The Ramp to Freedom

Working with clients in their homes is such a rewarding activity. I am always so moved by the gratitude my clients show for everything and anything I can do for them, whether it is an hour of social interaction, making the ups and downs from their kitchen table a little easier, or helping them gain enough strength and confidence to maneuver into and out of their home with their wheelchair.  

I was working with a client on upper and lower body strength when we decided TODAY was THE DAY we were going to maneuver her manual wheelchair down the ramp from her home to her driveway. Her husband had been having heart issues and managing the wheelchair ramp was only exacerbating his health issues.  Navigating down the ramp required a slow and steady pace, as well as hand grip strength to control her speed.  With some coaching and a little assist she did it, she managed her wheelchair down the ramp.  

Next came the even harder part — getting herself back up the ramp. I acted as a “spotter,” making sure the wheelchair didn’t roll backwards down the ramp, but with that safety and support in place she was able to use her upper body strength (along with balance, endurance, and stability) to pull herself up the ramp using the railings on each side. When we reached the top, she was crying with pure joy, and her husband was dancing a little jig. I was crying, too — I am very emotional!   

The time and energy spent working on her strength and endurance translated into freedom to get into and out of her home. Focusing on fitness allowed my client and her husband to get back to their cherished social activities. Working with people who can’t (or won’t) get to a gym to exercise is so rewarding to me and it is one of the reasons my passion is in-home personal training.