Monday, September 26, 2011

A-Team: A is for Arbi

I had been Arbi's chiropractic patient and a member of his gym for years. I always knew he had healing hands. What I didn't know was that he could do more than crack my back. After the stroke, he put my gym membership on hiatus. I called him in February to say I was ready to come back. He wanted to train with me the first time.

"You don't have to do this alone," he said. "I'm right here with you Рthrough good times and bad. We will do this together." I dropped my blas̩ physical therapist and have been working with Arbi since.

Three times per week, Arbi and I do an hour of weight training in the gym. My former PTs focused solely on my leg. The problem with that approach is that the wires on my left side are crossed: I exert my arm, my leg moves. Arbi trains my whole person to teach me simultaneous control over multiple muscle groups. The video below shows us working together in July 2011 – 15 months post-stroke. (My wonderful sister-in-law behind the camera.)

After the gym, Arbi treats me with electrical stimulation, which tires my spastic muscles, allowing him to stretch them – more effective than what I do on my own because the very effort of self-stretching makes me tense. Arbi has filled me with hope that we can beat my hated spasticity. I am so grateful to him, I volunteered to help launch his new website: www.arbiderianchiropractor.com. Editing the testimonials confirmed my impression that he's a swell guy. Plus, he's a Trojan fan … and buff.



4 comments:

  1. Hey Marce
    it's all amazing but seeing you walk up the stairs is the highlight for me- go girrrl!
    love joe x

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for posting this! It inspires me, and gives me some ideas for my workout. I was also impressed by your stair climbing!
    -Grace
    http://myhappystroke.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  3. What caught my eye was your hemiplegic hand flying open to grab the treadmill. Arbi sounds like a very caring person.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Marcelle,

    Every week you amaze me with your determination and will to improve. You have brought a new dimension to my practice, one that I knew was possible, yet had not taken its physical form. I am honored to be working with you and be witness to your progress. You are a superstar!!

    ReplyDelete