I’ve a crush on my chiropractor; it happens.

But seriously, as a relatively new athlete (4+ years in the making), I’m incredibly prone to injuries: three ruptured ligaments in my left ankle, frequent bouts of finger tendonitis, and a recently dislocated left shoulder – all products of being a badass boulderer with minimal previous exposure to and experience of the intensive physicality of athletics (I hardly count those months when I had joined the Colgate’s Women’s Rugby team, only to skip out and hide behind the bushes on Fraternity Row when the team conducted their daily runs – though I did partake in the post-game drinking). My muscles, ligaments, and tendons were simply not used to such strenuous sport activity after nearly 25 years of not having undertaken any.

In any case, I hurt myself often and aggressively, and spent months at a time off the climbing walls and training gyms and in physical therapy. And while PT did help to alleviate some of the pain and strengthen the surrounding muscles that were overcompensating for the weak, torn tendons and ligaments, I often found the rehabilitation process frustrating and well, excruciatingly drawn out (not to mention expensive): was it really necessary to participate in 2 hours of physical therapy, 2-3x/week for 12 weeks? Surely I could do these exercises on my own time and not pay $30 to have an assistant PT hand me a sheet of strengthening exercises to undertake and then finish up with a 3 minute ultrasound and 10 minute ice and stem machine.

This is not to chastise the benefits of physical therapy (although it sure sounds that way, doesn’t it?). It’s done a great deal for me in recovering from the aforementioned injuries and becoming a stronger athlete. That being said, I am converting to chiropractic for the time being. Call it instant gratification, time efficiency, alternative medicine, what have you – but I find something deeply satisfying about being worked on for 15 minutes (in all areas that may be overcompensating and affected by the shoulder system – e.g. clavicle, neck, lower back) and then come out of the session feeling substantially better. The joints feel looser, the pain goes away, and one sees nearly instant results. And given my newly formed athlete persona, isn’t being results-driven what it’s all about, anyway?

Or maybe it’s just because I fancy his New Zealand accent. Whichever way you spin it, I’m officially addicted to chiropractic practice; call me a convert.