Finding Your Way Back to Movement: How Physical Therapy Helps You Reclaim What You Love

The biggest motivator for coming to physical therapy isn't just about healing an injury—it's the desire to get back to the activities you love that the injury has disrupted. At its core, PT is about helping you reclaim your lifestyle.

My personal journey with hip pain

I love snowboarding, traveling, and dancing.

About a year ago, my scoliosis, combined with a new snowboarding technique resulted in hip pain. For a while, the pain was manageable, and it didn’t stop me from doing the things I love. But this summer, that changed.

The movement that triggers my hip pain the most is walking—especially on uneven surfaces or while carrying a heavy bag. Unfortunately, this became a major issue during my month-long trip to Asia.

My plan was to spend time on the beach, hike, and explore new cities, but instead, I found myself constantly choosing between rest and explore. I am not one to ask my family to carry my bag for me, but I chose help over pain. I'm usually the one leading the pack, but this time I had to tell them to go ahead and I'd catch up.

I haven't even tried to test how it would feel in dance class, but I did teach my friend the Filipino cha-cha a few weeks ago, and there was a little twisting side step that made my hip feel like a rubber band snapped inside.

While I tried my best not to limp through my vacation, I couldn’t help but think of the many patients I’ve worked with over the years. The athletes who say, "I just want my pain to go away so I can get back to training." The middle-aged folks who tell me, "I feel like my body’s getting older, and I just want to stay active." And the older adults who share, "I don’t want to have to ask people for help—I want to stay independent."

I can totally empathize with all these sentiments.

Practicing what we preach

Now that I’m back from my trip, I have a plan—and it’s all about practicing what we as physical therapists preach. I’m scaling back on the activities that aggravate my hip for now, focusing on strengthening exercises, seeing my PT for manual therapy and feedback on my exercises. If things don’t improve in a few weeks, I’ll consider getting imaging done. I’ve also scheduled an appointment with my primary care provider to discuss whether a referral to an orthopedic specialist is appropriate. To be honest, I’m pretty sure it is the appropriate next step, but it’s always good practice to keep your PCP in the loop.

Finding the right care

All this to say—I get it. The frustration, the setbacks, the determination to keep going. And you know what? There's not a single PT at On the Move who hasn't had some sort of injury that makes us think of you all and helps us be better, more empathetic PTs.

If you’re looking to find the right PT/clinic for you, check out these tips or feel free to give us a call. You’re not alone, and we’re here to help you get back to the things you love.

-Alyssa Herrera-Set