"I can really ride again:" Patient Reclaims Mobility Through Frederick Health’s PAD Rehabilitation Program

After a year of debilitating leg pain that left her unable to walk properly, 78-year-old Suzanne Schooler is celebrating a dramatic 150% recovery thanks to Frederick Health’s newly expanded Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) Rehabilitation Program. 

Schooler, a retired instructional designer and corporate educator, has been horseback riding for over 17 years. She had been able to ride and tend to her horse, called Spud, with little-to-no pain until February of 2024, when she was diagnosed with Shingles (herpes zoster). 

“Several months passed by where I couldn’t get out of bed,” Schooler said. “Even after the flare passed in July, my left leg was in immense pain. It felt like it wasn’t mine.” Schooler was left unable to complete everyday tasks such as walking her dog without frequent breaks. 

An arterial duplex scan revealed that Schooler had a circulatory blockage of about 50% in her left leg. It is a symptom of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), a serious cardiovascular disease linked to Shingles that affects approximately 12 million people in the United States.  

PAD makes daily activities like walking, climbing stairs, and standing for long periods painfully difficult. Left untreated, it can lead to severe complications such as a heart attack, stroke, limb amputation, and even death. 

Frederick Health launched the PAD Rehabilitation treatment program in September of this year to help patients with limited mobility move comfortably and confidently. Schooler was one of the first patients to participate in the supervised exercise program, as it was specially designed for people with poor circulation caused by narrowed or blocked arteries in the arms and legs. 

During her initial treadmill assessment, Schooler struggled to walk more than a minute on flat ground before the pain set in at 0.06 miles. But armed with strong support from exercise specialists and a walking playlist packed with Neil Diamond and John Denver songs, Schooler’s endurance grew while her pain steadily melted away.  

Over twelve weeks of 36 structured sessions, her pain-free walking distance had increased over 150%, and her quality-of-life score had nearly doubled. 

“Suzanne’s circulation, strength, and overall cardiovascular health have all improved in the three short months since we’ve launched the program,” said Kathryn Smith, Preventive Cardiology and Rehab Manager.  

On Schooler's final graded exercise test, Smith noted that Schooler was able to increase her walking intensity up to a 6% incline at 2.0mph and walk for 0.15 miles before the pain set in, marking her milestone improvement.  

“Our entire team can see how this program has transformed her physical capabilities as well as her everyday life, we are absolutely thrilled for her.” 

Now, Schooler can not only walk her dog without breaks, but she can also tend to her horse and ride confidently again without consistent pain. 

“Everybody at the barn noticed I was walking better; they saw that I didn’t need a chair just to tend to Spud,” Schooler said. “Even my trainer told me, ‘You’re really riding your horse now, not just sitting on it.’ That meant everything to me.” 

Schooler hopes others with PAD will enroll in the Frederick Health PAD program and find the same success she did. “This program was exactly what I needed, I absolutely recommend it,” she said. “It didn't just help me feel physically better, it helped me understand that I can be better and boosted my mood in ways I didn’t expect.” 

She continues her wellness journey at Frederick Health’s ProMotion Fitness, a fitness center for patients seeking medically-oriented exercise support. 

To learn more about Frederick Health’s cardiac rehabilitation services, visit www.frederickhealth.org/CardiacRehab. 

If you’ve had a positive experience with Frederick Health and would like to share, please visit www.frederickhealth.org/tell-your-story.