Moving to the Music -Nancy Cohn
“Don’t tell me, ‘You can’t do that, you’re too old.’ …Watch me!”
“I. Just. Love. Music.”
Nancy Cohn has been a Grateful Dead Fan for over 50 years, traveling around the country to see their concerts and embracing the harmonious community. An active life with three kids, six grandchildren, and a career as a middle school science teacher sometimes got in the way, but after retiring recently, she was hoping to jump right back into it all.
Over the years though, she had developed back pain that radiated down the top of her leg that was preventing her from fully enjoying herself and making it up the “Endless stadium stairs” at shows…
“You have to advocate for yourself. That’s the most important thing.”
…She tried many different treatment options but only PT seemed to give her relief. After continuing to advocate for herself (“You have to advocate for yourself. That’s the most important thing.”) she was eventually able to get imaging that revealed scoliosis and underwent corrective spine surgery. We caught up with her recently, back in the Grantham, NH clinic rehabbing from her procedure, doing step ups with Becca Swope, PT.
“It’s not work with Becca —she makes it fun! What I really like about this practice is everybody is so nice and caring and involved. It’s like family. Becca [Swope, PT] is the best. The biggest thing was that she talked me off the ledge and built me up.”
“The main thing that bothers my back is walking up 50 million stairs at the stadiums… She basically figured it out, where my muscles needed building, and strengthened everything so that I could be more mobile without it hurting. Last summer, she had me ready to go to 13 shows.”
“I’ve learned that I’ve really got to stay on top of it and be active. I want to keep in shape so I can continue going to Dead festivals. And my goal is to get back up on skis this year!”
Don’t tell me, ‘You can’t do that, you’re too old.’ …Watch me!”
