No More Back Pains with The Help of BalanceWear Vest – Helene Green from ACTS Senior Living Edgewater

“The BalanceWear® Vest is wonderful!”

In this interview I will share with you how Helene Green from ACTS Senior Living Edgewater at Boca Pointe was able to recover from back pains for many years with the help of BalanceWear while it also helps her to feel grounded and keeping her balance.

I had heard from Tamar Clarke MSPT, that Helene was interested in speaking to me about her experience with the BalanceWear Vest. I learned so much more from her about the effect of the vest, her sweet Yorkies that keep her company, and how the coronavirus is affecting her.

What does the BalanceWear Orthotic do for you?

“In 1964 I had major back surgery for a herniated disc. They took some of the bone from my hip area and fused my back. I have had back pain for many years. I am an 80ish year old female and have lots of bionic parts; two hips, two knees and a failed bunionectomy. I also have neuropathy that bothers my feet. If I am on my feet for too long, they begin to hurt and burn.”

“The BalanceWear® vest is wonderful. I received it about six months ago. I no longer have back pain really. In fact, I used to put on a brace I got a long time ago twice a week. I haven’t had to use the brace at all since I got the vest. Other things that the vest has been helpful for is my balance. I always felt that I was going to fall backwards and tended to lean forward and walk on the front of my feet…which exacerbated the pain I was experiencing in my feet. My feet do feel a bit better with the vest on.  The vest grounded me and allowed me to shift my weight back on my heels more and stand with better posture. I think that is why I don’t have as much back pain.  The vest also helps me get up from a chair. I was afraid of falling backwards when I would get up from the chair, but the way Tamar placed the weights I just stand up now! Interesting, I also had difficulty in the shower but now I don’t.”

Shout out to Tamar, a PT, at ACTS Edgewater at Boca Pointe😊

Tamar stated, “Helene’s sit to stand improved significantly when she trialed the vest.  Originally, her sit-to-stand test took greater than 20 seconds for only four sit-to-stands. Immediately, with the vest, she could do five sit to stands in 11 seconds!”

 How often do you wear BalanceWear?

“I wear it around six hours per day – to exercise and while walking about the facilities. People ask me about it.  I am proud to wear it and I tell people they should try it. They can trial it at the ACTS Physical Therapy Department. Mine was completely paid for by insurance.  I have really good insurance though.”

What do you think about the vest?

“I am kind of a fashionista; however, I do wear it on the outside of my clothes.” Sometimes the vest gets a bit hot like in the elevator, but with the air conditioning it is fine. Tamar did tell me I could put the vest in the refrigerator to cool it down.” I wear nice clothes so I never tried that because I worried that putting the vest in the refrigerator could leave a mark on my clothes.”

Tell me about those Yorkies. Is it hard to take them outside to the bathroom for you?

“I have two Yorkies, Lovey and Sophia.

They keep me company since I live alone. One is getting pretty old. I don’t take them outside. They have pads in the apartment that they go on.

I guess another thing the vest helps is cleaning up after the dogs.

 I used to have to hold on, then lean over, to pick up the pads.

Now I just bend over and pick them up.”

 

My mother and father live in independent housing in senior living as well. I worry about them not getting enough exercise or feeling socially isolated having to stay in their rooms.

 

How has the Coronavirus affected you?

“The Coronavirus has affected all of us at ACTS as we are supposed to stay in our apartments.     I miss getting out and about, going to group exercise, and the social activities.  Sometimes I feel a bit complacent – like not getting completely dressed everyday as we are staying in the apartment…….

 However, I have a purpose!  A project I have been working on is sewing masks.  So far I made 200 masks!”

 

That is fantastic! It is so awesome that you are working on a worthy cause.

 

“I should be doing more exercise, but I do get up and walk in the room a bit more.” 

 

I gave her the suggestion to work on sit to stands to keep her legs strong.

 

“That’s a good idea, I will try that!”

 

Thank you, Helene!

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Interview by,

Cynthia Gibson-Horn PT – Inventor of BalanceWear