Above: Louis Chartier n.d. (left), Wilfred (right)
In his 60’s, Wilfred began having serious issues with his balance. He was suffering from constant dizziness and would fall easily. When asked to describe how he felt, Wilfred said it like always being on a boat rocking on the ocean. The world just wouldn’t stay still. Because of this, Wilfred spent a lot of time sitting and was becoming deconditioned. Wilfred’s wife Nicole began searching for a personal trainer who could help Wilfred stay more physically active.
She contacted KAATSU Specialist Louis Chartier n.d. to see if he could help. Louis has half a century of fitness training expertise and has a reputation of being a trainer who can get results. He visited Wilfred and Nicole at their house to see what condition Wilfred was in. After doing a thorough assessment, Louis suggested a training program that included KAATSU. Despite Wilfred’s weakened state, Louis was confident that KAATSU would help.
Louis began working with Wilfred using KAATSU several times per week. The gentle use of KAATSU in Cycle mode helped improve Wilfred’s circulation. Seated leg extensions and arm movements were added into Wilfred’s routine. Over time, with support, Wilfred was able to walk around, do half-squats, and was regaining his strength and muscle tone.
Eventually, the cause of Wilfred’s dizziness was diagnosed as hydrocephalus. Cerebrospinal fluid was building up abnormally in the brain causing increased pressure in the skull. Wilfred went through four operations to implant shunts to drain the excess fluid from the brain to a different part of the body. Wilfred also contracted meningitis and needed to be hospitalized for nearly two months.
When he got out, his dizziness had abated but he was in a very weakened state. Simple activities like standing from a sitting position exhausted him. He had lost the muscle tone he had been building up with Louis’ training, and due to his deconditioning his balance was severly affected.
Wilfred resumed training with Louis after he was released from hospital. Using KAATSU, Wilfred’s strength quickly improved. Starting off very deconditioned and unable to walk without a walker, after the third week of training Wilfred met Louis at the door, walking independently. These improvements were highly motivating for Wilfred.
Louis further motivated Wilfred (an avid golfer) by telling him that they would be able to golf together the next summer. After not being able to golf for 8 years due to his balance issues, Wilfred was eager to continue with his rehabilitation under Louis’ guidance.
As Wilfred’s physical condition improved, he and Nicole were able to begin training with Louis at his home clinic. Through the fall and winter, Louis added light weights (2~5 lbs) to Wilfred’s training program. Working with these light weights and KAATSU, Wilfred worked on improving his overall strength, stamina, balance, and conditioning. With Wilfred’s newfound strength and improved fitness levels, Louis was able to keep his promise to Wilfred as they golfed together in the summer of 2019. Wilfred has been back on the golf course ever since.
Louis said “KAATSU is an incredible tool to help build muscle. It doesn’t matter what condition a person starts in because we tailor how we use KAATSU to the individual. The circulation improvement and change in metabolic state brought on by KAATSU will help people who are weak or strong become stronger. It is one of my favourite training tools and I recommend it to all of my clients.”
For me, it is incredibly gratifying to hear stories like this. I know how KAATSU helped me, and I became the distributor because I want to share the benefits of KAATSU. I agree with Louis. KAATSU is an incredible tool. It builds muscle, but it does so much more. From its patented action of improving cardiovascular elasticity and health, to its recovery, rehabilitation, and fitness benefits, KAATSU is a simple modality that produces unexpected results.
Disclaimer: KAATSU protocols have not been evaluated by Health Canada. KAATSU is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease and its use should be evaluated by your own physician before use.