This post may contain compensated links. Find more info in our disclosure policy
This week, I kept my focus simple: regaining ankle flexibility.
I went to physical therapy three times, and the in-person sessions have been incredibly helpful. My PTs are able to work directly on my range of motion, and they’ve been taking measurements to track my progress. Seeing those small improvements each week is giving me a much-needed mental boost. That said, the sessions aren’t always easy. Some of the work can be downright painful—especially when my PT used cupping on my calf and ankle. It’s a pure discomfort, and I only tolerate it in the hope of a better healing process.
I’ve officially added Pilates back into my routine! My physician not only cleared me for it but actually encouraged it, specifically to help with joint mobility and controlled movement. I’ve done three Pilates sessions this week, and while that first one felt super awkward (after three months off, everything felt tight and weak), I was able to reintroduce at least one movement back per session. It’s definitely humbling to see how much strength and flexibility I’ve lost, but it feels good to be back at it.
Another little win: I hopped on Zwift (A Virtual Stationary Ride) for a short 15-minute ride. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it didn’t feel too hard on the ankle—surprisingly manageable. That said, my ankle is still pretty swollen, so I had to wear my husband’s cycling shoes just to make it work. I also couldn’t unclip from the cleats (not enough ankle mobility yet), so I had to take my foot out of the shoe while it was still on the pedal. Not exactly graceful, but hey, progress over perfection, right?
To top it all off, I walked two miles today! That’s the longest I’ve gone since the injury, and although it was slow, it felt really good to hit that milestone.
There’s still a long way to go, but every week is a step forward—even if it’s a wobbly one.