This is an inspiring story, but also a little scary. We recently had a student join our Stronger Seniors class at the Center for Life and Learning at 4th Presbyterian Church.

She is a breast cancer survivor, and having difficulty with her shoulders (lymph nodes had been removed.) She had gone to a Physical Therapist prescribed by Medicare. Here’s the scary part- due to the limiting nature of Medicare, therapists are only allowed to work on the injured joints, in this case the right and left shoulders.

The human body is connected in a very complex but natural way, so only working on one part does not work. In fact the pain worsened. Her range of motion in that area DECREASED. Here’s the inspiring part.

She started coming to our Stronger Seniors Chair Exercise classes. After just four sessions, her conditioned improved. It was incredible but not too unusual. She came up to me after her fourth class and asked if she could hug me. She said she wanted to hug me simply because she could finally raise her arms high enough for a hug!

I was floored. It’s too bad that in this case Medicare couldn’t improve the quality of my student’s life. I am so grateful she was able to find therapy through exercise.

Click here for more info on the Center for Life and Learning in Chicago.

http://www.chicagolights.org
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Stay strong,

Anne