Day 39. Status Quo

More of the same. Stretching and lifting. Tonight I did 60 minutes on the bike on level 10. I didn't get as far as normal because my legs were exhausted and the last few days of my diet have been high in protein and not so much carbs. So RPM was around 60-80 rather than 100+ like Sunday.

Although the long term energy stores weren't there, I had plenty in me for leg press. Which I did like I have been: 3 sets of 10 on each leg then 3 sets of 10 combined.
160x10
180x10
200x10

380x10
400x10
420x10

After which my right leg felt amazing. I was stretching between each set on the combined and I could get both legs equally as far up in flexion. To stretch my PT suggested that I go up against a table and rest my leg on it then sit back rather than grabbing my ankle and pulling. I was doing this but against the arm curl machine (the leather than you rest your arms over). I was getting a nice deep lean into into it. Everything feels great for 5.5 weeks. Atrophy is nil.

1st surgery: I was about at this level. I remember being amazed that I was cleared to run at 5 weeks, however I was pushing myself to make senior track season.
2nd surgery: Recovery, flexibility started great out of the gate but stagnated around this time because well, I had nothing to work for. I was going to take a whole year off Rugby and I was in the middle of school.
3rd: I seem to be combining the best of both.

A tip for everyone:
Atrophy is horrible. I'd have to say that I'd rank atrophy above flexion as the worst thing that could happen to an athlete trying to return. Even if you steadily work on it your flexion will return, it's a slow process as is. But once you lose that muscle, it's gone and it's not going to come back over night. Now obviously one has to precede the other, you're not going to stop that atrophy if you can't bend your leg to 90 degrees.

What is atrophy? It's when you start losing your muscle due to inactivity. Even if you don't actively lift your legs do. Imagine every step as a short rep of your body weight. A football field would be 50 reps per leg of what ever you weigh. Now imagine completely stopping that.

What did atrophy feel like? Guys, grab your favorite lady friend. Ladies you already have two simulation atrophy legs. Yes, I'm serious. That's what it felt like. Subcutaneous fat on the stomach doesn't have the right 'texture'. Grab your thy and 'jiggle it' with your quads loosened. With atrophy you can try as hard as you want to tighten those quads, but it still jiggles a little bit.

Get Flexion Back.
Stop Strength Loss.