I joined Momentum in February 2002 and enjoyed classes, doing cardio on my own and working out on the machines, but I exercised irregularly and always put many other things first. After two years of this uncommitted approach I turned a mental corner and began to take exercise seriously. I knew a commitment to physical training was a necessity for improving my physical and mental well-being. What happened to bring about this change of heart? I was confronted with the realities of age-related disease, orthopedic surgery and injuries.
In January 2004 I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. My physician told me that in addition to medication and increased calcium intake, I should be doing weight-bearing exercises at least twice a week. I signed up for twice-weekly personal training at Momentum. A bone scan eighteen months later showed that I no longer had osteoporosis. More recent bone scans show that I am continuing to add bone mass.
In January of 2008, I had a bunionectomy. When the orthopedic surgeon prescribed physical therapy he agreed that I could continue my personal training and began working with Charlene. As soon as I was cleared to start physical therapy, I was back at Momentum with my crutches and boot. Charlene planned a training regimen that focused on my upper body and lower body without ever putting pressure on my foot. When I was released from physical therapy, she added more demanding work using the floor agility ladder. I became more agile that I had been prior to the surgery! Then in April 2008, I fell while on vacation, reinjuring my left foot and severely spraining my right foot. (No breaks, however – let’s hear it for bone mass!) I showed up at my next training session with a big boot on my surgical foot and a brace on my right foot. Charlene said “ohhhh noooo!!!!” as she saw me walking in like Frankenstein. Again, I worked with the physical therapist and with Charlene, and then eventually just with Charlene. In time, she had me hopping, skipping and jumping on the agility ladder again. Happily, I was also back to classes and regular cardio.
I’m not done: On March 31, 2009, my 110 pound dog was playing when he sailed through the air into the side of my left knee. I was in great pain but able to walk into the doctor’s office for x-rays. There were no broken bones, so he sent me back to physical therapy and said that I could also continue training with Charlene. When the pain persisted, they did an MRI which showed a torn ACL and a torn MCL. The doctor was amazed. He said that my strong leg muscles had worked to stabilize the knee and that my Momentum trainer and I were doing a great job. He advised that since I wasn’t a competitive athlete, he wanted to hold off on surgery and see if the torn ligaments would heal over time. By now he thought I had done enough physical therapy and recommended that I continue working with Charlene. I was in a knee immobilizer the next time I showed up at Momentum. Charlene groaned in sympathy and then off we went on a regimen to keep my body strong and flexible without putting undue pressure on the healing knee. I graduated to a brace and we continued to train. After my one setback, the orthopedist decided to perform arthroscopic surgery. However, a week before the surgery I was able to cancel the procedure because my knee had improved so dramatically.
I’m doing cardio again and I plan to start classes soon! My doctor says that with regular cardio he may eventually be able to take me off of blood pressure medicine!
Thank you, Momentum! Thank you, Charlene!
Back |