The Going Ons of Physical Therapy for the Young and Old

Since I have been discharged from Physical Therapy, I have been working with a personal trainer.  I go to the same location and for the first few sessions the therapist/trainer was working with me teaching me what to do.
I now am able to go in whenever I want and work on the equipment and do the exercises I was taught, they call this the community program. I usually go in the afternoon. There seem to be less people there at that time and although I know what I am doing, I get to have more one on one time with the therapist. It's nice because I've got to know the other therapist who often come over to me to check in on my progress.

The other day was a bit different though. I went in the early morning. There was such a different vibe that day because it was very busy. I looked around and saw I was the only one there under age 75!  I was told before that the "older" crowd comes in the morning, so I guess I really shouldn't have been surprised.  What surprised me though was the interaction they all had with each other.  It was like they all knew one another. I kept quiet and did my exercises as I just watched them.

This is what I observed.....

These men and women have there own inside jokes!

They were hollering random words to one another and then giggling about it.

Yes, there was some flirting going on.

Norm sings "Home on the Range"

Doris just went on a cruise.  (And she stood by the elliptical for 20 minutes telling Mary all about it while she worked on the machine).

This older crowd knows exactly what they are doing and knows their routine. I didn't see anyone require any assistance the entire time I was there.

I think this is great that so many "older folks" come out here and make the effort to stay in shape.

When I go to therapy during the afternoon, it's usually the younger to middle age folks that are there and you can tell that we are all there due to some injury. I think that is why the therapist seem to pay more attention to us.  I believe the older crowd is just there for their overall well being and of course to socialize.

Being here watching these older folks made me kind of wish that my grandparents would come here to exercise. They may enjoy it!



For the most part, I am really enjoying my time there and I have been trying to go 4 times a week. One thing I noticed is that I should probably change up the order that I do some of my exercises. I usually start on the bike which is a good warm up, then I use the machines, then I do some balancing exercises and box jumps. I have realized that I am so exhausted after working on the machines that my body can not properly do the balancing exercises. During my last session I ended up sitting down taking a few breaks just to rest. I've never done that before.


Do you grandparents exercise?  Do you see a lot of older folks at your gym?


26 comments:

  1. I don't go to a gym, but I love that so many older folks go to your gym! I plan on working out until, well, you know....

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  2. This was my experience exactly when I went in for PT. The place was filled with older folks and wow they were having a great time! My mom turns 75 this fall and I've been trying to get her to go to the gym because the social aspect would be so great for her. Alas I haven't been successful with that yet.

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    1. Keep trying! I bet when she finally goes she will thank you!

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  3. It always makes me smile when I see older generations working out. It makes me so happy to see them taking strides towards a healthy lifestyle.

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  4. I think the older crowd goes to my gym around 8am, while the younger rush is at like 6am and 6pm. However, my gym doesn't' get too many older people due to where its located. Its great that so many older people work out though, and even better than they have relationships with each other, so it becomes more of a social hour than just a workout!

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    1. There are a few that come in the afternoon when I usually go but they don't socialize then....lol

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  5. Back when I worked at a gym, the older folks would make my day! They were so dedicated with their fitness routine and always had the best stories to tell. They weren't in a rush to just get in and out like everyone else. Going to the gym was part of their social routine.

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  6. The gym I used to go to had quite a older person membership. I always found it cute too. They had such a sense of community and were always so sweet to me.

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    1. I hope I get better ( injury wise), but I wouldn't mind becoming one of those older folks that hang out here!

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  7. yes quite a different experience indeed. I remember all of this from when I had my acl surgery years ago.

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  8. I workout now at my corporate gym so there really are not many "older" people that work out there, but in the other gyms I used to teach at there were. It was defiantly great to see the social connections they would make and that they would usually always talk in between sets or sit next to each other on the bikes or treadmills to chat while they were working out!

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  9. I don't know if there are a lot of "older" people at my gym, but Sunday mornings we seem to be like your morning group. We're there to lift weights and we're there at the same time. We can chat while we lift and it is social.

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  10. I LOVE this!! Watching my mom in law age is rough and she doesn't get ANY exercise and I know it would make a huge difference if she would. Staying active is so important!! And they sound like super fun people!

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    1. Oh your mom in law would have a blast at a place like this!

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  11. I love when 'old' people take care of themselves...
    My dad had to go for therapy with his hip replacements & he made sure he went early when everyone was there- he is such a talker (wonder where I get it from) & he loved 'hanging out' with everyone.

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  12. The oldies know how to have fun - love their social/workout hour! What a fun thing to witness...life doesn't stop when you hit a certain age, despite what the media says.

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  13. I do believe you've nailed it Meranda! I'll give you a little background; the major reason that "open" PT areas with plinths/equipment came about in the 80s (I worked in the very first such practice on Long Island for many years) was to encourage the spirit of camaraderie amongst patients and for that folks to see that "there's always someone worse off than me." I kid you not. What absolutely HAS changed is the average age of patients and clients. And now that I'm closing in on to that senior population, I appreciate it even more! Great post!

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    1. Thanks Didi! When I see the people my age working next to me, I am always curious to why they are there or what their injury is, but I am afraid to ask. I don't know if that is impolite or encouraging camaraderie...lol

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    2. This post made me smile! So fun!
      I remember when I took PT, they started at 4am, and occasionally I would come in at 8, and just like you I noticed it's pretty much all older folks. I asked my PT about it and she said, that a lot of the older crowd around here will purposely just keep on going to PT because they enjoy the therapists and interaction and since Medicare pays for it, why not, LOL
      I know the gym my parents go to, my dad tells me every morning it's like a get together and he hates it because he feels obligated to chat with people if they come up and sometimes it slows him down, LOL So I told him to wear headphones and pretend to ignore people, but he doesn't. Truthfully I think all them and their friends go to the gym and just enjoy working out their mouths even more than their bodies, LOL and I see nothing wrong with it, it's awesome!

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  14. Oh I love this post. It is so much fun to see older people getting in workouts! Oh wait, I am an older person! LOL I visit my mom at an Assisted Living facility where they have a beautiful gym. She is in the "unassisted" part with many others and yes, I see people up to the age of 100 taking classes and using equipment. I hope I am the same way when I am that age.

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  15. Love this! I used to go to a gym that had a Silver Sneakers program for senior citizens, and I loved to see them there every morning. Too funny about the flirting & inside jokes that you saw!

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  16. I don't go to the gym but my hubby does and he says that sometimes those ladies look at him like he is eye candy! LOL! I told him to enjoy that were ever he can!!!!! :) Keep up the great work!

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  17. Love it...to be a fly on the wall. I would love for my parents to go to a gym but they don't have one close by to them!

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