=>Moving =>Mom

Time Session Began:  1330 Duration of Session:  1hr 5min
Exercise	Reps	Sets	Comments
ISL	15 + 5	2	Work still needed on keeping elbows in, but good. Did as two sets, no additional reps.
KI	15 + 5	2	No comments.
LU	15 + 5 (new reps)	2	Upped this by starting a new set with 5 additional reps. Second set performed wonderfully. Kept elbows up, even at beginning.
KNI	15 + 5	2	She did so well on this, I decided to check and see if she can lift both knees together with feet off ground; only barely, but she can lift them about 3/4 of an inch.
FO1	15 + 5 (new reps)	2	Still working on elbows in and not breaking wrists at the shoulder. She asked, today, what this one is for, with that "What the hell?!?" vocal attitude of hers. I explained that it helps strengthen, among other things, the upper chest muscles so that she'll hold her head more erect. She was fascinated with this idea.
SDS	20	1	Was really working it; I'll up sets and reps tomorrow.
FO2	15 + 5 (new reps)	2	She's beginning to work on keeping elbows up in air, thus she forgets and breaks her wrists at the bottom of the move, but didn't bother her about this; she'll get it all together. She complained about her arms getting tired, today. Good, I said. That means it's working. After I said that, she did the last 5 with elan.
TDS	20 + 5 (new reps)	2	Very good.
F2S	5 + 5 + 5 + 5 (new reps)	4	Excellent form, really did it right, really felt it. Did the 20 reps as sets of 5; excellent responsiveness to this.
SSS	15 + 5 (new reps)	2	Lifting legs from thigh both going on and coming still hard for her; told her if she returned her foot flat to the floor between each lift, it would be easier and work for her better. Told her to consider every repetition a new opportunity to perform it so work will be done. "Don't squander even one opportunity."     She didn't.
AC	10 + 5 (new reps)	2	Did really good; arms still aren't completely straight. She said, "That's hard." But, the last set was great.
MIP	20 + 5	2	Stopped at 19 on first set, took a big breath and did the last one. I readjusted the chair so that her arms were more relaxed and she did 5 perfect reps.
FC	15 + 5 (new reps)	2	Still a little iffy on "gripping the weight". We're working on it. She is showing improvement.
SDST	20 + 5 (new reps)	2	Doing good, but still doesn't want to pick up heel all the way when doing it standing.
IACR	10 + 5 (new reps)	2	Got the idea of lifting with upper arm on upsweep; we both saw her 'get it' and smiled at each other as she lifted her arm high. Very good!
TDST	15 + 1	2	Didn't add any reps, just broke her 1 set of 20 into two sets. She lifts herself much better with a rest between sets.
IACL	10 + 15 (new reps)	2	Really getting it well. She said, "I can feel how it works..." and indicated the upper arm pulling the rest of the arm up and the shoulder directing the movement.
STS	5 + 2 (new reps)	2	I coached her on twisting entire torso from hip joints because she said she was "feeling it in her back, pulling" and indicated her lower back. Experimented with how far she could twist without pulling on her back. I think we got a good idea, today.
SSST	5 + 5 + 5 + 5 (new reps)	4	Slowed way down so she'd have to lift both ways. Showed her were she should be feeling it. "That's where I am feeling it," she confirmed.
BD	15 + 5 (new reps)	2	As each new second set started I said, "make the last set the best", and she did.
NSGP	5 + 2	2	This exercise a new addition just today. Not as iffy as I thought she'd be with this one. Just plies a tiny bit, but she did so well that we did a second set of 2.

    As usual, she did not approach her therapy session with eagerness, but once we started she got into it. I'm still using 1.5L on her when she's exercising. She only panted once, today, during the Marching in Place.
    She did marvelously, though. I was really thrilled. Today, along with everything else, I explained the theory behind doing exercises in sets: That a brief rest allows the muscles to "encode" what's been happening; as a result the last set is usually both performed the best and the 'most felt' workout. She agreed.
    I'm thinking that she shows more progress if she doesn't do her therapy exercises every day, although, truthfully, when we began we were doing them every day, so I'm not sure I can actually speak with authority on this. At any rate, she certainly is more alert, "here", able to entertain herself and enterprising after she's done her exercises. Today, for instance, after sucking oxygen for 15 minutes after her session, she decided she'd go out to get the mail. She hasn't done this for over a year. Hasn't even mentioned it.
    I told her, great. She can do it either with or without the walker, and, since it's been a long time since she's done this, I'd accompany her, but leave her alone about walking form. "Remember," I said, "our driveway is on a slight incline and the "path" to the mail box is a sort of concrete gutter and may be hard to negotiate. Take is slow and watch what you're doing."
    She did perfectly, so perfectly! At first I may have to keep a sharper eye on her, as she begins moving more, and try hard to monitor what I say so as not to discourage her from trying anything. But, becoming more adventurous is a part of becoming stronger, no matter what age one is, and I want to honor this in my mother, as well as her nascent strength.
    We're doing more in less time, I'm noticing. Some of the exercises are speeding themselves up. A few, I'm slowing down, like the Forward Curls and the Standing Side Stepping. But, we're making good time, and her body is responding with very little to no complaint.