Testimonials

Today Don suffers from Ménière's Disease**, a disease that causes constant vertigo.  Currently there is not a cure.  Don’s motto is to make the best of what you have and deal with the setbacks with a positive attitude.  Don’s physiologist considers, and monitors, his health obstacles when designing a workout program.  MBF believes that exercise can help many medically-complex issues, even those like Don’s.    

When Don isn’t in the fitness center, he is entertaining other residents with his own poetry or stories about Smokey, his 25 year-old cat.   He also keeps himself mentally fit by doing crossword puzzles, but not just any crossword puzzle… puzzles from the New York Times.

Don was born in New Haven, Connecticut, home of Yale University and the Shubert Theatre.  He is the father of three and the grandfather of four.   Don received his undergraduate in Speech Pathology at Denver University (’66-’67) and went on to receive his PhD from the University of Pittsburgh (’74).  He is also a lifetime member of ASHA (American Speech and Hearing Association).   Dr. Don practiced speech pathology in Atlanta, Georgia, helping people recover from head injuries and stroke.  Currently, Dr. Don practices at St. Andrews Presbyterian Church on a pro-bono basis.

**Ménière's disease (meɪnˈjɛərz) is a disorder of the inner ear that can affect hearing and balance to a varying degree. It is characterized by episodes of vertigo and tinnitus and progressive hearing loss, usually in one ear. It is named after the French physician Prosper Ménière, who, in an article published in 1861, first reported that vertigo was caused by inner ear disorders. The condition affects people differently; it can range in intensity from being a mild annoyance to a chronic, lifelong disability.

Congratulations Trudy Brendecke on 100 years!

To see the article saluting Trudy, World War II Veteran and MBF participant at Golden West Manor Click Here












MBF Superstar: Melissa

Anyone who has suffered the effects of a life-changing illness understands what a long journey it can be to recovery.  Eight years ago, I contracted a bacterial infection that attacked my heart valve and required surgery to repair.  As I rebuilt my life, it seemed that getting back in prime physical shape was an uphill battle.  I tried to go to traditional gyms, but found that I didn't know how to accommodate my now-sensitive heart.  In October of 2010, I turned to MBF for help.  With the help of Greg Cooper, I made steady progress of rebuilding my strength and set the goal of participating in the 9/11 Memorial 14-er Challenge - a fundraiser for the Fallen Firefighter's Association that would require climbing to the top of Gray's Peak - 14,267 feet.  Even pre-surgery, this would have been a feat! Post-surgery, it seemed near impossible.  But with a summer's worth of training at MBF and on local trails, I made the summit and stood on one of the highest peaks in Colorado!  It was a great feeling of accomplishment and a testament to everyone who has helped along the way.  Thanks, MBF for helping me get there!

Regards,

Melissa

Testimonial from Jim England: 
In the Spring of 2010, I began preparing for my 23^rd season playing competitive softball.  (I was then 55 years old) and discovered that my right shoulder range of motion had become so reduced that I could not effectively throw overhand.  Not having participated in physical therapy before, I chose a facility in Longmont more or less at random and Kyle Hensley became my therapist there.  Several weeks of therapy there reduced my shoulder pain and appeared to increase its motion, but trying to throw in actual game situations made it clear that I had some significant orthopedic issues that needed additional intervention. X-rays and an MRI led to rotator cuff surgery in August of 2010.

             About a month after surgery, I resumed physical therapy with Kyle in Longmont. Shortly thereafter, I learned of his transfer to Medically-Based Fitness in Boulder and immediately arranged to “follow him” there.  I continued to see Kyle, at first weekly and eventually bi-weekly, until March of this year. At that time, I was pleased to find my shoulder pain-free, and stronger than ever, with almost complete recovery of its pre-injury range of motion and function.  Since then, I’ve been able to play in four softball leagues with complete throwing ability (sadly, Kyle didn’t do much to improve my hitting, but I never could blame that on my shoulder).

             Having never worked with a physical therapist before, I wasn’t even sure initially what my expectations really were, but Kyle would have completely exceeded even my highest expectations.  He is a good listener and can thoughtfully and carefully take and update a history (skills I only occasionally encounter in medical practitioners).  It is apparent that he has a wide and deep familiarity with anatomy and kinesiology, and he can effectively explain all that to a lay client.  In physical manipulation, he has good hands and could deftly pinpoint a problem area even when I could not guess as to its location.  In assessing my progress throughout the course of therapy, he struck a perfect balance in both making me aware of my actual gradual progress while not creating any denial about how much additional progress still lay ahead.  Kyle carefully crafted, and then periodically refined, sets of home exercises that kept me functional between therapy visits.

             The one talent of Kyle’s which most impresses me is his endless inventiveness.  I would frequently present with mystifying (to me anyway), flare-ups in pain or backslides in function, or with absent or unexpected responses to an initial treatment modality.  Kyle would then create (seemingly on the spot and out of thin air), a wholly new approach, which was both a workaround and workable.  Although he had me taking advantage of MBF’s state-of-the-art resistance and Pilates equipment, Kyle was truly a MacGyver in being able to improvise alternative aids and props, which, despite their sometimes unlikely origins, always yielded results.

             My experience with Kyle, and with everybody else at MBF, was uniformly positive and rewarding, and I have not hesitated in recommending y’all to my friends and family.