07/30/2026
Age 72. Three reps. 125 pounds.
But that’s not where Pat’s story started...
She first came to Burlington PT in January 2023 because of persistent left knee pain that had been bothering her for months.
About a month into physical therapy, an X-ray confirmed tricompartmental osteoarthritis in her left knee.
For many people, that diagnosis feels like the end of the story.
“I have arthritis, so my knee is always going to hurt.”
But Pat’s story reminds us that’s simply not true.
A diagnosis can provide valuable information, but it doesn’t have to define what’s possible.
We discovered that improving her ankle mobility, restoring strength, and addressing the movement patterns contributing to her knee pain opened the door to so much more.
Within a couple of months, her knee pain had resolved, despite the arthritis still being there.
Instead of stopping there, we shifted our focus toward building long-term strength, capacity, and resilience.
Over the past few years, our monthly sessions have evolved with the seasons.
We help her prepare for dragonboat paddling, skiing, hiking, playing with her newest grandson, and all of the adventures in-between that she loves.
More recently, we’ve turned our attention to progressive resistance training and lifting heavy for bone health.
Today, at 72 years old, Pat tested her deadlift and lifted 125 pounds for 3 reps.
Not because she wanted to chase a number.
Because she wants to keep paddling. Keep skiing. Keep hiking. Keep up with her grandkids.
She wants to keep saying “yes” to the life she loves.
That’s what strength is for.
Pat, thank you for trusting us over the past few years. We can’t wait to see where this next chapter takes you 💙
(Oh, and we can’t wait to retest your deadlift in 6-8 weeks 😜)
