PT

What with all the lying around and napping, I could feel my strength deteriorating. I was so happy the doctor suggested seeing a physical therapist, though I must confess, I don't see how she can scrounge up enough energy for me to do any sort of serious exercising to get my muscle tone back.

I hauled myself through the door when I heard my name called, and shook hands with a woman whose face radiated sunshine and joy. We made our way slowly to the end of the hall and entered a room where a cart labeled Physical Therapy sat waiting, filled with balls and ropes and gadgets. It looked daunting.

She put me through a few tests to assess how much strength I had lost. "Push against my hand. Hold your leg up while I push down. See if you can keep your foot from being moved." Yes, I have definitely lost some strength, but nothing that can't be reversed.

She looked at my face and laughed. "Don't worry. I'm not going to ask you to run a marathon. We will start simply. Stuff you can do during the commercials when you are watching a TV show. Little things. And I have pictures!"

She was so right. We started with the ankle pumps. Every hour at the start of the hour, wiggle your feet back and forth for ten wiggles. I can do that. Once a day, while you are sitting in a chair, lift each leg up and hold it for five seconds. Do that ten times on each leg. I can do that!

When you go out to the kitchen to get a drink of water, put your hands on the counter and lift your leg to the side ten times, then do the other side. Do it to the back and to the front. Only once a day.

She gave me a handful of simple movements and suggestions of when to do them, complete with instruction sheets. Things I can do without burning up much needed energy. She guaranteed that my muscle tone would improve even with such simple exercises.

On the cardio side, she suggested a five minute moderate walk four times a week. Every week, try to bump it up by a few minutes. The eventual goal is to be able to walk for thirty minutes without feeling wobbly. I can work on that. Sugar can help if I can convince her to stop sniffing everything in sight!

I have good hope that this will fit me to return to work more easily. Meanwhile, I will try to at least take a short car ride every day, just to make myself move about more. Staying with it! Working on returning to a normal schedule. Yes!