We NEED phys ed

One day this week, I was driving by an elementary school while the kids were out on recess. All across the schoolyard were children in varying stages of activity. Some were standing around talking. Others were tossing a ball. A group seemed to be chasing each other in some sort of game. I loved it.


I also read this week about the Running Club initiative going on in our local schools. The same article mentioned Geoff Hamm at John Sevier Elementary School. I know Geoff, mostly from soccer, and he is the perfect person to lead this kind of wellness initiative. Enthusiastic. Engaged. Inspiring.


Our kids need more activity. No…they REQUIRE more activity. Physical Education used to be a required component of all secondary education. I know that because before I went to Physical Therapy school, I was a Physical Education teacher.


Let’s look at the big problem. Tennessee is one of the most obese states in America. Current rankings put us at about 44^th in the country.  20% of our children are considered obese. And in Tennessee, that rate for adults is in the area of 60%. In America, over 300,000 people die each year from obesity related health problems.


That’s unreal. You would think that in a state with incredible natural resources like we have here (think lakes, mountains, parks), we would have one of the most active populations around. Throw in winters that aren’t too cold and summers that are generally not too hot, and we have few excuses not to get outdoors.


Maybe, like too many things, we depend on our schools to promote an active lifestyle. But the academic demands that we place on our schools are in large part why we removed a lot of physical activity from our schools. Think about “No Child Left Behind” and testing standards that our teachers must prepare kids to meet. With all they have to teach, there just isn’t time for physical education classes.


I would argue, and have the research to back it up, that physical activity during the school day is essential for not just academic excellence but for producing healthy, happy adults. Keep in mind that my background is in this arena.


I’ve said many times that active adults create active children. I still believe that is largely true but our health issues from obesity may dictate that we can’t leave it up to parents. Historically, physical education classes were not only for providing a time for physical expression but also a place to learn new ways to express ourselves physically.


My first introduction to tumbling and gymnastics-type activities was in physical education class. We learned dance (remember the Virginia Reel?) in junior high as part of our school day was dedicated to being physically active. We have to teach kids things that allow them to find fun in physical activity.
If it isn’t fun, it isn’t sustainable.


It used to be that physical education electives were a required part of the college curriculum. Not anymore. My wife actually took a tennis class in college taught by Pat Head (Summitt). Is lack of physical activity in our schools and colleges the reason our state is obese? It’s more complicated than that but yeah, that’s part of it.


Anyway, thank you teachers and school administrators. Thank you for understanding the value of physical activity. Thank you for providing avenues to our children to develop a lifelong commitment to staying healthy.

What I've Learned from my Patients

I often tell stories about patients and athletes that I have taken care of.  I’ve been doing this a very long time so I have plenty of stories to tell.


Maybe it is about their accomplishments, the things they have done and maybe the hard work that it took to get there. Sports are not easy. Rehab is not easy. It takes diligence and persistence to get the results that you want. Those just happen to be two things that I value the most. So, I like to tell their stories.


Or maybe I’ll talk about a coach or teacher and the influence that they have on their players and students. Those folks have a tough job and always, always get too little thanks for what they do.


But one category of stories seldom shared in this space, is the effect that patients have had on me. In the fabric of my life, that is woven so richly. Yet I never talk about it here. That’s about to change.


I can remember one of my first patients when I was still a student. He was a Memphis State football player that was rendered a quadriplegic from a cervical injury when he ducked his head going to make a tackle. He was a robust, charismatic young man, about my own age, and I knew that he had no idea what turn his life was about to take.


He taught me never to take my health for granted. And that this gift that I was about to be given, a career as a physical therapist, was something to be cherished and nurtured for surely I must be there to take care of those like him.


About that same time, I became responsible for the rehab of a 13 year old boy who had a spinal cord infact, rendering him a paraplegic. He was playing in the yard when he suddenly collapsed. He never walked again. We are friends to this day and he will drop in on me for a chat from time to time.


He taught me that we should always make the best of whatever situation that we are in. Here he was, just a young boy, but he was ready to tackle the world. He’s done so—on his terms, and has become an amazing adult.


From time to time, I will take care of this amazing lady who is an internationally ranked athlete even as she approaches her 80’s. Super competitive, she does all the little things constantly and plays her game like someone less than half her age.


She has taught me that age is just a number. And to not let others decide what is appropriate activity for us, whatever our age might be.


It works the other way too. I had a patient one time (well, several really) that acted 100 and had every ailment known to medicine. When I looked at her birthday, I discovered she was only a slight bit older than me. She taught me that I didn’t want to be 66 going on 96 but, better yet, I might want to be 66 going on 36.


I’ve learned from my children as well. Both of them have had their share of injuries and, of course, I was right there with them to take care of them. They taught me that I have to separate my duties as a father from my duties as the one taking care of them when they’re hurt.


That one hits home when you think about all the young athletes that I’ve taken care of through the years. I’ve been close to a bunch of them.  But when they are injured, I have to put all emotions aside and do the job that I’m trained to do.


Those many loving and gracious parents of my athletes have taught me that I have a responsibility to be the best that I can be, every moment. I can take no days off or phone it in. When someone is hurt, I have to bring my “A” game…always. Those parents expect that of me.


I wouldn’t have it any other way.