NuStep Helped Young Woman with Heart Disease Transform Her Life

A young woman, whose medical condition had so deteriorated that she was placed on a heart transplant list, was removed from the list after she significantly improved her overall health through dieting and exercise.

Brenda Bowers, 34, of Forks, WA, was removed from the list on which she had been included for 3.5 years. In August, Bowers was removed from the heart transplant list following the loss of 80 pounds and the adoption of a healthy diet and exercise regimen. Bowers used the low-impact NuStep TRS 4000 recumbent cross trainer that helped her regain control of her health and future.

She continues its use today. “I just did 1600 steps in six minutes,” she proudly explained when discussing her heart and other medical problems that have abated. NuStep was an integral part of her progress according to both Bowers and her physical therapist.

Bowers was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopothy, or hardening of the muscles around the heart, about 10 years ago. A pacemaker was inserted but she could not perform physical exercise and began to gain weight. Her weight eventually reached 290 pounds and her physicians worried that exercise would stress her heart and diet alone would not be the answer.

Gradually, other ailments began to appear – sleep apnea and pain that became so severe that she was unable to do much of anything. The pain became so severe that she had to wear fentynal patches, medication for patients who are terminally ill with cancer.

The transplant diagnosis came in 2001 and she remained in the serious health state until a physician prescribed exercise. She began to work with physical therapist Gordon Oakes at the Forks Hospital.

In 19 months of daily work, coupled with dieting, she lost 80 pounds and returned for a meeting with her cardiologist, Dr. Daniel Fishbien. He was so impressed with the improvement that he took her off all pain medications, removed her from the transplant list and instructed her to continue NuStepping and dieting.

“Though part of Brenda’s program consisted of light step-up exercises, light upper extremity resistive band exercise, and light lower extremity exercises lying on a mat, we really would have had no option for conducting safe, light aerobic with Brenda if it were not for NuStep and performing only the leg exercise on it,” said Oakes.

“Currently, Brenda is able to walk on the treadmill for 25 minutes at 2.0 to 2.5 MPH and at an incline of 2.5 degrees, something that seemed impossible 18 months ago.”

Bowers has now lost more weight, diets and works up to a level 6 on the NuStep TRS 4000 recumbent cross trainer. She is taking a low impact water aerobics program and continues to monitor her heart through the period of physical activity.

“I cannot tell you what this physical therapy program means,” Brenda said. “Gordon and the manager of the physical therapy program, Kathy Lawley, have adopted their work to my needs and it has made me into a new person.”

“I have seen a lot of people who have suffered strokes, had serious heart problems and even been partially paralyzed rely on the NuStep TRS 4000 recumbent cross trainer to help them regain health as best they could,” stated Bowers. “It is important to get the right guidance and my physical therapists have been the core of my life the past few years while I have been able to really rebuild my life and get myself on the right track.”

“The NuStep and therapy guidance has helped, but all the glory goes to Brenda, who in good weather or bad, came in two to three times per week and worked out on her own, with the professional supervision available as needed,” said Oakes. “Though she still has the medical diagnosis and must be sensible about her activities, Brenda now has a vital and vibrant approach to life, engaging it with confidence and vigor.”

NuStep congratulates Brenda on transforming her life.