Resuming physical therapy, this time to build strength as my FA progresses

One good thing that came out of fracturing my leg this summer is that I’ve resumed physical therapy.

I went to physical therapy once or twice a week from 2017 to 2023. We would work on everything. If I had an injury or problematic pain, we would work on strengthening and healing it. If I was feeling good, we would do a total body workout to improve my overall strength and coordination. If I was struggling with a specific task, we would work on safety adaptations.

My physical therapist became one of my dearest friends, both inside and outside of the physical therapy gym. When she stepped away from her job to raise her two young children in 2023, I discontinued consistent physical therapy. But I remained active and used my recumbent bike often, and I continued doing the seated free weight and floor Pilates exercises that were safe to do by myself. I also continued seeing a chiropractor who addressed the aches and pains that accompany a more sedentary life.

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Goals of physical therapy

When I fractured my femur in 2025 and had reconstructive surgery, in-home physical therapy became necessary. I had two weekly sessions for just over two months, during which I relearned how to transfer, take steps, and resume my pre-injury level of function.

It felt good to challenge my body and watch it achieve a goal. Unfortunately, my care ended right as I approached one of the busiest times of year for parents of young children — the holidays. My days were so filled with errands and events that it was easy to not prioritize physical therapy.

Fast-forward seven months, and I am now on my third week of physical therapy, with the determination to not just heal, but to improve.

My goals may seem small to someone without the mobility struggles that often accompany those battling Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), but they are valid to me. With the progressively degenerative nature of FA, and the fact that my only physical therapy in the last three years was for a specific recovery, it’s safe to say that my abilities and needs have changed since 2023.

I am now a full-time wheelchair user, which brings about a whole list of new challenges to overcome. One of my primary goals is to be able to safely transition from my wheelchair to the floor, and back again. As a mom, that is a handy and necessary ability, and as an FA patient, it is a safety skill that I feel is necessary to stretch and exercise independently.

With that goal in mind, my new physical therapist is working on things that strengthen my triceps and shoulders, quads, and glutes, as those seem to be the primary muscle groups needed to safely accomplish that goal, as well as healing my muscles and tendons that were affected by my leg fracture a mere three months ago.

While going to physical therapy to work on wheelchair transfers is not how I envisioned my late 30s would go when I was a child, it feels good to be doing something proactive versus simply letting my FA progress and reacting to injuries.

“And let us not get tired of doing what is right, for after a while we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t get discouraged and give up.” —Galatians 6:9

Note: Friedreich’s Ataxia News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Friedreich’s Ataxia News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Friedreich’s ataxia.