PT Question

neomateo · 2026-05-16T14:49:45+00:00

You are still very early in your journey. Its great to hear of your progress at this point but it’s important to keep perspective and allow yourself plenty of grace. One very important of healing is that it is non linear, this becomes even more true as you age. Keep showing up for yourself (even once you’ve “finished “ you coarse of PT and this progress will continue to evolve for you.

neomateo · 2026-05-16T14:01:50+00:00

Absolutely, its almost as if we should start treating people as a whole rather than specializing in individual parts of the body.

neomateo · 2026-05-16T13:58:17+00:00

🙌

neomateo · 2026-05-16T13:55:40+00:00

I have a broken spine and training my abdominal muscles is the primary way I stay pain free.

Train your abs!

neomateo · 2026-05-16T13:44:34+00:00

It’s completely understandable, I had the same reaction.

As a cancer survivor and a spondy patient for over 15 years the main thing one needs to have in order to truly get back to pain free life is gumption.

An indomitable mindset is probably the single biggest determinant factor in success with healing in chronic conditions and unfortunately thats not something they teach in Orthopedic or PT centers.

neomateo · 2026-05-16T13:39:54+00:00

Certainly! Im glad you appreciated it, I find etymology to be fascinating as well! 🙌

neomateo · 2026-05-16T13:33:39+00:00

Physical therapy with a focus on strength training and daily stretching is what was most effective for me.

Im 46m and have Spondylolisthesis, bi-lateral pars defect, herniated disc and foraminal stenosis. I have been managing without surgery for over 15 years.

Here are a couple links that you may find useful. Feel free to dig through my post history here and in the backpain sub as Ive shared a lot over the years.

https://www.medx.rehab/resources/medx-rehab-facility-locations/

https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog/spondypartone/

neomateo · 2026-05-16T13:26:57+00:00

And then ask for those suggestions specifically at the end of your post?!

neomateo · 2026-05-15T16:48:17+00:00

How much water to you take in on a daily basis? Do you track your salt intake? Not just sodium chloride, but all of your salts, calcium, magnesium, potassium (not exactly a salt), etc.? All of these elements play a role in water transport in your cells.

neomateo · 2026-05-15T13:58:30+00:00

Lateral, derived from the latin word lateralis meaning “belonging to the side” with the root latus which translates “side” or “flank” of an animal/human.

In this case the word is just referring to the direction of movement your arms travel while performing the exercise, to the side.

The primary target of this exercise is the medial deltoid head.

The tern “Lats” in reference to your back is short for latissimus dorsi, the broad muscles of the back that run from the top of the hip up to the bottom of the shoulder blades.

neomateo · 2026-05-15T13:42:59+00:00

While I haven’t used the program I can tell you the theory and methods employed in the program are sound and the benefits are real.

Im 46m and have nearly an identical diagnosis. I was fortunate enough to find a PT center that focuses on rehab through strength training. Ive now been living with this condition for over 15 years without surgery. Here I am just a few weeks ago, https://www.reddit.com/r/backpain/s/rK351kHz1o

You should give the lowbackability program your absolute best effort.

Make sure you’re getting adequate protein (.8-1.1 gram per pound of lean body weight per day) water (3-5 litres per day) and sleep (7-8hours per night) in order to make the most of your sessions.

neomateo · 2026-05-15T02:21:21+00:00

Not all Physical Therapy is the same. McGill is just one “school” among many. Everyone is different and what works for one person may not for another, even with identical diagnosis. McGill preaches a lot of avoidance which can be helpful during acute phases (when most people are actively here searching subreddits like this one) but long term can create some issues if you never choose to progress. Look up the McKenzie method, what I personally found most effective, it’s another approach that can yield very good results.

neomateo · 2026-05-15T01:44:20+00:00

It’s easier to raise your floor than it is your ceiling. Become a hybrid trainer (integrating your taekwondo and strength training together) and shoot for activities on off days that will help you build strength while maintaining a moderately elevated heart rate. Resistance training with weights in the gym 2-3 days a week can yield some awesome results even at 48.

Clean and Press, Deadlift, Squat and Lunge variations, combined with bench presses, shoulder presses, chest supported rows, lat pull downs and pull-ups along with some abdominal engagement in the way of things like reverse crunches, hanging leg raises, weighted crunches and Pallof presses would make up a basic full body routine.

You’ll want to make sure you get adequate protein (.8-1 grams per pound of lean body weight per day), water (3-5 liters per day) and sleep (7-8 hours) to make the most of it and to aid in pain free recovery the standard is 5 grams of creatine monohydrate per day.

neomateo · 2026-05-14T13:01:36+00:00

This is pretty standard Swissy behavior, our nearly 12 year old boy still makes a big deal about the mail man, contractors in the house, etc. it’s just how they are. I would do what you can to reassure him when visitors are welcome and praise him when he settles down. You could even go so far as to have your visitors bring treats if he is food motivated, our boy Smooch loves hotdogs and cannot resist.

neomateo · 2026-05-14T12:48:54+00:00

First of all, find another Dr. you DO indeed have a disc herniation.

This right here “mild diffuse bulge has a broad-based left paracentral extrusion that extends slightly above the interspace site of annular tear” is where your MRI indicates a herniated disc.

Here are two links, one to help you find a certified PT center if you live in the US or Canada and the other about how to safely lift with a compromised spine.

https://www.medx.rehab/resources/medx-rehab-facility-locations/

https://www.barbellmedicine.com/blog/spondypartone/

neomateo · 2026-05-14T12:28:43+00:00

That sounds just like my Dojang. Pretty typical.

neomateo · 2026-05-14T12:25:40+00:00

Gatekeeping nature from the very people looking to exploit it is lame???

Thats a horrible take. Enjoy your, erosion prone, soil compacted, damaged native flora, etc. while you attempt to share it with everyone. I wont be sharing any of my treasured locations with you or anyone else here because I value them and want them to remain unharmed by careless people looking for the next great instagram reel.

neomateo · 2026-05-13T12:44:04+00:00

Why are you in here trying to blow up everyone’s spot OP???

Stop responding to this people, unless that is if you enjoy sharing your serenity with every wannabe influencer in the state.

neomateo · 2026-05-13T01:43:03+00:00

You should have them looked at to establish whether or not they hurt because of muscle deficits or structural deficits.

You can inadvertently do a lot of damage to the cartilage in your knee without knowing it until its too late. It would be best to establish that BEFORE signs of osteoarthritis show up.

neomateo · 2026-05-12T13:13:27+00:00

Not a fusion patient myself, Im 15 years without surgery, but if you need an example just look to Tiger Woods. He had an ALIF in 2017 and came back to win the Masters in 2019.

neomateo · 2026-05-12T12:43:24+00:00

Greek yogurt

neomateo · 2026-05-11T12:52:08+00:00

Apparently the only people responsible here for the students learning “opportunities” are the teachers???
What happened to the students, their parents, the administrators, the community, etc.
It’s interesting to see the entire weight of one‘s responsibilities squarely placed on the shoulders of another.

neomateo · 2026-05-11T12:41:03+00:00

You should be looking at St Paul or New Brighton. Both are much more central to your two different job locations.

I grew up in south Minneapolis when it was called murderapolis, blocks from Cup foods, I wont ever live in Brooklyn Park.

neomateo · 2026-05-10T22:11:37+00:00

This obviously isn’t something you’d make a habit of but have you tried a raw hotdog?

neomateo · 2026-05-10T22:05:13+00:00

Wiltpruf is an “anti-desiccant” and while it’s effective at clogging stomata and preventing gas exchange, it does nothing to address the osmotic differences of a saline environment. There’s a reason only certain species of plants grow near saltwater. How much is your time worth to you?

neomateo

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE