And so it begins

"Begin" may be an inappropriate term to use in this situation, but it is just that - the beginning of something new. An earnest, focused attempt to take my weathered hip from zero to hero in the time span of one year.  I'll try to keep the whining to a minimum, the effort to a maximum, and the sarcasm steady.  The stories will appear frequently, and the jokes, too, but this is a serious endeavor.  Activity will be scattered, life will get in the way, and I will try to quit.  This blog, more than anything, is to keep me accountable for what I do to heal.

The problem: Anterior femoral Glide (or so we think).  After cycling through a series of diagnoses, this seems to fit all of my symptoms more closely than anything else.  So, we'll go with it.  If you're unfamiliar, feel free to read this or anything by Sandra Sahrmann.  In brief, my butt is weak, my hip flexors too long, and my joint unstable.  The result is pain, and lots of it.

The approach: My own take on rehab, focusing on different aspects of strength and flexibility, leading, in the end, to stabilization, comfort, and ability.  To not be overambitious, I'm going to take this one step at a time, with the first step having three parts:

1.  Glute and Psoas strengthening. Obvious, focusing on engaging the glutes in motions such as walking and firing glutes before hamstrings in simple lifts.  Psoas can be tricky, but will be done.  Reducing hamstring dominance (bad).

2.  Hamstring flexibility. Self evident, helping with the angle at which I hold my pelvis (in combination with above)

3.  Posterior hip mobilizations.  Done, mostly, with the help of others. Aided by some focused stretching and pressure-point work.

Toys.  The planner to keep track of things, a lovely foam roller "borrowed" from my Dad's office, some tennis balls and a stretch cord, and (most importantly) an $8 Tom Erdos Stretch Rope.

To do these, I have a collection of toys and a planner to help me along.  Many of the exercises I do will come from a series of websites and recommendations.  To start, I'll be using this, this, and this for guidance.  Any suggestions are welcome.

The goal: To reduce my hip pain to the point where I can be active again.  I haven't been able to run, swim, play soccer, or bike consistently in over three years, and it's time for a change.  I have a nice little set of wheels (see left: taunting me in my living room) that I'd like to get out on more often, a pair of barely worn cleats gracing the bottom of my closet, and a slew of races that are just calling my name.


Enough for tonight -  I must get to my exercises and then off to bed.