DRAYTON – A local resident is singing the praises of the SMART Gentle Exercise Program after she was able to take the hiking trip of her dreams. And after a subsequent injury, she credits the program for her speedy recovery.
Susan Warren, of Drayton, wanted to go to Flower Pot Island and complete a hike but, prior to the SMART exercise class, did not feel she had the strength and endurance to complete this kind of venture.
SUSAN WARREN
One year after exercising with the SMART exercise program she had made some remarkable gains in both her physical abilities and her confidence. The idea of that the treacherous hike at Flower Pot Island now seemed achievable and so she headed out and completed six hours of steep, technical hiking. She credits the SMART exercises for strengthening her arms, legs, and core, which allowed her to keep her balance and complete the hike.
Days later Warren was coming down from her granddaughter’s tree house when she slipped on the wet ladder and fell from the fourth step straight backwards. Luckily the only injury she sustained was a sprained knee.
“It could have been a lot worse, but the exercise program has made my bones and muscles strong and therefore my body could withstand the impact of the fall,” she said. “My poor knee didn’t have a chance it got twisted the wrong way.”
The knee injury left Warren with no control of the knee joint, however she learned how to activate her quad, hamstring and calf muscles surrounding the knee to get her knee to work as it was supposed to. She said that she would not have been able to do this if she had she not participated in the SMART exercise program. Warren fully recovered from this injury and continues to attend SMART exercise classes offered at the Drayton Reformed Church on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9am.
The VON and Safe Communities Advisory Committee provides falls prevention information to the community. For more information about the SMART exercise classes in the community contact Kelly Gee 519-323-2330 ext. 4954 or email kelly.gee@von.ca
