Dear Friends,
Being a physical therapist for 40 years has been a bigger blessing than I could have ever imagined. Like the many lessons learned looking back from my Mom and Dad and family. Most of the lessons learned go unnoticed at the time.
One example that comes to mind, as I grew up with nine siblings, was our Sunday drives into Brooklyn to see my grandparents. From the ages of 5-11, I loved the trips. They seemed so exciting. Walking around the neighborhood with my grandpa and getting “Mr. Softie” (Soft vanilla custard ice cream) was a treat we never had at home. Running up and down the stairs of the three-story brownstone apartments was fun. We often found different ways to have fun, whether playing Tag, Red Light Green Light, Stickball, etc. Our imagination was our only limitation. The memories bring a smile to my face to this day. Everything seemed exciting when we went to our grandparents.
Unfortunately, when I became a 12-year-old, I began to think of the trip as boring. I wanted to stay home and play with my friends. “Why did we have to go to see Grandpa and Grandma,” became more of a frequent complaint. Luckily, my parents ignored us and made us continue the trips into Brooklyn until our grandparents moved out to our town. Why? This trip taught us how important family is and must be. I am 68 years old, and my family believes in the importance of one another and being there for each other. Most of us think some of the seeds were planted because our parents expected and demanded we go visit weekly.
40 years later, as a physical therapist. I realize, after having treated patients from ages 10-102 (We just celebrated one of very sharp-minded, remarkable patient’s 102nd birthday April 30!), that I was being taught even more lessons. I truly believe that if I hadn’t been a part of helping our patients, I would not be as healthy as I am today.
How did they help me? As I met patients and heard their life stories and physical challenges (from knee, hip, shoulder, back, neck and every other imaginable injury), it helped me curb my own activity level. Instead of being more reckless and continuing to play basketball after tearing a meniscus in each knee and my Achilles’ tendon, I looked at the patients that had had early knee replacements and decreased my playing time. Instead of playing softball after tearing my hamstring tendon off the insertion site and tearing my thumb ligaments diving into second, I cut back and possibly saved more surgical procedures. After running the New York Marathon with my brothers, talking to my Dad (who ran a great deal and who had two early hip and knee replacements) along with so many patients, who were runners and ended up with early joint replacements, I curbed my running.
As you can clearly see, without me realizing it, my patients’ stories regarding their injuries and rehabilitation challenges, subconsciously, helped me change my own views of participation in sports or athletic activities. It helped me cut back on my attack mode and most especially my, “I don’t care what my age; I am invincible” mindset. As I aged, I was wiser in my activities and exercises. As a result, I gained wisdom and began thinking more of my future and being a healthy dad, grandpa, and friend. My goal was to be more aware of exercising for a healthy future and not to win basketball or softball games.
This month’s newsletter goes out to everyone who is pushing themselves through pain as we age. This attitude may have been a strength from the ages of 12-40, (I realize we are all different, with different genetics), but you might want to cut back on your invincibility mode of thinking as you get older. Speaking from a person who has had the opportunity and blessing to hear and see thousands of patients who have overworked their bodies, whether through activities of too much gardening, sports, or heavy lifting as they moved past their 40’s.
Please consider as you age that it may be worth taking a step back and realizing you are not 20 years old when you are actually fifty or more. Why? Because you may need to ask for help, in order to preserve your back, knee, hip, shoulder or neck so you can hold and play with your grandchildren in the future. By doing that, you will increase your chances for having less injuries and be more able to enjoy your life with less physical challenges and stress.
Enjoy the journey of being stronger every day,
Fran McDonald, PT,DPT,OCS
