Melanie Brennan, 36, of Byron, owns ExercisAbilities Physical Therapy, specializing in aquatic, geriatric and neurological therapy at the Rochester Area Family Y.
What did it take to get this job?
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Over 15 years experience working in several different areas of physical therapy, including hospital, nursing home, pediatric care, and most recently, 11-plus years on the rehabilitation unit at Saint Marys Hospital.
Why does your job matter?
Rehabilitation-oriented fitness, or assisted exercise, whether it is on land or in water, can be socially uplifting, rejuvenating, decrease pain, improve function and improve safety with walking, among many other wonderful outcomes.
What medical mystery would you solve?
How to repair the spinal cord to recover functional walking after spinal cord injury. The mechanism of walking is complex and fascinating. I have seen many people recover the function of walking after spinal cord injury and others not. Although we have many theories and physical therapy treatment approaches, there is not a current known reason how and why some recover and others do not.
Who are typical clients?
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Any age medically complex, neurologic or physical disability that may want to start a safe exercise program at a fitness center, in home, or in the water; older adult clients in home or assisted living facilities who have worsening ability to walk safely due to a medical or physical decline; individuals recently released from formal physical therapy but feel they could still benefit or improve with an ongoing physical therapy guided exercise program.
Where should patients visit?
Oxbow Park, just north of my hometown of Byron. The small zoo is so fun for children and adults.
3 things people can do to improve strength, flexibility, pain level or balance?
1. Begin a consistent exercise program with the guidance from the appropriate exercise professional dependent on your disability, medical complexity, and accessibility needs.
2. Add weight resistance to exercises and advance difficulty. Often, exercises are prescribed that do not include any weight resistance and do not recommend a progression of difficulty. A client will plateau in functional improvement if they do not continually challenge their exercise routine.
3. Make wellness and exercise a part of their life. The Surgeon General recommends that everyone exercise at least 30 minutes three times a week.
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Name the first song on your iPod or CD:
"You, You , You can trust God." I am leading Vacation Bible School in a few weeks at St. John’s Lutheran in Kasson, and my kids are so excited to be the first to hear and learn the songs — over, and over, and over.
3 things do you wish every patient had access to?
Accessible exercise equipment, physical therapy professionals to assist with safe and highly effective exercise programming, preventative medical insurance coverage.
3 things most people don't know about you:
I enjoy golf. I love to garden. I am an "American Idol" addict.
