Jim

What was and how bad was your problem prior to receiving physical therapy?
I was exercising regularly, several times a week at the gym but I was having some difficulty at home with balance. Walking, I would stumble. I had lost some weight over the last year and I didn’t feel strong. I felt weak. I just felt that, perhaps, some professional advisement on some exercises would enhance my core strength and perhaps my balance. And I think it has been effective.

What was your pain preventing you from doing?
In earlier years, I was an avid bicycle rider and hiker. Now, I find it more difficult to walk on uneven surfaces and I stopped riding the bicycle because of the balance problem. I felt that I was risking myself to continue cycling even short distances. But I do believe, now, I’m going to try! At least riding around the block a few times.

What would you say to someone who was experiencing pain but skeptical about physical therapy?
This physical therapy and the physical therapy I have had in the past have all been very helpful. At physical therapy, while some of the exercises may seem rather trivial in the beginning but if you continue them and do them to the best of your ability,  they will help. They will bring you back to where you want to be but I do think you have to keep doing it. I would advise anybody that hasn’t been to physical therapy but feels a need for it, just walking around the grocery store or shopping in the mall, doing those kind of activities, I would recommend that therapy would enhance their experience.

Out of all the things that you enjoyed about coming to Preferred Physical Therapy, what did you enjoy the most?
Well, I think it’s a very friendly group, very congenial, always ready when you get here. It’s interesting to work with several different people, even in one session because they see different characteristics in me, so I have enjoyed that.

What were you wanting to achieve and did we help you to achieve it?
Oh very definitely! I have three bicycles that I used to ride more than I drove my car, like across the country and a few trips in Europe where I’ve cycled, Sweden and Denmark and England. I know that at 95 years-old, I can’t do that anymore but I would like to do an eight or ten mile ride. That’s my immediate goal, to use the facilitation I have been given here, to see if I can initiate some short rides once again. In terms of getting on the bicycle and balancing, often times I would go pump up the tires and think I could do it but I would just be afraid to try. I have confidence now. I think that’s the one thing therapy can do for you, to build confidence — “Yes, I can do that!” Even though, at first, it seems impossible. But keep at it. Perseverance is the key.