Rehabilitation Means Returning to the Life You Love – Thoughts on Shoulder Pain and the Future – July 19, 2026 (Sunday) Reiwa8

I woke up in the middle of the night because of July 19, 2026 6:02 AM
pain in my left shoulder.

After lying awake for a while, I thought, "Maybe I should try moving it a little." So I slowly began the rehabilitation exercises my physical therapist had taught me.

Exercises with a stick.

A pulley exercise.

A towel-sliding exercise.

Wall exercises.

The pain was still there.

But after finishing the exercises, I felt something surprising.

"It might be a little easier than yesterday."

That made me wonder:

What is rehabilitation, really?

As I thought about it, I learned that the word "rehabilitation" means "restoring a person to their former way of life."

Until now, I had believed rehabilitation simply meant exercising a shoulder that could no longer move.

But its true purpose goes much further.

Being able to tie my hair.

Getting dressed by myself.

Cooking again.

And returning to the swimming pool that I love.

Rehabilitation is about taking one small step at a time toward getting back the life that feels like my own.

Right now, there are still many movements I cannot do.

But it has only been my third day of rehabilitation, so that is only natural.

I still cannot lower my arm behind my head, and my left arm does not lift the way I want it to.

Even so, there are moments when I realize,

"It feels a little easier than yesterday."

Perhaps those small changes are the true signs of recovery.

On the day I fractured my shoulder, I asked my orthopedic surgeon,

"When will I be able to swim again?"

He paused for a moment and answered,

"Three months."

Then I asked,

"Will I be able to swim the butterfly stroke again?"

After another brief pause, he replied with just one word:

"Determination."

At first, I wondered what he meant.

Now I think I understand.

Determination does not mean pushing yourself too hard.

It means trying to move one small step forward each day.

It means continuing patiently without rushing.

I have no intention of jumping straight back into swimming.

First, I will begin with water walking.

Then I will join an aqua exercise class.

As my shoulder improves, I will gradually return to freestyle.

And someday, I hope I will be able to challenge myself with the butterfly stroke once again.

Rehabilitation is not simply about returning to where you were.

It is about beginning the journey back to your own life.

If I can move just one small step forward from yesterday, that is enough.

Those were my thoughts today.

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