My new best friend and physical therapist, Jim Cunningham, has been teaching me all sorts of really cool things. Our bodies are truly miraculous--and losing an ability points up the miracle of getting those missed abilities back. So, I am doing lots of research about why I am hurting, why I am swelling, whether it is normal, all sorts of super hypochondriac things I am fascinated by these days. Jim is a natural teacher and is more than happy to talk about these things that are second nature to him, and new to me. Plus, we have been talking about the use of 3 D printers and how they could become an integral part of a PT practice given how one could customize all of the tools that patients need to live their lives.
Back to my new fascination
My new favorite is "the capsule". Your joints are encased in a "capsule" which holds all the fluid, cartilage and wonderfulness around the joint in place. This capsule contains and protects all of these materials to help the joint function. When there is injury to the capsule, it heals very very quickly. However, in my case, sometimes the capsule becomes inflexible due to misuse (read months off my feet). So, the range of motion is less...and due to it being worked on, it can become swollen and hurty in it's rehabilitation. However, this is for a more gross and simple scenario such as my ankle. Imagine now, the elegant spine. Every mobile joint has two (on each side) capsules and...each rib that interfaces with the spine also has a capsule. It is a veritable pearl necklace each and everyone of us have as part of our bodies. I am breathless at the miracle of how all that works, the engineering, the elegant design that just plain works for us....and we never give it a second thought until it doesnt work anymore.
Gotta work. Just had to say hi. This is the new me...hi!