“My left leg has always been weaker since my first surgery in ‘89,” reflected Antia who felt lopsided when she walked. Now with a fused spine, Anita had accepted certain parts of her day weren’t going to go well, specifically stairs and getting to and from the floor. And they hadn’t been going well for years after her surgery.
How Physical Therapy Transformed Anita’s Daily Life
Anita’s doctor told her she needed to work on core strength. Most patients don’t know how to achieve this on their own–if they did, they already would have. Luckily, Anita’s doctor referred her to physical therapy. When doctors tell you “you need more exercise/strength/flexibility” it’s not always helpful, because you’re not exactly sure what that means for your body. The best doctors know to connect you to physical therapy. Pssst, in case you don’t get a physical therapy referral, the good news is you don’t actually need one to start physical therapy.
Anita’s first video visit with us proved she was correct; her left leg was indeed weaker. She could only balance on one leg for 1.5 seconds compared to her other leg at 12 seconds. Why does balance on one leg matter? Think about this; every time you walk, you’re balanced on one leg for a moment, every time you take the stairs you’re balanced on one leg for a moment. These moments add up, and if there’s a big difference, it’s often reflected in how you walk and how it feels. For Anita, walking had become painful.
Personalized Exercise Routines: Tailored Solutions for Better Balance
Okay, so do some exercises and get better, right? Not quite. Each person has different needs, a different starting level, and different abilities. Anita, for example, could not lie flat on her back because it hurt. A lot of exercises, especially core exercises, have you lying on your back. If I told Anita she had to do this, she would have hated me, it would have hurt, and she probably would have quit the exercises–and I would not have blamed her.
So we got creative. Her assigned exercises started with some simple balance, some leg and core work she could do on her side or hands and knees. And she started improving. By three weeks, Anita’s single leg balance went from 1.5 seconds to 10 seconds. That’s a big improvement. With Anita’s permission, we started including a couple exercises that would have her lying on her back. We didn’t do those every day and Anita noticed, as long as she took breaks or lied on a mattress instead of the floor, the exercises were tolerable.
Progressing with Purpose: Anita’s Customized Exercise Regimen
Her exercises changed and progressed. Exercise variety can be really underrated in the field of physical therapy–I used to fall victim to this in the clinic. I would give people their initial 3-5 exercises, and I would have them do those for weeks to months. They were important exercises, but they would get boring for people, and they didn’t address all the different things the patient actually needed to get better. With Anita, she did about 15 different exercises throughout the week. I would never do this for someone seeing me in a clinic, because no one can keep track of 15 exercises, do them on specific days, and do them with the right technique. For Anita, I only gave her 3 different exercises each day, and each exercise was a video she would follow along with start to finish. And she did them.
“They are very specific and precise,” Anita told me. She found them easy to follow and liked that she could do them wherever she wanted at the office, at home, or at her sister’s.
Virtual Physical Therapy: A New Path to Restoring Mobility
Through virtual physical therapy, Anita could exercise anywhere. The accessibility and adaptability of virtual sessions proved vital in her rehabilitation.
Moving Forward: Anita Conquered Pain and Weakness
It paid off. A couple months in, Anita told me walking didn’t hurt anymore, she could take stairs normal again, and getting to and from the floor, though she didn’t love it, was a lot easier than it had been.
Her single leg balance, you ask? The balance she could only hold for 1.5 seconds? Anita improved to 30 seconds balancing on that leg. As her physical therapist, I knew we would improve her balance, but even I did not anticipate we’d improve that much.
Anita’s legs are stronger, her balance is better, and her days are less painful because of the work she put in to improve herself and her body.
Massive congratulations to Anita and all she’s done and will do. You are awesome.
Ready for Change? How MotivPT Can Help You Achieve Your Goals
If you’ve been dealing with pain or injury for a while and think you’re ready to do something about it, contact motivPT. Dr. Alex is here to support you every step of the way, no matter where you are. Contact us today to learn how our virtual physical therapy and personal training can help you regain the things you thought you’d lost and go strongly into your future.
At motivPT, we’ll get you moving in a healthy way. If you have pain, weakness, or imbalance, consider booking an online Physical Therapy routine customized to fit your individual needs. Book your free 15-minute consult to talk with Dr. Alex about your concerns and learn more about how we work!
