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Woman, 81, falls during seniors fitness class after allegedly being made to skip, now bedridden with spine fracture
According to the fitness centre, the exercise did not involve skipping.
An elderly woman, 81, signed up for a trial at a seniors' fitness class hoping it will help her stay active, but took a fall during a warm-up exercise and is now bedridden after sustaining a spinal fracture.
According to her son, L, one exercise she was made to perform involved "skipping" to one side, which he felt was risky. It was taking part in this exercise where his mother fell and suffered an injury.
However the fitness facility, Rx Performance, said that no skipping was involved in the exercise and waived the class fees for L's parents, while also undertaking a review of its programme.
However, L says these measures are not enough to make up for his mother's dip in life quality as a result of her injury.
"Legends" fitness class for seniors
On Sep. 17, L's mother and 91-year-old father attended a trial class under Rx Performance's "Legends" fitness programme.
The programme's webpage describes it as the "first fitness program in Singapore for elderly led by physiotherapists" and has received participants aged 50 to 87.
The programme description further adds that "experienced physiotherapists" will work with participants to create "personalised" training plans appropriate to their fitness level and goals, while ensuring that "any injury concerns or limitations are taken into account."
According to its sign-up form, each trial class costs S$35.
Fall
After arriving at the class, L shared that his parents filled out a physical activity readiness questionnaire and were cleared to participate.
L said the participants were later made to do an exercise called "toy soldiers", which involved a single-leg kick whilst reaching out with one arm across the body to touch the toes.
L said this exercise involved standing on one leg unsupported, which he called "inherently unsafe" for seniors.
The next exercise was "side steps with a hop", according to L.
It was during this second exercise that L's 81-year-old mother fell down.
"The physio walked over, then walked away to continue the class, leaving my mother sprawled on the floor ... with me beside her. Another lady came by and remained beside my mother soon after," L claimed.
According to L, the class continued afterward. L said he called for the ambulance.
At the hospital
L's mother was rushed to the A&E at Singapore General Hospital, where an MRI scan found that she had sustained a fracture to her spine.
A few days later, she suffered another minor fall as the medication she was put on made her "weak from vomiting", L shared.
She visited the hospital a second time.
"Thankfully, she did not suffer any new fracture, but they did an MRI and found that the original fracture was causing compression to her spinal cord," L said.
Following the accidents, L said that his mother now experiences frequent pain and is bedridden.
No skipping was involved: Fitness centre
On evening of the accident, L wrote to Thrive Healthcare, who he says owns Rx Performance.
He asked for Thrive Healthcare to conduct a review of the incident and explain why "skipping" was part of the seniors' programme.
The email exchange seen by Mothership showed that staff from Thrive Healthcare first wrote back the next morning on Sep. 18 to assure L that his concerns are being looked into.
On Sep. 24, its managers wrote again to L to share that after an internal review, they found that the exercise during which L's mother fell was a "side-walk drill" and "at no time was skipping demonstrated or instructed in the session."
They added that they had initiated a review of safety protocols, pre-participation screening, instructor training and programme design to "minimise any future risks."
The managers also acknowledged that the signing of an indemnity form did not "diminish [their] commitment to participant safety" and that the trial fees for L's parents were waived "as a gesture of goodwill."
Not satisfied with their answers
Despite the assurances, L replied and said he found their explanations to be "lacking detail".
He maintained that the instructor had "explicitly" told participants to try "hopping sideways", as he was present at the time.
He also asked Thrive Healthcare if they will foot the bill for his mother's resulting hospital visits.
According to L, he received no further replies from Thrive Healthcare afterward.
Regulation needed
Seeking further recourse, L said he reached out to the Singapore Physiotherapy Association, only to be told that since it was not a regulatory body, it could not undertake investigations or disciplinary actions against registered physiotherapists.
He also wrote to his Member of Parliament for help, but was told by the volunteers that the meet-the-people session (MPS) guidelines did not permit interference with private organisation operations.
The MPS volunteers suggested that L and his family engage a solicitor to look into the case.
However, the encounters left them feeling lost with "nobody to turn to or guide [them] through this".
According to L, his 81-year-old mother used to go for daily walks, but was now in pain.
He is concerned that she "might never regain full mobility."
Hopes to seek accountability
L explained that compensation was less of a priority, but he wished to seek "accountability, safety and protection for our seniors, so that no one else suffers the same preventable harm."
L himself holds a sports science degree and has experience working in rehabilitation in a hospital setting.
Based on his observations during the class, the exercises which his parents were made to perform were "inappropriate and dangerous", in his opinion.
Beyond seeking further accountability, L shared that he hoped his family's story will serve as a cautionary tale for others.
"There is no governing body that will vet all the exercises, and clear them as suitable for seniors," L opined.
"Any gym and any physio can open a gym and invite seniors in," he added.
No negligence found: Thrive Healthcare
Responding to queries from Mothership, Lenis Phoa, a physiotherapist at Thrive Healthcare, acknowledged the Sep. 17 incident.
"The participant's son was present in the space, and a collective decision was made to call for an ambulance to ensure prompt medical care," Phoa said, adding that the Thrive Healthcare team remained on hand to offer support.
Phoa shared that after a "thorough" internal review involving interviews and a review of CCTV footage, they found "no evidence of negligence by instructors or staff", and called it an "unfortunate accident."
She confirmed that the centre has waived the trial class fees for L's parents and said that Thrive Healthcare has since reviewed its Legends programme and processes.
This includes further enhancing pre-class screening and health declaration to facilitate clearer communication as well as additional briefings on what the program is about for trial participants, Phoa explained.
She also said that they are cooperating with relevant authorities and have provided them with necessary information to assist with their review.
Thrive Healthcare later shared that the authority reviewing the case was Safe Sport Commission Singapore.
"Rx Performance remains committed to providing a safe environment for all participants, and will continue to review and enhance safety measures in close consultation with relevant stakeholders," Phoa said.
"We remain in ongoing communication with the parties involved and continue to offer our support," she added.
Unable to provide medical compensation
L updated that he has since received a response from Thrive Healthcare on Oct. 9, in which they reiterated that they stood by the approach taken by their team.
It also added in their reply that trial classes are limited to two participants and that medical compensation fell outside "what they are able to provide."
