I decided to extend the Day 100 celebration in the best possible way: physiotherapy first thing in the morning.
I managed to get time with Taka today. His approach is noticeably different from Cleyber’s. He doesn’t push through patellar pain. Instead, he looks for exercises that burn the muscles without aggravating the joint.
We focused heavily on glutes and stability. Banded side walks, banded leg lifts, then quads. Squats with a ball behind my back, resisted leg lifting, quad activation. Less dramatic pain, more deep fatigue.
After that, muscle liberation. Hard, effective, grounding.
We talked about golf. For him, I can already start hitting balls. The injured leg is the trailing leg, so there’s less rotational stress. That felt like a small but meaningful opening. Another door cracking open.
He recommended training legs three to four times per week, with proper rest in between. When I asked about flexion, he wasn’t worried at all. A completely different level of concern compared to Cleyber. Different philosophies, same goal.
I left the session feeling good. Physically lighter, mentally calmer. I can see the progress more clearly when pain isn’t the only reference point.
I went to the office after. More driving, more sitting, but also much better focus and productivity. Starting the day with physio really makes a difference. It’s not always possible, but when it happens, everything else flows better.
Back home, football on TV, dinner, rest, ice, and early sleep.
A long day, but a good one.
Key Takeaways
- Different rehab approaches can coexist and complement each other.
- Avoiding pain doesn’t mean avoiding progress.
- Muscle burn is a safer signal than joint pain right now.
- Morning physiotherapy improves focus and energy for the whole day.
- Progress feels clearer when confidence replaces fear.