Client Case Study: How Cheryl Looks and Feels the Best She Has in Years

Exercise is one of the best things you can do for your body and mood. The American Heart Association recommends at least 150 minutes of moderate activity a week. But for people with old injuries, the wrong workouts can do more harm than good.

That was Cheryl’s story. She tried several gyms and workout routines, but the exercises kept aggravating her old injuries. Her results were mediocre, her injuries were getting worse, and she couldn’t stay active the way she wanted. That changed when she came to Back In Motion Physical Therapy & Performance.

Today, Cheryl is healthier, leaner and stronger than she has been in years. In this client case study, we’ll walk through how we helped her.

It Started With an Evaluation

What set us apart from Cheryl’s previous gyms is that we evaluate every client before starting a plan. We look at which exercises your body can handle, where your range of motion is limited and what your injury history means for your training. That lets our clients train hard without getting hurt.

The 7 Steps We Used With Cheryl

1. Multi-Joint Exercises

Compound movements like squats, hinges and presses work several muscle groups together. They build real-world strength, burn more calories than isolation exercises and spread the load across the body instead of stressing a single muscle.

2. Strength Training

We all lose muscle as we age unless we work to keep it. Strength training is essential for looking and feeling your best, and it helps prevent injuries. It is at the core of every program we write.

3. Avoiding Exercises That Work Against Her

Cheryl had a frozen shoulder that limited overhead and end-range shoulder movement. Using our physical therapy background, we designed a plan that kept her shoulder out of positions that aggravated it. For example, instead of push-ups, which bothered her shoulder, she did a floor press. It limits the range of motion but still gives her the strength benefits.

4. Interval Training

Short bursts of hard work followed by rest are a great way to build fitness and burn fat. Every one of Cheryl’s workouts includes some form of interval training.

5. Enough Rest Between Sessions

Muscles need downtime to recover and get stronger. How much rest you need depends on your strength, experience and program. Cheryl trains hard with us a few days a week, and we give her up to 48 hours between sessions to recover.

6. An Easy-to-Follow Nutrition Plan

Many diets fail because they are too strict to live with. We gave Cheryl a nutrition plan built around her needs and the foods she likes, so she could stick with it.

7. Focused Progress and Accountability

Our coaches build a plan that fits your schedule and follow up at every session. Having someone in your corner makes it much easier to stay focused on your goals.

You Don’t Have to Let Injuries Hold You Back

If old injuries keep limiting your workouts, chances are you’re either doing too much or doing the wrong exercises. You can have a result like Cheryl’s, but you need an expert who can tell you what you should and shouldn’t be doing. That is the idea behind The Gray Method™: find the cause, fix it, then build you up.

Red Flags: When to Get Checked Right Away

Most aches and pains respond well to the right plan, but get medical care promptly if you notice:

• Numbness, tingling or weakness: in an arm or leg
• Bladder or bowel changes: or numbness in the groin or inner thighs
• Pain after a fall or accident: or a joint that won’t take your weight
• Swelling, heat or redness: that keeps building
• Night pain, fever or unexplained weight loss: along with your pain

Keep reading: fitness training for adults over 50 and how Michelle became the fittest she’s been in years.

Want Results Like Cheryl’s?

Our personal training in Fort Myers pairs you with degreed, certified coaches who specialize in adults 50+ and work alongside our Doctors of Physical Therapy.

Not sure where to start? Our Free Fit-After-50 Assessment is about 30 minutes, one-on-one, with a gentle movement screen and a personal roadmap. No cost, no pressure, no contracts.

Call our office at (239) 223-0484 to schedule your assessment.