StansellFit

This isn’t meant to be some kind of hot take, because I think many of the PTs I know would agree with me here.

There are absolutely times where we need expert support, but it’s not every time something goes wrong with our bodies.

Our bodies are very good at handling things that go wrong without outside intervention the majority of the time.

Getting to a point where you feel like you can’t “heal” without someone doing something to you instills fragility and removes autonomy.

To reiterate in case I haven’t made the point clearly enough, there are unequivocally times where you need to see someone.

But you do not need to set up an appointment for every ache, pain, or ni**le.

Connective tissue issues are the worst because they take significantly longer to heal compared to muscles.

Which is why I take special care to avoid them by:

- Progressing more slowly
- Taking action to modify as soon as possible if a tendon is complaining
- Dialing back a bit after a layoff even though I’m technically strong enough to handle the load
- Adjusting my technique to limit as much “collateral” connective tissue involvement.
- Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, if you do experience connective tissue issues, dial back as much as you need to to get it to calm down first. But then try to slowly add stress that you can tolerate to that same tissue to get it used to handling it again. Many people make the mistake of removing ALL stress from the tissue in perpetuity, which often leads the tissue to decondition like crazy and become more sensitive to everything.

In my experience, load is the most important or causative variable in connective tissue issues. And I do have a little less leeway as I’ve gotten older.

Moral of the story: Progress as slowly as you need to, make adjustments if you feel tendon funkiness, keep ACTIVE and get back to stressing the tissue in a way that you can tolerate as quickly as possible.

And as always, be smart. Always live to fight another day if you experience connective tissue pain in a workout. It’s not worth it.

Another half marathon in the books and got to spend the weekend with some of my favorite people .lambert, , and of course.

Beautiful race course (aside from a couple diabolical hills) and would definitely come back for another race here.

✌️ 🏃‍♂️