Physiotherapy helps Vic keep up with lawn bowls
Back pain is a common complaint, but that doesn’t make the pain any more bearable. But it can be overcome if, like Victor Luke, you decide to tackle it.
Vic’s chronic back pain was stopping him from participating in lawn bowls, which he hadn’t played for seven years.
When his physiotherapist Brooke asked him to name a meaningful goal in their first session, it made him stop and think about what would add value to his life.
Bowls it was, so Brooke set to work incorporating Vic’s favourite pastime into exercises that would ease his back pain.
A bit of improvisation was needed at the retirement village where Vic’s sessions took place – and he really embraced the change!
Vic used lemons and tomatoes so he could practise the bowling action, then adapted some soft balls by taping a coin to the side of each one to replicate the bias of a lawn bowl.
Proved ’em wrong!
Brooke has been hugely impressed by Vic’s application – especially when, after one early session, an onlooker said he wouldn’t be able to bend over to collect his bowls. Well, he proved them wrong!
Brooke says: “I love how Vic has creatively improvised to ensure he is still able to practise without the proper equipment – it just shows how meaningful this goal is to him and how invested he is.
“Vic is a wealth of knowledge and has done so many interesting things in his life – teacher, painter, drama performances, gymnastics, badminton – that conversation is never dull.”
Vic started attending Wednesday evening indoor bowls at the community centre, even prompting cheers from his fellow residents when he bowls well!
Vic has enjoyed reaching his goal, adding: “It’s been very good – I wish Brooke could come every day!”
GOAL ACHIEVED! Bowled, Vic!