Wednesday, February 5, 2020 (Court Day #333)

Yesterday, I had my first appointment with a new PT. It was with Ashley C. at Precision Physical Therapy & Fitness at 8:15 a.m. They are quite the organized technological operation. I filled out forms online, downloaded an app with the exercises . . . well, I get ahead of myself. I spent about 30-45 minutes with her as she measured the range of motion in my wrist, grip strength, had me try a variety of different resistance tests. The hardest part was assigning a pain number between 1-10. January last year was my “10” number—right-handed backhand shots were intensely painful, as where handshakes which brought tears to my eyes. It’s been better since, but it’s because I avoid using my right arm for pickleball and have been playing lefty for over a year.

Ashley gave me two exercises.

The first, I’d been given before, that is bending my right wrist down then holding my right hand with my left then pushing against it with my fully extended right arm. Holding but stopping short of actual pain.

The other she called “nerve flossing” and involved also bending my wrist down, but with my arm straight down at my side, moving my arm straight back then forward, repeating it several times.

She also recommended ice followed by heat to increase circulation and promote healing. She said the end of the day is the most important time to do it.

Derby

I arrived at Derby at 9 a.m. John P. was setting up and Barb S. was already there helping. Wayne and I walked up at the same time. I also helped set up and was soon in a game.

I played a few games and my performance was marginal. There was a guy I’d seen maybe once before. A tall guy with an unusual name, maybe 40, with some skills. John P. knew him by name. Paulo or something. Good player.

Grita and Alan K. on the near court.

Binh and I played two games against John P. and Barb. They are playing in some tournament as mixed doubles partners. Binh and I stacked. I have to say, not having to use my backhand as much makes me perform better . . . it just goes to show where—one of—my weakness is!

Binh, John P. and Barb S. as we wait for our rematch.

Those two games were long and challenging and fun. Binh and I won both, but we had to come back in the second game.

I had to leave early and was out at 11:05.

Second PT Appointment

I headed right for my next PT appointment (11:30 a.m.) at Precision. Ashley got to me a few minutes late—pretty normal for health-related offices.

She worked my shoulder by moving my arm with pressure with my shoulder immobilized against her hip. She also worked the muscle in my forearm with her thumbs. Then she added a stretch to my routine . . . laying on my back, arms straight in front of me bent at the elbows with my open hands palms inward, then raising my elbows toward my head with my forearms parallel to each other.

I was out shortly after noon. Home, lunch, work.

Number of days on a court: 333
Number of total hours: 940

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