It's ski season a little early this year. I'll take it! We've been out in the backcountry a couple times but it really wasn't worth posting a whole post so I didn't.
In late October a back injury surfaced so I've had to take it easy and get a bunch of body work done. I started with massage because it's fun and easy. My massage therapist recommended a chiropractor and rolfing. I'd been to a chiropractor before so I sort of knew what I was in for. Things have changed since the last time I had gone to a chiropractor. Less bone crunching, more muscle manipulation. The doctor I'm going to specializes in sports medicine, which makes me very happy since he understands what I put my body through.
Rolfing was completely new to me, although I had heard of it. There's one near where I work who also climbs and skis. It's nice to have a team of professionals who understand what I do. My first rolfing appointment was yesterday afternoon.
Rolfing was intense.
The rolfer warned me that I would be in my skivvies and not under a sheet and that I would have to walk around the room so he could look at me. Fortunately I'm not particularly shy but it was a little disconcerting at first to be in only in my bra and panties walking around the room, then on the table, then up and walking, then on the table, etc. with a stranger.
After my little skivvy parade I laid on the table on my back while Nils dug his fingertips into the back of my neck just under my skull. He stopped just before I thought I couldn't take it any more. He encouraged me to use my breath to cope with the intensity. It works. Then I rolled over to my left side so he was able to work on my sides and shoulder blades. Yowza yowza yowza. Breathe breathe breathe. He found some tangled spots. By then he's up on the table with me, on his knees so he can dig his elbow, using his body weight, into the tightness. The muscles squirms and resists. It's a battle of wills but clearly he wins because the muscle gives up, melts, then stretches. I feel like I'm 6 inches longer on that side. He works down my sides, down my spine, into those cranky hip and glute muscles. At one point the sweat beads on my upper lip because the feeling is so intense. I almost feel nauseaous and wonder if anyone has thrown up under the table. Then melt, then stretch. Then down my right thigh. It feels like he digs his elbow through the muscle down to the bone. My muscle wants to cramp but he won't let it go in that direction. It resists longer, harder, because it's a big strong muscle. The elbow wins and the muscle melts.
Then the left side. It's a little easier, less intense even though it's the traumatized side. Probably the ride side has been compensating.
When I went in to my appointment my left leg was longer and my left shoulder higher than the counterpart on the right. Ninety minutes later both sides were even. Walking felt a little unbalanced because my left leg wasn't doing all the work for a change. My left leg kind of didn't know what to do. It'll figure it out.
I'm a little sore today but that could also be from the workout I did in the morning. My next appointment is in 2 weeks. I have a slight sense of dread about it but I do feel better today.