Category: 3- Working Wednesday
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Plateau
They warned me it would happen. When you are improving, getting closer to your goals, and showing great strides, there comes a time when you just get stuck. (I know, thanks.) No matter how hard you work, you feel like you’re on a treadmill going nowhere! I am there. I am on the plateau. I…
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Shake It Up
It hearkens back to an old fifties exercise machine. (Let’s jiggle the fat away!) And it also seems like bit of a preposterous notion. This vibration machine really does exercise your core and legs, with not a big effort on my part. I just had to hold on and not let my legs buckle. The…
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Graduating
Guess what? I graduated! My Occupational Therapist informed me I graduated from his assistive technology program! (An OT works with arm rehabilitation and teaching ways to be independent, even with physical problems, like washing dishes, folding laundry and dressing.) He will continue to work on my arm and hand to keep them flexible. He offered…
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It Feels Wonderful!
I’m am constantly amazed at how the smallest movement can benefit your comfort level immensely! I have recently begun to lift my foot at the ankle, and it feels great.! It requires major concentration, but I can raise it up. I was sitting in the car, and I lifted both feet. Then I thought, “Did…
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Cardio
I desired to increase my cardio workout, so I requested more exercise after my normal therapy session. (I am a gluten for punishment! See video.) They assist me as I get onto this bicycle-like machine they call a Biodex. It’s more like pushing and pulling with a bike motion. My goal is 50 RPMs (I…
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Pushing
Lately, I have been working on stability when standing. (See both videos.) I stand in the middle of the room, and they push and pull me to see if I can recover. I always say, “Oh, you’re pushing me around again!” I am convinced that moving my single arm is definitely going to help me.…
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Balance – 7/5/17
Balance is one of the things I have been working on lately. It’s a tricky thing, balance is. (I never thought about it before.) You gotta move your toes, and leg (I can move,) my good arm, too. In the gym, (or ‘on land,’ as they say) I have been standing for extended periods and…
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Swim – 6/28/17
I engage in water therapy three times a week. The floor of the pool is a treadmill, and I employ a lot of walking. I workout with other exercises also. (This pic above is my forced smile. Don’t miss the video below.) Because of the weightlessness of the water, I am able to move much more…
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Housework – 6/21/17
You might say, “Yep, she’s lost it.” But I would love to do all the housework right now. When I go home, it takes all I have not to get on the floor and clean. (I seriously have asked Darin to put me in my former front flower patch, I just want to pull those…
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One Step At a Time – 6/14/17
Hoopla erupted in the gym the other day! I was starting to lift my right foot off the ground, but the carpet was stopping it from going any farther. So they duct taped my toe to stop the resistance. (New fashion trend!) Darin was there and we did a bunch of standing, and I took…
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Standing Alone – 6/7/17
I have been doing marathon standing lately. (50+ times, see the video) Practice makes perfect, I stood on my own for the first time today! (!!!) And I can balance on my own! (Look, ma no hands!) Wow, this is the first time in ten months. It feels so good the stand straight up.…
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Electrodes – 5/31/17
Remember that movie scene(s), there were a few, when the mad scientist hooks electrodes to the lucky recipient (or parts of recipient,) flips the switch, and yells, ‘It’s alive!” Well today the recipient was trying to come to life. (Part of me anyway.) As you have probably guessed, that lucky recipient was yours truly. They…
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Legs – Working Wednesday 5/24/17
“Don’t pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.” Bruce Lee Leg lifts were difficult today! The therapist had me lift my legs and pull them back, with the brace on. (So?) Well the brace was made to support my knee from hyperextending, but in keeping with its function,…
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Right Bicept – Working Wednesday 5/17/17
It is evident that I have part of my right bicep is back, the pushing part. But not the pulling part. (Explain that!) Maybe pulling is a different muscle. I have really given my girls a run for their money in our little arm wrestling matches. This aide was taking it easy on me. (I…
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Boxing – Working Wednesday 5/10/17
Aquaworks (where I rehab) uses boxing to help Parkinson’s patients, and they have experienced much success. They thought they would use me as a guinea pig. It’s slightly different with one arm, but good grief I experienced an exhausting workout! After we got the Rocky jokes out of the way, (Adrian!) I punched and pummeled…
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Stroke Awareness – Working Wednesday 5/3/17
May is stroke awareness month. I have done some reaserch, and the numbers are amazing! Stroke the #1 cause of disability. (I’m in the club!) 80% of strokes are preventable. (I should’ve had my blood pressure checked more!) The first cause is high blood pressure, the second is lack of exercise. Stroke is the 5th…
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Abs – Working Wednesday 4/26/17
Who loves sit-ups? (Cricket noises) Neither do I. But it is a necessary evil. I would highly enjoy parting with my well-earned gut. (Laying around after the stroke for almost eight months, endless shots and giving birth to six kids will give you that!) I need to strengthen my core again. I asked if crunches…
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Water Therapy – Working Wednesday 4/5/17
The first few time I got in the water, I was quite emotional. When I had the stroke it was mid-August. Summer was in full swing, and we were still boating. I really loved the water and all you could do in it. When I was in the water after seven months of being in…
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Stand – Working Wednesday 4/12/17
I never imagined that standing could be such an exhausting task! Today I stood from the wheelchair, holding onto a bar, and with someone to balance me. I did this about 15 (or more) times in rapid succession. I did not know your knees and other leg muscles work so incredibly hard to get you…
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Walking – Working Wednesday 4/19/17
You need to appreciate your ease in everyday walking. I remember when I didn’t even think twice about it. When one leg doesn’t cooperate and one is weaker, it’s much harder. I had a brace made (thanks Rocky Mountain Brace and Heidi) that helps my right knee not to hyperextend. (We’ve worked it so hard,…
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