So my last blog was in October. This is mainly because of how busy I've been since then. I randomly felt compelled to write a blog (and actually had enough time to do so) so here are some quick updates on things in my life. I'm also hoping this will give me incentive to get back to writing once a week, but we'll see how that goes I guess...
Throwing and training: Through January, I started making some great strides with my technique. Mainly, using my abs, trunk, and upper body in order to push the ball more. One of the ways I was accomplishing this was by driving my right hip into every turn. Once I figured out how to do it, it was like a gas pedal I couldn't control - I'd go left, be on balance, have great releases, and all while going faster than I'd ever felt before. I also noticed it would occaisionally bother my back a tad, but not nearly enough to worry about. I figured this was because I was throwing a 16 and 18 pound hammer, and my body wasn't ready for those weights after some time off in the winter. So, I decided to take some easy throws with a 4k one day. However I was still going to try to work my technique like I had been, ie pushing with my hip - I figured my back would be fine. It turns out that because I was throwing a 4k, and because I couldn't control my new technique, I ended up moving faster than my body could handle, and I strained my lower back. I haven't thrown in a month. There's a happy ending to this story though, which we'll go into during my health tip of the week later on...
Work: At Push To Walk, where I work as an exercise trainer for people with spinal cord injuries (SCI), I have been progressing in my training pretty well. Since I last wrote a blog, I have started taking on my own clients, being fully responsible for planning and implementing their workouts. It is awesome and fascinating to see not only how far SCI treatment has come in the previous few decades, but also how much further it has to go. It is, however, an exciting time to be getting started in the field. On top of the science involved in the job, it can be an emotional roller coaster sometimes, because as I get to know the clients, I begin to hear their stories. Not only about how they may have gotten hurt, but about the things that some of them have to deal with in every day life. There are also amazingly rewarding moments, however, like this one...
This is Kelly, a client at Push To Walk. She sustained a C5 injury (broken neck) in 2006, leaving her with limited to no function of anything below her neck and shoulders. This was a spontaneous video that happened to capture Kelly's first steps since she was hurt. She is using a platform walker to support her body weight, and one of the trainers has his hands between her legs so that her legs don't cross. Kelly, however, is moving her legs completely on her own, something she was not able to do for a long time after she got hurt. It is moments like that keep me going, and that make me want to work even harder to bring all my clients to that level of recovery and beyond.
Life: Right at the beginning of the new year, my girlfriend and I tried (and miserably failed) to do the Paleo diet. Its something I've wanted to try for a while, but had never gotten around to. You need to get rid of a lot of things while on the Paleo diet, like milk - which no force in the universe will ever get me to give up. I might try again someday when I have more time to prepare and cook everything I eat, but for now, pasta and rice are just too damn convenient.
Science and Research: I have partnered up with one of my old professors at East Stroudsburg University and have begun my first independent research study. Remember the slosh bar and all the things I thought it might be able to do? Also, how I said there's no research to measure or quantify what it can do to either prove or disprove my theories? Well, I'm using all the fancy high tech equipment at ESU to try to get solid data to actually see what the effects of exercising with unstable resistance on a stable surface are on the body!
Since I promised to keep this blog entry short, I'll post the Health Tip of the Week (and subsequent happy ending to my throwing story) tomorrow. This will also force me to make time to keep blogging...wish me luck!
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