by Troy Reynolds

I acquired a spinal cord injury in 1986, rendering me quadriplegic (C5). I subsequently underwent seven months of physical and occupational therapy at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC). For the first three months, I could not move any muscles below my neck voluntarily. Gradually, I became able to move my left shoulder and arm. As I regained control over some muscles, I was required to exercise them five days per week. My right shoulder and arm regained partial movement more slowly than the left side, and I had not been exercising them very long before my release from RIC. I remember my physical therapist expressing her concern that after my discharge, I might favor using my left arm for feeding and other activities and neglect my right arm. I soon realized that this was occurring, so I decided to begin a home exercise program that would strengthen both shoulders and both arms.

Read more of Troy's story at http://www.ncpad.org/178/1339/Finding~a~Fitness~Facility~~A~Personal~Experience