Peggy's Progress Blog - Recovery

days seven and eight

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 16:29:00 -0700

Once again, WOW! Tuesday I started by with Elena doing core strengthening work on the moving standing frame. I then spent a half hour working with Will using the Total Gym. This is an incline bench at 45 degrees; where about 60% of my body weight is placed on my legs (this actually qualifies as weight bearing exercise, so it's good for my bones). On Thursday I worked, and I mean REALLY worked with Elena, using weights on my arms while using the moving standing frame. We then moved to a floor to do core strengthening exercises. Sounds easy, right? Call me a wimp, but I beg (and beg, and beg and BEG to differ; please let me stop! ;-) After an hour of being pushed to what I felt was my limit, I then worked with John on the Power Plate, and finished the last half hour using the elliptical trainer. Which you can see in the second video; it's quite something. It's reminding my body to do what it knows and was meant to do; what it feels like to WALK! I'm already looking forward to next week...

fifth session

Tue, 14 Aug 2007 18:08:00 -0700

Today was my fifth session at Project Walk. And I've got just one thing to say. Actually, I don't need to write much at all; all I need is a single consonant: W (used twice) and a single vowel: O. Wow wow WOW. Today was stunning. I worked with Colleen the first hour and, good lord, that woman is a sadist. She had me doing exercises with my legs I have never done before. I was exhausted and out of breath the first hour but--to the sadists, I guess--the fun was just beginning. The second hour was when I saw my life pass before my eyes; Elena hooked my legs and butt up with electrodes, then got me in front of this machine, and I actually pedaled a bike for 3.5 miles! I am not kidding; they're going to send me the computer printout of my results. It was exhausting (but also kinda fun, but don't quote me on that). I'm definitely gonna sleep tonight...

PS - check out the videos page of me riding the bike.

Regular physical therapy compared to Project Walk therapy

Sat, 11 Aug 2007 18:30:00 -0700

Many of you have asked why I just don't do 'regular' or normal physical therapy, which my insurance would probably pay for. Indeed they do; I have had many, many sessions of what is oddly termed 'physical therapy'. It truly is a misnomer, for there's nothing physical about it. What 'physical therapy' does is try to get you comfortable with the fact that you're probably going to be 'in' a wheelchair for the rest of your life. The focus of Project Walk is hugely different than regular 'physical therapy'. Project Walk focuses on building up your body physicality and stamina so that you actually can walk again. I haven't experienced a workout like those I've had thus far at Project Walk since I used to run; they actually get me out of breath! The workouts are not easy; Jay said he got tired just watching!