“From Chair to Walking Unassisted”
I became a member of The MS Gym in June 2017. Initially I thought, this is too good to be true. The more I watched and listened to Trevor, I realised this wasn’t some hocus pocus therapy. The concept of neuroplasticity was new to me, but made sense. The daily live sessions became part of my day. For the very first time I felt hopeful that I could improve my posture, reduce spasticity and have less back pain from sitting all day in a power chair.
I was diagnosed with MS over 30 years ago. None of the disease modifying drugs slowed the progression. I succumbed to using a power chair 12 years ago as I lost all mobility. My neurologist’s attitude was this was just the nature of this disease. Nothing else could be done.
Over the years physical therapists manipulated my slowly wasting muscles. Little was expected of me physically, after all it is MS, you know, they said. I was resigned to the inevitable.
So my heart soared when thanks to The MS Gym, I began to see improvements in my body. My left side is affected, but I could stand. Trevor said, “If you can stand, then you can walk”.
And so it began. I walked 3 steps, then it gradually increased. By September, when I had scheduled HSCT, I was walking, unaided, 600 steps up and down my hallway! Unbelievable! I never expected I would be using my legs again.
I did not hesitate to join The MS Gym Membership. The exercises in the programs are structured in a specific sequence and Trevor’s instruction, demonstration and explanation of each exercise is clear and understandable.
I have all this information at my fingertips now. I can pause and hit play whenever is convenient for me. Go back and repeat certain exercises as many times as I need to, if I haven’t quite mastered one. I am midway through Movement Camp 1 and every few days I notice small changes, that all add up. If I have a question for Trevor I can post it on the program page, and he will answer directly. The camaraderie and support among the 11,000 plus members is absolutely priceless. We are on the same journey, uncovering potential we did not even know we had.
My foot drop is lessening, my stiff arm is loosening up, balance, posture, and walking, improve day by day. This means, I can get out of my van using the door, not the side ramp, and walk a short distance, no wheel chair. Do you know how that feels? I am reclaiming my freedom. I walk around in my house most of the day now. I can cook meals, vacuum, activities others take for granted. We will be soon be installing hand rails along the wheel chair ramp leading to our front door. By summer I intend to walk across the road and up the steps into my neighbor’s house.
I am back in control, and it is because of the MS Gym Membership program. Daily exercise is now my medicine and I am looking ahead with goals, dreams, and hope!
Clare Willson
