by suddenly got real bad. I have only now just gotten back into sailing
again. It was so bad that I had nerve damage in my right leg, couldnt
walk, etc. and my right calf still hasnt gotten back to its original size.
I tried physical therapy, Chiroquaktic ($35-40. for 5 min after waiting 30
min in an office for the "Doctor"), Accupuncture, Cat scans, MRI, nerve
electrical response tests, you name it for several months. They kept
giving me conflicting info on what was wrong and I had actually about
scheduled a surgery with a neurosurgeon when a friend suggested trying a
little known technique called "Feldenkrais". It is named after an Israeli
physicist who devised a method of subtle excercises designed to get
different muscle-nerve-brain connection pathways to be used for motions of
different muscle groups. The idea is you get "patterned" into moving in
certain ways, and neglect other ways to get little used muscles involved
in the motion process. There are two methods: "hands on" in which a
practicioner moves your body or limbs through these motions (about $50.
for an hour) and classes where you learn the excercises (about $10/hour).
I hesitate to call them exercises cause they are so subtle and without any
stress or pain that its hard to believe they could help at first. For me
after 2 hands on sessions I began significant improvement and after a year
of classes (and joining a Masters swim team) I now feel as though my back
in in original condition: strong and flexible. So, I'm about to get into
IMCO racing and hopefully sail against some of my old buddies from the old
Windsurfer days when dinosaurs swam the seas. Your mileage may vary but I
highly reccommend Feldenkrais if you are frustrated with nothing seeming
to help.
--
Dr. Mark D. Powell
Research Meteorologist, CCM (Swimmer, Windsurfer, NEXTSTEP user)
NOAA Hurricane Research Division (appropriate disclaimers apply)
Miami, Fl 33149 Voice (305) 361-4403 Fax (305) 361-4402