Barbara WintroubMy new client is a 78 year old woman from Canada who had knee replacement 8 weeks ago. She also has an 11 year old hip replacement on the other side and a failing knee on the hip replacement right side. She limps and her back is suffering from all this. Unfortunately, her Physical Therapist in Canada massaged her new knee replacement instead of cranking it and making it work, so scar tissue has formed and she is in great pain. So where do I begin?
I had a talk with her about pain to see what she can handle and what she hopes to gain. Each day is different so I work with what she can handle. She lets me push her and I try to say and do funny things while she is suffering through the workout. I groan loudly with her to let her know I feel her pain. She does the best she can on the reformer doing foot and leg work. She can only move the reformer part of the way in so I change the position of the foot bar often to simulate getting out of a chair or off the toilet (which is a very big problem). Toilet specific exercises who knew?? I have her do one leg at a time, heel drops and some turn out work. She does hand weights while doing foot and leg work because hands and feet in straps are not possible yet. Posture is key so we practice modified mermaid by sitting tall on the side of the reformer and pushing the foot bar using back muscles. We finish the lesson by us walking tall around the gym. She’s adorable and works very hard. I know this is tuff stuff for her. Let’s hope I can make a difference before she leaves for Canada soon.
Tip of the day: Think of your suspenders attached from the front pulling upward over your shoulders to the back of your sits bones to stand tall. Good Posture becomes You.
BARBARA IS AVAILABLE TO GIVE A FREE OSTEOPOROSIS LECTURE or teaching an osteoporosis class called “Tone Your Bones” OR FOR BOOK SIGNINGS. 310 913-3333