel growth that painfully limits extension of the Achilles) for many years. As a jogger, mountain climber and general avid sportsman, not being able to run or jump without wincing is a source of great frustration. Recently, a Tokyo-based company specializing in physiotherapy called Club 360 has been offering consultation and treatment at the Bluff Clinic twice weekly (fee required).
They offer education, manual therapy, exercises to cope and recover, and advice for injury prevention. Patients range from athletes to desk workers, infants to seniors.
I visited recently and was seen by the resident physiotherapist Alice Smith, a native of Melbourne, Australia. Smith previously worked in her field in her home country for five and a half years prior to coming to Japan in February of this year. In addition to being knowledgeable, Smith was bright and smiley, making it easy to relax. Being able to discuss my somewhat complicated condition in English also helped. A pilates instructor and active individual (basketball player, jogger, hiker), she could easily relate to my situation. It was more like talking to a teammate than a therapist.
After a short discussion of my condition, Smith ran me through some evaluative movements. I had my calf massaged to loosen it and then practiced some useful exercises for rehab and strength building. She taped my foot to provide support and reduce stress on my Achilles. Later in the day I went for a short run to test it out as advised. Clearly, it made a difference. The road ahead will surely be a long one, but taking the first few steps forward is critical progress.
Relying on the internet for advice is often useless and sometimes detrimental. Everyone’s condition and treatment is different and needs to be uniquely tailored to the individual. One thing we all have in common, though, is the desire to return to our normal, healthy routine. Expect it not to be easy. Expect it to require effort. But expect it to be worth it.