Feedback and Physical Therapy

I have battled nagging hip and achilles pain for many years and been to many different medical professionals. By far the most effective was a couple in Indy. When I would make an appointment I wouldn’t know whether I would be seen by Jeff or Kristin. Both were helpful (and wonderful) but the experience was very different.

When my appointment was with Kristin I would leave bruised literally from my back to my achilles. Her primary method of physical therapy was Astym. Essentially using a special instrument to scrape all the scar tissue off of your soft tissue. It was painful and I loved it. I had no doubt that progress was being made even if it hurt like hell while it was happening.

When my appointment was with Jeff he would very calmly ask questions and have me do a couple of subtle movements just to see how my body was moving. Then he would have me lay on a table on my stomach, gently push on a small part of my back while I lifted my legs up a couple of times and tell me I was done. I would wake up the next day and realize the pain was gone.

Both were effective. Both were necessary.

The best coaches know when we need to be Jeff and when we need to be Kristin. Sometimes we are gently providing course correction in a way that the person we are correcting doesn’t even realize it is happening. Sometimes they should leave a meeting with us knowing that they just received difficult and important correction.