Senior Spotlight: Exercise to Relieve Pain
By: Katherine Lane
Updated: May 17, 2010
If you prefer bending and stretching to popping a pain pill, then pilates may be for you.
"My balance was awful! I had no idea how bad my balance was until we did some balance exercises," Pat Smart says.
Each week, you can find her at the Hendrick Health Club in the Pilates Studio. Smart prefers stretching and bending to medication. She had a knee replacement a year and a half ago.
"I was working on trying to get that knee straighter than it was, and I knew I needed some more flexibility and upper body strength as well, i just lost a lot during that period of time."
She is also a double breast cancer survivor. She says the weekly pilates routine gives her relief from her ailments, and she is not alone.
According to trainer Sam Matta, "We can go hand in hand with their physical therapy, and work and aim to what their doctor has recommended us to do." Matta says the class is popular with senior citizens looking for relief with the medication.
"It's about increasing the quality of life. You want to help someone gain a positive attitude with their life, you want to help them in day to day living. That is going to be involving stability, flexibility, mobility of their joints. If heaven forbid anything did happen, and someone fell down, at least they have the strength to come out of it and be hindered for a longer amount of time than for what they might be.
Smart says, "I wouldn't say i have ab's yet, but my abdominal muscles are definitely stronger and that helps my back. You know, my whole spine and my whole attitude because I know I'm doing something for myself.
Smart says she would highly recommend it to any one with looking for a healthy alternative to surgery rehabilitation and medication. Hendrick Health Club has the only Stott certified pilates studio in west Texas.
"My balance was awful! I had no idea how bad my balance was until we did some balance exercises," Pat Smart says.
Each week, you can find her at the Hendrick Health Club in the Pilates Studio. Smart prefers stretching and bending to medication. She had a knee replacement a year and a half ago.
"I was working on trying to get that knee straighter than it was, and I knew I needed some more flexibility and upper body strength as well, i just lost a lot during that period of time."
She is also a double breast cancer survivor. She says the weekly pilates routine gives her relief from her ailments, and she is not alone.
According to trainer Sam Matta, "We can go hand in hand with their physical therapy, and work and aim to what their doctor has recommended us to do." Matta says the class is popular with senior citizens looking for relief with the medication.
"It's about increasing the quality of life. You want to help someone gain a positive attitude with their life, you want to help them in day to day living. That is going to be involving stability, flexibility, mobility of their joints. If heaven forbid anything did happen, and someone fell down, at least they have the strength to come out of it and be hindered for a longer amount of time than for what they might be.
Smart says, "I wouldn't say i have ab's yet, but my abdominal muscles are definitely stronger and that helps my back. You know, my whole spine and my whole attitude because I know I'm doing something for myself.
Smart says she would highly recommend it to any one with looking for a healthy alternative to surgery rehabilitation and medication. Hendrick Health Club has the only Stott certified pilates studio in west Texas.
