90-Year-Old Woman Training For Rose Bowl in September
Sports-minded Hoosier turns regained strength and confidence into ability to attend major NCAA athletic events
Much like the gridiron stars from Indiana University and UCLA who will take the field at the Rose Bowl on Saturday, Sept. 14, 90-year-old Sun Lakes resident Carolyn Kroeger is working on increasing her strength and preparing for the big game, too.
The passionate IU graduate and sports fan won’t be on the field, though. She’ll be in the stands with family members, adorned in her cream and crimson school colors, cheering for her beloved Hoosiers and grateful to have the strength and endurance to navigate the turnstiles, tunnels and stairs of the massive football stadium.
Battles with scoliosis and a stroke prior to the COVID-19 lockdowns had Carolyn struggling to maintain her independence. After a period of declining mobility and dwindling self-assurance, the mother of three children embarked on a dedicated regimen of physical therapy and wellness activities tailored to her conditions.
Upon a referral by her family care physician, she wound up under the guidance of trained SarcoTherapists at Vitality SarcoHealth in Sun Lakes, where she engaged in exercises that gradually restored more than 90 percent of her upper body and leg strength and improved her balance in a matter of several months.
“My goal was to stay out of a wheelchair and not have to use a walker,” says Carolyn, who moved to Arizona from Indianapolis in 2018 to be closer to her two sons and their families who live in Phoenix and Scottsdale.
After an initial regimen of three visits per week, she regained enough strength and functionality to reduce her sessions to twice per week, and now works to maintain her strength recovery only one day a week.
Carolyn tested her strength recovery and mobility in April when her sons urged her to attend the NCAA Final Four Men’s Basketball Tournament at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. “I love college basketball, so we decided to get tickets when Purdue University made it to the Final Four,” Carolyn says.
“Being able to go up and down the bleachers without any assistance at the Final Four with my family was something I never thought I’d be able to do. It was a dream come true,” she adds.
Her determination and progress has amazed her family while also inspiring her community of friends. The support of her loved ones played a crucial role in her recovery, providing motivation and encouragement every step of the way.
Now, my next big excursion is the IU football game against UCLA in September,” Carolyn says. “I’ll jump on a plane to California, meet my daughter who lives there and head off to the Rose Bowl,” she adds.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder that with the right strength regeneration and maintenance program, and a little determination, it’s possible to overcome obstacles and reclaim physical function and independence at any age.
“I feel like I’ve gotten my life back,” Carolyn says.
Programs and services at Vitality SarcoHealth are designed to incorporate scientifically proven techniques that enable older adult patients to regenerate decades of strength and physical functionality, often in just a few weeks.
For more information about strength recovery programs available at Vitality SarcoHealth, visit ChooseHowYouAge.com.
About Vitality SarcoHealth
Vitality SarcoHealth specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sarcopenia, the gradual loss of muscle mass and physical strength as we age. Thousands of patients over 60 years of age have regained control of their health and well-being by regenerating their strength through the company’s proprietary SarcoTherapy treatment program, which is based on more than 20 years of clinical research. The Scottsdale, Arizona-based company operates five SarcoHealth specialty clinics in the metropolitan Phoenix and greater Houston areas. For more information, visit: ChooseHowYouAge.com.
