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How Physiotherapy Makes Me Stronger - By Bailey Drennan
I aspire to become a physiotherapist. As such, I am currently in my first year of Queen’s University Master’s Physiotherapy Program. Having undergone major surgery to repair my knee, I appreciate the value of physiotherapy first hand. I can say without a doubt that physiotherapy got me through the whole ordeal and with a smile no less! Through a combination of different sports I severed both cruciate ligaments while also causing major damage to my right knee and the surrounding tissue. It took 2 years to get the root of the problem solved with major knee surgery. While it took time to get an appointment to see a surgeon, I was able to see a physiotherapist almost immediately, and I didn’t need my doctor to refer me there. I had an amazing physiotherapist who immediately took to decreasing my pain and getting me moving again.
At first the physiotherapist taught me how to use crutches properly, how to best decrease my pain and how to modify my activities so I could make it through the day.  She showed me what to do to get my knee moving and to keep it as strong as possible. As time progressed so too did my abilities; my strength increased in the surrounding muscles and I was able to use these muscles without being exhausted. When it was time for surgery I was in the best shape possible: my leg muscles were the powerhouse keeping me moving, as the ligaments designed to hold it together were on vacation. The day after the 7 hour surgery I returned to my physiotherapist for some help with the pain. I didn’t realize that shaving the bone was so intense! Together we got the pain under control and were able to get my knee moving relatively quickly. I am proud to say that I bounced back stronger than ever. Goodbye forever crutches!
Not only did the physiotherapist ‘fix’ me, she also was my own personal motivator, mentor and optimist. She would encourage me and always kept me smiling and laughing. She never even charged for the abdominal workout that accompanied our sessions (from laughing so much). The atmosphere in the clinic was not your typical medical health experience. The staff were warm and friendly, and you could tell that they loved their jobs; it was contagious!
A major knee surgery could have been a horrible experience, and yet it lead me to my future career and livelihood. I look forward to paying it forward and helping others in similar situations find their inner and outer strength. Together we can make everyone stronger- and we don’t even need Popeye’s spinach!
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