The Lance Armstrong interview with Oprah Winfrey is now officially a part of history. Two nights, millions of viewers - and just as many opinions on the decade-long fiasco.
I will be the first to admit that I was an Armstrong supporter. I found myself inspired by his story. I read both his books. I wore a yellow wrist band. I was proud that he called Austin home. I even wrote 4 posts, in support of him in one way or another, as recently as July 2012.
Well, the truth is now well and truly out of the bag. And I admit, I was wrong, blatantly wrong, about Lance Armstrong. Consider this my apology to the blogosphere and to you, the reader. I stand corrected.
There were many of us that were wrong about Lance Armstrong. And that's okay. There is much to be learned from the aftermath of Lance, not just about performance-enhancing drugs or sport, but about life and the culture we live within.
It still has me shaking my head in disbelief.
The article in question: "The Eight Best Physical Therapy Methods Explained". It first appeared on greatist.com and then, lo and behold, made an appearance on Huffington Post. An article on physical therapy? An attempt to summarize, for the mass populace, what we do in our profession? Consumer awareness and a little publicity?
That has to be a good thing. Or is it?
Ugh.
If that is what my profession brings to the health care table, then I am seriously disappointed and disheartened - not just for the consumer, but for the profession as a whole.
There is a beauty in the spoken word. I have always been fascinated by the great orators and their power to inspire with the spoken word. A powerful speech is the ultimate monologue.
The spoken word doesn’t have to be a solo experience though. The same can be said for thoughtful discussion between two willing and invested participants. Effective dialogue has a beauty to it as well. It can be intense, elegant, emotional, and exploratory.
Monologue is much like a solo dance. It might have the crowd in awe as the dancer spins and slides across the floor. But it is, by definition, a solo performance. Dialogue is the subtle interaction between dancers as they feed off of each other to create something special together.
When it comes to communication, have we become a world of soloists?
It is a daily battle we all wage: the fight against gravity. In order to participate in life on the planet, we are subjected to mechanical loading – all day, every day. It never goes away, regardless of functional activity or sport technique.
Our ability to adapt to the demands of mechanical loading imposed upon us defines our capacity to function – or not.
Much attention has been given to the importance of “pain science” with many authors suggesting a move away from a traditional biomechanical model. But I can tell you one thing – as long as there is gravity, there will be a need to understand mechanical loading and embrace it as a systems approach, not a micromanagement model.
My thought for today started with an insightful and thought-provoking blog post by Dr. John Childs regarding the APTA’s proposed new vision statement – and the discussion it inspired. In that discussion, there was a phrase mentioned that nicely summarizes one of the greatest problems facing Consumer Direct Access to Physical Therapy: “It’s all in the language”.
The majority of states have what is termed “Restricted Direct Access”. If this isn’t an oxymoron – much like “jumbo shrimp” – I don’t know what is. No wonder that patients and clinicians, including the gatekeepers themselves, are confused.
The solution lies in the language itself.
The year 2013 brings with it a brave new world of polarized politics in the United States. The country is more divided now than I can ever remember. Frankly, I find it progressively more annoying. The sensationalism of the media certainly doesn’t make the situation any better.
There are now seemingly countless issues that are becoming more and more polarized. Prime example: the fiscal cliff. Add to that health care reform. How about a side order of gun control, women’s rights, and immigration reform?
So here’s a thought. Let us move from the “Year of Polarized Diatribe” to the “Year of Legislative Accountability”. Be it local, state, or federal, it is time to take control over the issues at hand and demand accountability from our representatives. Either legislators stand up and face the music, or we fiddle and complain incessantly while Rome burns before our very eyes.
The problem starts with the current status of the US Congress, which appears to be increasingly disconnected from the American public.
The year 2012 is coming to a conclusion today. I am sure that we all faced plenty of challenges, but I am also convinced that there were plenty of successes along the way. Thus is the ebb and flow of life.
As we count down the minutes to 2013, there is no better way to put the year in perspective than to compile a Top 20 list. One of my primary goals this year was to write more consistently. Mission accomplished – with 172 posts over 365 days. They have generated many thought-provoking comments. Thank you to everyone that has contributed to the discussions.
Pulling together a “Best of 2012” list isn’t easy. I don’t necessarily believe that the posts with the most traffic are my best posts, but it provides a good starting point. So without further ado, here are my Top 20 posts of 2012. Count them down, and enjoy!
Up to 60% of runners will sustain an injury within any given year. Poor running mechanics, in conjunction with poor, ineffective and outdated training methods, can pose a significant injury risk. "RunSmart" was written to address these issues in the running community.
"Running Injuries: Etiology And Recovery- Based Treatment" (co-author Bridget Clark, PT) appears in the third edition and fourth editions of "Clinical Orthopaedic Rehabilitation: A Team Approach" by Charles Giangarra, MD and Robert C. Manske, PT.
Allan Besselink, PT, DPT, Ph.D., Dip.MDT has a unique voice in the world of sports, education, and health care. Read more about Allan here.
Top 5 finalist in three categories: "Best Overall Blog", "Best PT Blog" and "Best Advocacy Blog".
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