Physical therapy is great.  I often think about how fortunate we are that physical therapy is sectioned off into it’s on category of healthcare away from medicine.  If we left the physiological repair of our bodies to doctors (as once we did), everyone would be walking hunched over  and over-medicated.

Still, our healthcare system leave much to be desired.  As an example, I can only gain care so long as I’m paying for it (thanks, in part, to insurance companies).  The result is that many providers will not allow you to gain care on any body part that you were not sent to them; i.e. – not billable.

So, when I see my physical therapist about a problem in my back there is a large amount of hesitation to discuss any issues I may have with my knees.  If she means well, she will suggest a few exercises and perhaps she’ll even provide some examples of useful movements I can do at home.  More often than not, she will suggest completing the prescribed treatment protocol before moving on to other areas.  She may even suggest I get a script from my primary care doctor prior to beginning any new treatment protocol.

These are wise suggestions.  She doesn’t know what’s happening with my knee and it’s smart to rule other things out before suggesting that it’s something as simple as a physiological issue.

I’m a huge proponent of patient responsibility with their own care.  The best way to get help from a healthcare provider is to be an informed patient.

At this time, I believe I should take my knee health into my own hands.  Doctors, physical therapists, accupuncturists have been helpful and I’m sure they will continue to be.  But I’m feeling like I have plateaued in regards to gaining mobility and decreasing my overall pain.

This is about my ability to create knee flexion in my left leg.  Specifically, the ability sit back on my knees.  As I just found out, this is referred to as “seiza” in Japanese.