Workout For Mom
Driving Question: How Can I Create a Workout That Returns Functional Strength To My Mom?
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This is my project for the "Fit For Life" D-Lab. I created a workout for my mom who has become weaker due to chemotherapy. I want to see if I can create an exercise program that improves her symptoms.
Empathy
I had my mom answer some questions to help me better understand where she is at.
Do any physical pains keep you from exercising?
Do you have trouble doing everyday things?
Why do you want to exercise?
How fit would you consider yourself compared to others?
What do you wish to achieve? Goals?
How much time can you spend exercising per day?
Define
After preliminary testing (see "Tests" tab below), we identified problems and things that need to be improved.
Knee pain when standing from sitting position
Low general muscle endurance/strength
Bad balance
Low energy levels/fatigue
Lower body tightness
Weak glutes causing internal knee rotation
Ideate
Assuming these issues are not directly correlated with chemotherapy, we brainstormed ways to address them.
Core exercises for general stability and control
Calisthenic exercises to increase strength
Balance training for intrinsic strength
Cardio/HIIT to increase energy
Stretching plan to increase flexibility
Glute/quad strengthening to increase knee stability
Goal Setting
After ideating ways to address her issues, we set some SMART goals together.
Able to stand with minimal pain and assistance by week 4
Able to s and from criss-cross position 5 times by week 4
Energy levels consistently at 7 from 1-10 by week 4
Touch toes from standing by week 2
TEST
After week three of the workout plan, we learned that my mom's cancer had returned after her monthly CT scan. Since it has been causing her pain in the groin area, we decided to stop doing workouts until we knew what the next steps were from the doctor
Over these three weeks, my mom's energy levels rose, she got stronger (as observed through harder exercise and testing), and her balance improved. The one thing that could've gone better was stretching consistency. She often forgot to do it, and I often forgot to remind her. Once steps have been determined by the doctors, we hope to return to exercise