Now begins the really important part. He taught me a series of advanced exercises, 10 of them, to stretch and strengthen every which way. He said I should do them every day for the next six months -- but with a caveat. On days I am particularly active, I can leave the exercises in a dresser drawer and just ice the knee, as I am to do after every round of exercise to keep swelling down. I've taken that alternative one day already -- after taking Dear Wife on an all-out shopping/errands excursion. My knee actually started hurting after all that mall walking, but thank goodness the ice pack eased that flare-up. I probably walked a little more than advisable that day, given that it takes about a year to be all the way back, I'm told.

My out-patient PT and I discussed some elements of staying active beyond the exercises.
* An exercise bike: It's fine to do, and I have access to one at the community workout room a few blocks away.
* Water workouts: It's as good as it gets, and walking in the pool is actually better than swimming. Again, I am blessed to have the community pool. Ideally, I would get there in the morning before it fills up with kiddies and beach balls and squirt-guns.
* A "Walking Program," as he called it. Fortunately, I have one -- her name is Superdawg. We mutually decided that a hot, humid South Carolina morning is not the optimum time for either of us old dogs. So we are walking after dinner when there is still some light, but less heat. And SD has reprogrammed her walk-begging alert from morning to dusk, all on her own. Have I told you she is an exceptionally smart canine?

As far as listening to bluegrass music, there's no reason I can't put that on and do the exercise and the icing while soaking up all that Appalachian inspiration. I'm dialing up iTunes right now. Ain't life great?
© Robert G. Holland
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