Celebrity Physical Therapy and Getting Cured Off The Wild Turkey

Jack Tripper helping Janet with back exercises.

Subjective
It’s a Saturday and I’m glad. I got to sleep late. We’d pawned the kids off on the grandparents last night. Yes, I got to sleep late and I made it all the way to 7AM. Daily, I get up at 6 or 6:30, so I made it a little later than normal. Oh well. One of the things that I enjoy immensely is watching meaningless TV. I’ll keep it on Headline News for background noise and maybe catch a little bit of actual news. I also like watching Sanjay Gupta’s Fit Nation. I get to see some interesting things on that. Things that I’ve actually worked into the clinic. Most of those were exercise routines. The mentioned shows were not meaningless though. The type of show I meant though were shows like Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives. Cake Boss. Chuck. 16 And Pregnant. Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew.

Objective
That last one makes me think though. What would be really neat would be if Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew was about celebrities who had and ACL repair or celebrities with back issues. That kind of rehab would rock! Wow! B and C list celebrities going to physical therapy! Just imagine, Joyce Dewitt having shoulder surgery and seeing her have physical therapy on her shoulder! Or Ted McGinnley having traction and joint mobilization to his back! Or Leeza Gibbons having flat feet and then causing knee issues and then her getting orthotics and having to stretch! Man! I’d have my geek-on watching that! Oooh! And maybe here and there a real A-lister: Bruce Willis hurt his back doing his own stunt on Die Hard 5: Die Trying!

Assessment
This is a pipe dream. But an entertaining one at that. However, let me say this. I’m not a fan of the word “Rehab” in reference to “going to physical therapy”. There is a movement within my profession that is actually pushing therapists to quit using that word. I’m not sure it warrants a movement, though. I prefer either “physical therapy” or “therapy”. Rehab, these days, has a bad connotation. Makes me think of Charlie Sheen or Jeff Conway or Lindsay Lohan. Rehab suggests 12-step programs (which have their use) like going to Promises in Southern California or that joint in Hattiesburg that Tiger is getting cured at. That reminds me of Cousin Eddie talking about his daughter being in rehab getting “cured off the wild turkey” during Christmas Vacation.

Plan
I’d gladly help Dr. Drew start a new celebrity medical show. Getting the word out about physical therapy via use of has-been celebrities or even current ones. Theme episodes showing a condition with a different celebrity each week would be a ratings hit for TLC or VH1. Stay tuned for Celebrity Physical Therapy! This week’s episode “Sinbad’s Sciatica!” and next week “Vern Troyer’s Vertigo”. Later in the season stay tuned for “Ed Asner’s Neuropathy” and “Sherman Hemsley’s Herniated Discs”. I could go all day.