Part 1/3 | Are your physicians doing your knees dirty?

As a licensed massage therapist in New England, I've worked on many athletes and individuals alike who've had knee surgery. The process leading up to surgery is no easy quest to conquer:

• the physical therapy

• cortisone shots

• MRI's

• referrals

• pre-op consults

• etc.

It can take a lot out you, mentally and financially. Although some of the surgeries I've worked on have been successful and healed rapidly, others have had issues such as fluid build up, swelling, or have been downright ineffective.

As a therapist with over 15 years of experience and a former athlete myself, I can't help but wonder:

"Are my clients getting the best advice, or are their physicians doing them dirty?"

Because I'm not a physician, I am legally not allowed to contradict what a physician says or give medical advice. But here's the thing... because I am legally allowed to treat the body as a whole, I am able to see blind spots that specialists and surgeons often miss.

I know that the injuries occur based on the uniqueness of the individual- that is to say, a knee might suffer more wear and tear if the ankle or SI joints are not in place. And muscular tension in the IT Bands might be pulling your knee in places it really has no business going.

But is surgery, often quickly and commonly recommended as a solution, the best next step?

Personally, I would never tell someone not to have surgery (back, shoulder, neck, knee), no matter how much I disagreed with it. Surgery is an individual choice often made by the surgeon, patient and insurance companies. But here are several things I would recommend to everyone considering a surgery of any kind that we'll get into in Part 2. For now, I'd recommend some patience and giving yourself the time and space to explore all options first.