Veteran physiotherapist bolstering healthy bodies and lives

For almost 40 years, physical therapist Gaynor Downer has been helping thousands of patients, ranging from weeks old to 99, regain their strength and mobility and recover from life-threatening diseases.

As a teen fresh out of Excelsior High School and trying to decipher her next step, Downer's decision to join the profession was cemented when she learnt that her grandfather died of pneumonia, a tragedy that could have been prevented.

"When I realised physiotherapy could have helped him, I said I had to go into physiotherapy. No other member of my family was going to die from pneumonia because no physiotherapist was available, or because nobody really looked after him the way I know I could have looked after him had I been a therapist then," Downer told THE WEEKEND STAR.

However, prior to losing her grandfather, Downer had already been exposed to the profession by a friend whose parent had polio. That friend desired to study physiotherapy and explained to Downer what the profession entailed. This sparked Downer's interest and led her to do further research. She then decided to apply to the School of Physical Therapy at the Mona Rehabilitation Centre, but the school was closed for a year. So she opted to pursue studies in pharmacology at the College of Arts, Science and Technology, now The University of Technology, Jamaica. Still, Downer's heart was set on physiotherapy so when the Mona school reopened, she pursued her diploma.

HELP PEOPLE AND SHARING FAITH

Over the years, Downer has worked with organisations such as the United States Agency for International Development and local medical institutions such as the Kingston Public and Spanish Town hospitals, and the University Hospital of the West Indies. That is until 1992 when she started her own practice, Metroplex Physical Therapy Services. Downer said that her passion has always been to help people and to share her faith.

"Those two together embody who I am, so I use my platform to share my faith and as a place where healing takes place - healing of the body, spirit and mind," Downer said.

Downer, who has a master's degree in sports and exercise medicine and is a member of the Jamaica Association of Sports Medicine, has also had the opportunity to work with major sports teams, travelling to more than 20 countries.

"I've worked with a lot of teams and that part of it was exciting because you get to travel, know different places and know that you are part of the medical set-up to help athletes when they have a challenge," Downer said.

Still, what was most memorable for her was what she described as "nothing but a miracle", when she witnessed a patient who had been suffering for years with a severe hunch and back pain, walk upright after one session with her. She admitted that treating stroke patients somewhat saddens her.

"I've treated hundreds of stroke patients and at least 90 per cent .of the patients I've seen with stroke [their condition was] totally avoidable because people don't take their medication or are not medication compliant," Downer explained.

"We need to learn to take care of ourselves. We need to exercise, we need to just take care of our bodies because we want to pull out years out of a bank, things that we are not putting in. It can't work. Health is like money in a bank, you have to stack up on it," Downer said.

"If you don't take care of your health you're going to end up seeing me and spending a whole lot of money to try get you back to fitness and you might never reach back to where you were," Downer added.