I am a holistic horse veterinarian and have done so many dentals, adjustments, lameness exams and acupuncture treatments over the last 25 years that I wore out 2 of my rotator cuff ligaments in my right shoulder. It had been bothering me for 6 years but I continued to push through it until finally last spring 2018 it hurt so much I couldn’t sleep. I had an ultrasound and got the definitive diagnosis.
At first I resisted surgery and thought I could just put the things I like to do on hold, like showjumping, tennis, yoga….and I cut way back on my Veterinary practice. I investigated PRP, increased my laser and microcurrent treatments and I started Pilates with Amy at Cores and Effect.
I quickly became aware that I might have been able to prevent this injury had I started Pilates years ago. I realized that I was not using my intrinsic core musculature as well as I could have doing all that work with my arms above my head. I also have to admit that in the beginning, while we were re-training my body it seemed slow and I was hoping for more of a work out. The first two months were bitter sweet, I didn’t really sweat, but I’d leave feeling a deep inner buzz and strength, thankfully I kept going with Pilates. Amy was willing to see if we could balance my body and strengthen my shoulder while I contemplated avoiding surgery.
Mid summer I saw a surgeon in Sun Valley Idaho and with further diagnostics she explained that these were full ligament tears and would not heal no matter how much therapy I did to them. So we scheduled surgery for the end of October. In the studio we started pre-hab work. Deeper awareness of my core, mobility in my spine and strengthening my back connection and functional movements to bring my shoulder blades back to my back, and to teach them to glide in movement rather than sit winged out.
Just for fun, I took my jumper to a show mid July and we rocked it! I didn’t hurt my shoulder because I had such core strength and more stamina than usual. I have a big horse with a big jump and I walked out of the ring breathing easily thinking. “ that was seamless”. I remember sending the video to Amy to thank her for the work and my new body awareness.
We worked diligently right up to my surgery, Amy gave me mat exercises to do even post surgery as I stayed at my ranch in Idaho for a month afterward. I did work with a phenomenal PT in Idaho whose philosophy was aligned with Amy’s.
I continue to do my mat work when I am not able to work with Amy directly and my body is continually on a renewal program.
Now ? I am enjoying my work and riding immensely.