Although I was familiar with the facilities and triathlon program of EHS when I made my appointment to work with Tara Gibson, I was completely new to the world of physical therapy. Over many years, I had visited a chiropractor to deal with tight muscles and skeletal misalignments and received "quick fixes" for my ailments, yet the onset this past spring of tingly fingers and a persistent discomfort in my left hamstring area led me to pursue treatment that would have long lasting effect.

            Tara immediately put to ease my nervousness about what physical therapy would entail. At our first session, she listened patiently as I described my symptoms and followed through with directed questions that allowed me to better articulate what I was feeling and what activities brought on the discomfort. Subsequent to this Q+A time, an exchange that began each session, Tara proceeded to work through exercises and manipulations that aimed to decrease nerve and muscle tension and increase my range of motion. Very quickly, it became evident that the restrictions I experienced were the result not only of recent triathlon training but also from athletic injuries sustained in years past. Additionally, my posture was working against me, and habits I had developed over the years to compensate for functional weaknesses served to impede efforts to strengthen and make more fluid and efficient the way my body performed.

            My ability to articulate in this article what I was experiencing is a direct result of my work with Tara. Before working with her, I could tell you that my leg hurt because I ran too much or biked too hard, and my fingers tingled because I slept on my shoulder funny. I could describe what wasn't working, and I made up the reasons why. Tara is a thorough and thoughtful explainer (as a teacher, I have high standard), and her willingness to explain how my body was working as compared to how it should be working was crucial to decreasing my symptoms and preventing their return. She gave me the tools to better understand the extent to which I can be just as responsible for creating my injuries as I am for healing them. Without question, the improvements I've gained through my sessions with Tara include an increase in the range of motion in my shoulders, greater flexibility in my lower back, and decreased tension in my hamstring. More important to me, however, is what she's taught me about how the body functions and how the exercises I do at home (yes, she game me homework!) will have an immediate impact on training my body to better support me in all that I want to do.

            Working with Tara and the Elite Health Services team has changed my approach to dealing with an injury. Further, their expertise and knowledge have me looking to them for education about how to best maintain this body I take along with me everywhere I go. If you have any questions about my experiences with Tara, please let me know.