Active Living BY AMP IT UP! STAFF
Physical training pays off big for new amputee After Cindy Asch-Martin’s left leg had to be amputated on June 27, 2011, her chosen career and the knowledge that went with it came in quite handy.
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or about 13 years, she had been keeping herself and others in shape as a certified personal trainer, and when she lost her leg, she already knew how to take care of her body - an understanding that has been very important to her ability to succeed as an amputee.
Proving it
“After my leg was amputated, the hospital’s occupational therapist and physical therapist said they needed to teach me how to walk now that my body was no longer in balance,“ Asch-Martin recalls. “I couldn’t help but laugh. I explained that I was a certified personal trainer and that is what I do for a living. They said, ‘Prove it,’ so I got my walker and walked around the entire hospital floor. Once we got back to my room, they said, ‘Yep, you don’t need us.’ They realized I would be just fine. I was very thankful for my former focus on core stability. I knew that it was the best form of exercise for my situation because it strengthens the entire body; it made my recovery effortless. I was back at the gym two days after leaving the hospital.” Before having her amputation, she‘d already had multiple surgeries to try to save her leg, and she‘d bounced back pretty
well each time, largely due to her excellent physical condition. “My only down time was a few days after each surgery,” she says. “I knew I needed to make money to help pay my bills, to occupy my mind, and to keep busy helping others.
Continuing to improve
After her amputation, Asch-Martin also returned to working out to preserve her sanity and strength, mainly focusing on core training, using the BOSU ball, resista-balls, cables, and anything that uses the entire body. “I would also use my wheelchair and/ or crutches for my cardio,“ she says, “since I didn’t have a leg to stand on (sorry, but we do have a sense of humor). And I also did my gardening, feeding my squirrels, vacuuming, and all the household chores. Someone needed to do it! I even washed both vehicles. I would use my walker if necessary.” She says that her speedy recovery confirmed what she knew all along. “Working out is so important, especially stability exercises,” she says. “As we age, our balance gets worse so it is so important to keep our core strong.“
Before the amputation
After noticing a bump on her Achilles tendon in February 2009, Asch-Martin would have never imagined that, after numerous unsuccessful efforts to solve MAY/JUNE/JULY 2012 Amp it up! magazine
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