'I'm Gonna Dance Again!'

Adriene Haslet, known as an incredible dancer, was watching the Boston marathon with her finance, when she was hit with pieces of a bomb. As a result she lost part of her lower leg and foot. She was recently interviewed in her hospital room and her determination and drive struck a cord in the hearts of my sister and I. My sister is a physical therapist too and her love and care for people and their physical health never ceases to amaze me. When she shared this story with me she said she recognized how resilient the human spirit must be in order to rise to the physical challenges that are placed in front of us everyday. It would easier in many ways for this young woman to give up dancing, but this woman's heart would not be squelched.

Adriene's fortitude reminds me of all the people we see is physical therapy with so many physical challenges. They might come to see us with a broken bone or a torn ligament that's disrupting their livelihood or their golf game. They may have hip pain or sacro-iliac pain that is interrupting their horse riding or their running program, but they never leave without knowing they can and will be able to do what they love. Don't get me wrong, it might not be exactly the same way and it might not look like it did before, but we can help them learn a new way to live with their physical challenges. They might have some pain, but they will learn how to move again. You see, in our profession of physical therapy is not about how perfect you are doing something, or how good you look when you are doing it. It is about everyday deciding that you can make it another block on your walking program for your diabetes. It is about everyday choosing that you will swim another lap so that your osteoarthritis won't run your life. It may not be pretty or prefect, but you will do it, that's our goal.

So if you haven't tried physical therapy, you should. Physical therapists never give up on your physical health. They fight for their patients and they help them live for their dreams. You can be just like Adriene, who never will give up on being a dancer. She has what it takes to muster the courage to dance again, even if it means on her prosthesis.

Sheree DiBiase, PT, and her staff can be reached at (208) 667-1988 and they can help you with your physical health challenges. Never give up on your health. It's your prized possession. Lake City Physical Therapy.