Congratulations to Dot and John Martin who recently podiumed with second place finishes at the Buzzards Bay Triathlon on September 20th. John and Dot have been endurance sport athletes for decades. Because of that, they are no strangers to strains, sprains, and tendinopathies (aka tendinitis). GMCF PT has been a part of their team, helping them heal and grow stronger and more resilient.
Dot was forced to take 6 weeks off from running during the late spring/early summer, after a procedure on her knees. She typically would be ramping up her competitive season during that time of the year. Instead, she was working with Kerry at GMCF PT on rehabbing her knees and keeping her body strong in preparation for her return to training. It was a frustrating summer at times, but using her well-honed tenacity and perseverance, she was able to resume training just in time to squeeze a few races in at the end of this season. She took 1st place by a whopping 12 mins at the Vermont Sun triathlon. She capped off her short, but successful season with her second place finish at Buzzards Bay.
After experiencing a bout of plantar fasciitis in late June, John had to take a step back from running. He began working with Melanie at GMCF PT, and within just one month, he was back to running and ready to compete in a triathlon.
By the time he completed a triathlon in August, his foot pain was minimal. Although he began experiencing some hip and knee pain, John stayed committed to his recovery and continued working with Melanie for a few more sessions. Together, they were able to resolve his hip pain and keep his knee pain under control, allowing him to not only complete the September triathlon, but finish on the podium!
In addition to their love of endurance sports and incredible work ethic, John and Dot also share a dedication to the rehab process when it comes to injuries. Their experience as life-long athletes has come with the acquired wisdom of two key components that are drivers of their success:
- Involving PT as a partner in their training when injuries arise
- Being just as dedicated to their rehab as they are to their training
GMCF PT is dedicated to keeping athletes and active individuals moving during the rehab process. “Just stop” doing the activity you love, is advice we avoid as much as possible. Instead, we work together with our patients, thinking outside the box and crafting creative strategies for rehab that keep our patients engaged in their favorite activities while healing from injuries. But these strategies only work when our patients are dedicated to the rehab process. John and Dot are shining examples of how dedication to rehab can lead to athletic success.
Way to go John and Dot! We are proud to be your partners! Keep inspiring us!
