Helen Harvey

REASON FOR ATTENDING:

General Fitness

BENEFITS:

• Helped alleviate upper back and rib pain
• Personalised exercises
• Suggestions for adaptations to ease condition

Helen first came to me a few years ago with general lower back pain and Sciatic pain down her legs which worsened after her caesarean operation which had weakened her abdominal wall.  She was paying for monthly trips to her Chiropractor before starting my Pilates group classes but now only needs to visit her Chiropractor on the odd occasion now if her pelvis slips which is great.  She told me of her recent acute pain that manifested in lock down and this was worst under her rib cage and she could no longer lift her arm.  She also had bone density issues from her broken ankle a couple of years ago and furthermore had thinning discs in her lower back to complicate matters.

Helen was keen to improve her fitness in lock down as she was working from home and had started following an online pre recorded video to improve her upper body and leg strength.  I mentioned that this could have a downside as the exercises were not supervised and included using hand weights and may not be a balanced programme.  Some time later she mentioned experiencing this acute pain and that her doctor was perplexed and about to send her for MRI scans and x-rays.  She spoke with me about it and I explained what I thought was causing it, she had 3 one to one sessions in which time I explained office set up, balancing muscle groups and how to structure her daily activity optimally working alongside the demands of her work from home.  I created for her a specific 12 minute programme which she faithfully followed.  A couple of weeks later the pain was far less and a month later it is completely gone.  Well done Helen, you coped like a pro and fitted it into your very busy, high pressure working day.