FITNESS PROS OFFER POST- REHAB PROGRAM
The Free Press—Week of June 18-24,1997

Fitness professionals Donna Duckworth and Caryl Putchat, who combined have more than 20 years experience, are introducing a new concept in fitness – post-rehabilitation programming – to the tri-county area.

Duckworth, a medical exercise specialist, and Putchat, a gerontologist – one who studies aging and the problems of the aged – operate Fit Pro-Duck-tions, a wellness and performance enhancement business located in Workout Plus, Route 309 and Pumping Station Road, Richland Township.

In their effort to "bridge the gap between health care and fitness" the team is assisting people through post-rehabilitation programming. According to Duckworth and Putchat, this allows them to "pick up when the doctors and other therapists do all they can do."

Post-rehab is one of several programs designed by Duckworth and Putchat to teach the benefits of physical activity and make it more available to everyone.

What is included in the program depends on the client and injury. Duckworth explains many exercises, such as manual resistance and aquatic exercises may be used during post-rehab.

Patients are allowed a certain number of rehabilitation visits which are covered by insurance. Post-rehab programming, developed in the last six to eight months, is designed to help maintain the progress clients have made in prior rehabilitation programs by continuing specific exercises.

Duckworth and Putchat received training in the program from the American Academy of Fitness Professionals in California. Upon returning, the two immediately developed a post-rehab program at Workout Plus.

"We were excited to help people in a different way," said Duckworth.

Duckworth and Putchat, who have attained additional certifications as Medical Exercise Specialist and Post Rehab Conditioning Specialist, receive most of their referrals from doctors, physical therapists and chiropractors.

People of all age groups and ability levels are exposed to exercise but the focus is on seniors, who can profit most from fitness and also require specialist guidance.

As Duckworth explains, brining exercise to seniors is important because people become less active as they get older, and subsequently lose range of motion.

Some advantages seniors receive from the program include lowered blood pressure, improvement of muscular strength, reduction of body fat and an improvement of pain-free range of motion. Exercise can also assist people suffering from arthritis.

Seniors are especially vulnerable to depression, the biggest problem in older people, according to Duckworth and Putchat, if they are unable to perform daily tasks. Therefore, the fitness programs offered are designed to enhance the client’s functional everyday activities.

"It’s not for strength, it’s for functionality," Putchat says of the approach.

Both Duckworth and Putchat remember clients with physical and mental ailments, from patients with multiple sclerosis to those battling depression. Putchat even remembers one woman who was unable to kneel when praying before she received assistance.

Clients are able to receive the advantages of post-rehab at Workout Plus, through classes in hospitals and senior centers, and in the homes of patients.

Insurance covers all or part of the costs.

"Considerable improvement" in the client can usually be seen after two or three sessions per week for four to eight weeks, but ultimately varies according to person and condition.

—By Jan Melton

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