Good luck, Katherine!

During the two and one-half years I wore a Milwaukee brace (between 1976 and 1979), the medical focus was on the physical. No one ever inquired about my emotional state, and how it “felt” to be in such a visibly restrictive apparatus, 23 hours per day.

Thankfully, things have changed. One of the agents of that change is Katherine Southard (a.k.a. Miss North Carolina).

Recently, Katherine discussed scoliosis, self-esteem and tolerance with students at South Harnett Elementary School in Bunnlevel, N.C. Katherine appeared at the behest of 10-year-old Emily Schrump. As you may have read in previous posts, both Katherine and Emily (like me) are scoliosis patients.

During her speech, Katherine (whose platform this year was “Scoliosis: Ahead of the Curve”) engaged the students by explaining scoliosis and showing them Emily’s Boston brace. Her core message: it doesn’t matter how people look on the outside; it’s what’s inside that counts.

I was able to generate some great (if I do say!) media coverage of Katherine’s appearance at Emily’s school. The stories ran this week in the News & Observer and the Fayetteville Observer-Times.

If her commitment to Emily is any indication, Katherine has made a tremendous impact during her reign as Miss North Carolina. In August, she secured a $500 shopping spree at Peebles clothing store, to help Emily buy back-to-school clothes that would fit over her new brace. Katherine also connected me with the Schrump family, and what a rewarding experience that has been! Together with Emily’s mom, Suzette, we’ve taken on a health insurance giant and scored some cool media opps along the way.

This weekend, Katherine will be competing in the Miss America pageant . Please join me in wishing her the best of luck!

Secrets of the IT band

I’m standing a little straighter, and walking a little easier these days, thanks to the knowledgeable folks at Aquatic PT.

Kim, one of my physical therapists there, recently discovered that my Iliotibial (IT) band is incredibly tight and tender. So tender, in fact, that I nearly jumped off the exam table when she pressed on a particularly sensitive spot.

During all the years I have sought exercise and physical therapy for my back and hip issues, nobody has ever mentioned the IT band. Apparently, it’s pretty important and, in my case, a common denominator affecting my hip, knee and lower back.

The IT band is a long tendon that exists along the outer thigh, from the hip to just below the knee. IT band syndrome (injury and inflammation to the IT band) is more commonly seen in runners, but it can also occur in people with uneven leg length or weak hip abductor muscles – like me.

Kim initially treated my IT band with ultrasound to promote healing and loosen the tendon’s tightness. Just the gentle passing of the ultrasound wand made me wince in spots, but I saw an immediate improvement in my overall flexibility and achiness.

To supplement the ultrasound, Kim gave me a new stretch to do at home that specifically targets the IT band. Bryan, another of my therapists, explained that both approaches will attack the tightness of my IT band on two fronts, simultaneously loosening the tendon (via ultrasound), and then keeping it loose with the stretching exercise.

Progress has been incremental, but dramatic. I’m walking less like Quasimoto when I get out of bed in the morning. My gait is more fluid and I can stand straighter – and longer – almost without effort.

Kim and Bryan are encouraged, too -- which is why ultrasound has become a recurring part of my gym appointments.