A couple more (interesting) cases

Again, some identifying facts are altered to preserve anonymity.

Norman.

Norman is a retired professional, age 96. He fell and broke a vertebrae, which put him in the hospital for 6 weeks. Already severely hunched over with scoliosis, he only saw about 10 feet in front of his feet--before the accident. When I first met Norman, he was barely able to see me sitting, his back was so stooped. He could barely stand up from his chair to his walker more than a couple times up and down. At this point, he was obviously frail and not able to move much around his apartment without risking another fall.

We have been meeting in his apartment for half-hour sessions twice a week for some 4 months now. For a few weeks I had him do some of the outpatient exercises from the hospital, but immediately got more sophisticated--since I supervised and spotted any challenging exercises and tasks. Norman was encouraged to do the original home prescription on any days that I was not visiting.

We did a number of exercises in the kitchen where he is challenged to reach his arms above his head holding the cupboard shelves (stretching shoulders and the back). Norman now uses the counters to walk sideways and turn across one counter for the other--developing strength and flexibility of the ankles, knees, hips, pelvis, back, shoulders.

His bed is next to another bed which helps keep him feeling relatively safe. I spot him as he now walks on all fours to the headboard, and backwards to the edge of the other end of the bed, then back to the headboard where he then climbs up on his knees and lower leg, hands on the top of the board. Then he sits on pillows between his lower and upper leg ("Japanese tea ceremony" style) and a pillow under his front ankles. Just getting Norman to climb onto the bed on all fours was a barrier at the beginning, being so weak at the time. Of course, he was well spotted (I was near and even holding/supporting/assisting him some). It is a similar process at most developmental turns.

Another station (a next "event", we jokingly refer to) is his big office chair with an arm rest. A number of exercises involve me in front on my chair or standing behind his chair-- turning myself into configurations that allow him to push and pull with his arms, legs, and torso. I do not wish to give away 'trade secrets' here lol.

Norman is obviously moving more and more, with a obvious improved range of motion. He can now see greater distances to orientate. He can make eye contact with persons he is meeting or sharing meals with. And, his risk of falling is much diminished. I have to caution him to use his walker and not take undue chances.

Lately, Norman now wants to go to the apartment gym (he did not even want to have it mentioned at the beginning) where he practices various step patterns using a small set of stairs. He now practices walking with two parallel railings up and down the steps and also a wheelchair ramp! His aerobic fitness has obviously improved compared to the fragile state I found him in at the start. On the underweight side (BMI), he tells me he has gained 8 pounds and is eating well these days.

Norman attends pretty well all his old social engagements from before the accident (which are considerable, and impressive, if you ask me).

I have asked Norman if I can tell this "work in progress" to others. He is happy to give permission!

Charlie.

Charlie, age 69 is retired, and came to me with a condition that, if thrown into any type of excessive shock requires a self induced shot from a kit prescribed by a medical specialist. He wears the emergency medical bracelet at all times. He also had a bad shoulder. My fitness approach is careful with most/all of my clients. This one was definitely 'easy does it' until solidly adapted.

When first meeting me, Charlie was almost frail and very tentative with the exercises. Just getting down to the floor and up off the floor was onerous. Walking on a treadmill was short duration and slow. Weights were at the low end--or just simply using the body to achieve positions and movements-- before taking on significant challenges. He could not do a number of the Canadian population fitness tests for his age group for months--and the ones he did try were all needing significant improvement to reach normative levels.

To his credit, Charlie did pretty much everything that was suggested. I made sure that every 'dose' of exercise and every overall dose of a one hour session was just enough to tease the various tissues that benefit from exercise. Muscle, bone, nerve, hormones, blood, plasma, etc. grew to the point 6 months later--where Charlie does all the Canadian population tests, and is in mostly good to very good categories. He handles the equipment like a veteran, does gymnastics/body exercises whenever out of the gym or as alternatives when too many people are using equipment in the gym. He can even do comprehensive routines in public spaces such as an airport terminal. His shoulder problem has cleared up.

From an almost frail state of health, this past summer Charlie successfully drove solo from Vancouver to Calgary and back, and also went solo to England to visit family and Bavaria to visit friends.

Charlie still trains with me twice a week for one hour sessions. He prefers alternating between the gym and home settings.