Injury Rehabilitation Report: Week 1

INJURY REHABILITATION REPORT: WEEK 1 (08/07 – 08/13)

The first meeting with my physical therapist (PT), on Monday, August 7th, was hopeful. Her preliminary diagnosis was a slight tear in my right meniscus, which will heal on its own, rather than require surgery. She applied theraputic tape to the outside of my knee and a compression sock to my right foot. She also cleared me to start riding my trike again after a two month layoff. The swelling (edema) in my right foot has decreased enough that I can slip my sockless foot into my cycling shoe.

The first session on Tuesday, August 8, was limited to eight minutes on a level virtual velodrome track in my biggest gear (39 x 21 gears) at 70+ rpm cadence. After I texted her that I had no pain during this first session, she approved a one minute daily increase for subsequent sessions.

My right thumb/hand range of motion, despite the “angry ligament,” is also improving. However, I’m not optimistic that it will improve enough to allow me to manhandle my trike in and out of my car for the last race of the season in a month. I have a phone chat scheduled with my coach for next Tuesday to discuss next steps. We’ll probably wait until the end of the month to make a final decision.

BY THE NUMBERS:

• Total Distance: 10.37 mi
• Longest Ride: 2.16 mi
• Total Time for Week: 1:03:03 (h:m:s)
• Avg Speed: 9.9 mph
• Max Speed: 11.8 mph
• Avg Power: 32 watts
• Max Power: 41 watts
• Calories: 117 C
• Avg Weight: 175.9