I'm fortunate to have had excellent
physiotherapists, starting of course with my lovely wife (MCSP [distinction]).
Then in addition for many years the specialist neuro physio, Lesley, who last
year passed me on to Emily. When you've been used to someone, there's always
uncertainty when you have to transfer to a new professional; but I needn't have
worried. Emily is brilliant. How lucky am I!
To give you a small example: I have
been finding walking round the house with my rollator (zimmer frame on wheels) increasingly
difficult and slow. My legs have been tending to cross over and my feet land on
each other. Every now and then I had to call Jane to untangle me. Emily
suggested a free metronome app on my phone might help. She set it at 42/60 - not
fast but my sort of average rate. It has transformed my walking. The reason is,
I think, that walking is now no longer a reflex action but I have consciously
to move each leg. ie I have to concentrate on each step. Before the metronome,
my brain, willy-nilly, would wander down its own wayward neural pathways. Now the
metronome calls my brain to attention every beat and doesn’t let it wander.
I now have a heavy cold and am
feeling unduly sorry for myself, but still the metronome dragooned me from the
lift to the breakfast table. As Jane commented when I had sat down without much
fuss, “You’d never have been able to do that before the metronome.”
Of course that’s not the only thing
Emily sorted out. I have a whole sheet of exercises to stop me going utterly
flabby, including boxing (!), stretching and pedalling. I’m having time off,
pleading sick leave, at the moment, but the prospect of a phone-call when
she’ll check up on me should be sufficient to keep me at it! I’m so grateful
for the NHS through whom I receive such skilled treatment – as well as from my
dentist, doctor, OTs and hospital clinic. May they never be privatised!
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