acts of resistance

with my resistance band, i conquer all

i do the same exercises as many older adults:

gentle ways to subtly strengthen shoulders 

and back, or stretch compressed muscles 

to compensate for ways the body has developed asymmetrically.

physical therapy has helped me a decade after surgery.

i knew i needed PT when i had cervical radiculopathy

recurring pins and needles along my shoulderblade

finally i find a PT who by serendipity has scoliosis herself

who couldn’t believe i was prescribed only a couple sessions

 of physical therapy after my surgery.

a decade after fusion

still with an inclination to curve, to twist

i work on pulls, pushes, core exercises

so repetitive you forget it works

scoliosis has a tendency to compress

so i expand

the rods have bent, 

i still have pain

and though i am fused,

my body still has scoliosis

but small acts of resistance make a difference