Medical Therapeutic Yoga for Achilles Tendon Rupture


Medical Therapeutic Yoga for Achilles Tendon Rupture: The Missing Link, Rehabilitation, Yoga, Physical Therapy

Written by Shelly Prosko, PT, PYT, CPI

As a Physical Therapist and Yoga Therapist for over 16 years, I am aware of the benefits and use of yoga therapy and some of the limitations of our current healthcare system. However, after sustaining a traumatic orthopedic injury myself, I had the opportunity to be a patient and experience first hand what it was like to go through our health care system.

Even though I was discharged from the ER and told that rehabilitation wouldn’t start for another 2 months, I knew that there were many aspects of my recovery that could still be addressed to optimize healing. I knew I could, and would, immediately start my own form of rehab and use yoga as my therapy….naturally including and using the knowledge, skills and experience I had as a physical therapist as well.

The first few weeks of ANY injury is so important for healing. All of our physiological systems must be given the opportunity and the right environment to function optimally in order to heal to our highest potential. In orthopedic rehab we focus on the physical layer (kosha).  However, the other 4 layers (koshas) of our existence are equally important in the acute stages of an ortho injury (mental, emotional, energetic, spiritual). This biopsychosocial approach to all divisions of therapy is essential if we want to treat the person and NOT the diagnosis.

So, I felt a responsibility to share this message while recovering from my own injury, as this is part of my life mission: to integrate yoga therapy into our western healthcare system by inspiring, empowering and educating people through wisdom, love, truth and joy. Click on link below to read more!

Source: Medical Therapeutic Yoga for Achilles Tendon Rupture

Roper Physical Therapy offers medical therapeutic yoga classes and 60-minute private yoga sessions with a physical therapist. Click here for more information about our program 

About the Author

Shelly Prosko, PT, PYT, CPI
Shelly Prosko, PT, PYT, CPI

Shelly Prosko, PT, PYT, CPI

Shelly is a Registered Physiotherapist, Yoga Therapist and a Certified Pilates Instructor. She received her Physiotherapy degree at the University of Saskatchewan, Canada in 1998, her Yoga Therapist training through Professional Yoga Therapy Studies in North Carolina (www.professionalyogatherapy.org) and her Pilates certification through Professional Health and Fitness Institute in Maryland(www.prohealthandfitness.com).

She has treated a wide variety of musculoskeletal, neurological and cardiorespiratory conditions while working in private orthopaedic clinics and long term care facilities across Canada and the United States.  Shelly was the physiotherapist and clinic manager at The Morris Center For Sports Medicine in Watkinsville, Georgia for 7 years. In 2006, she relocated to Alberta and continued to work in the private orthopaedic clinic setting and was actively involved in the occupational rehabilitation programs at CBI Health.In 2009, Shelly settled in the Okanagan and continues to follow her passions at Sun City Physiotherapy by offering private Physio-Yoga Therapy sessions and by incorporating Yoga Therapy and Pilates into her physiotherapy treatments (www.physioyoga.ca) She also teaches specialty Physio-Yoga Therapy classes in the community. She believes that bridging the gap between Western and Eastern healthcare philosophies is essential in order to achieve optimal health. Consequently, her treatments are individually based and are a unique blend of both approaches.  In addition to her many skills as a health care practitioner, Shelly is also an accomplished figure skater and has traveled the world with many professional ice shows. She is also passionate about music, dance, acting, trapeze, and spending quality time with her family and friends.