Nur Mashitoh (right) during one of the sessions at the Mini Muscle Therapy Community Centre at PPR Seri Cempaka where seniors are guided on muscle strengthening exercises. - AZMAN GHANI/The Star
Seventy-year-old Mani Mohd has always been known as a cheerful and resourceful woman among her neighbours at the Seri Cempaka People’s Housing Programme (PPR) in Kuala Lumpur.
Behind her active presentation, however, not many people knew that she had been silently enduring excruciating pain in her knee and shoulder joints.
Over time, the pain worsened until she could no longer conceal it.
Her once cheerful nature faded, replaced by complaints about the constant discomfort.
From being active and independent for her age, Mani became more sedentary, choosing to sit more and move less.
In July, she decided it was time to so something about her pain. Summoning her courage, she walked into the Mini Muscle Therapy Community Centre, located in her flat’s community hall, to seek help.
There, she found out that her knee pain was due to inflammation caused by arthritis.
“Our therapist provided her with a full-body sports massage to relieve muscle tension, performed carefully and slowly, as she is diabetic,” explains Nur Mashitoh Mukhtar, founder of CTOS Rehab & Recovery. Mani was also taught simple exercises she could do at home.
The Mini Muscle Therapy Community Centre at PPR Seri Cempaka is part of CTOS’s community outreach, supporting initiatives under the KL Prihatin programme by City Hall, launched in 2021.
“After two months of treatment, Mani was happy to share that the pain in her knees had subsided, leaving only the shoulder pain to manage,” adds Nur Mashitoh, who is also a certified sports therapist.
Moving forward, Mani will continue physiotherapy exercises with her therapist to strengthen her muscles and further reduce her pain.
Many senior citizens are not aware that they should consult a physiotherapist or doctor if they experienced muscle and joint pain. - NUR MASHITOH MUKHTAR
Building Skills
Previously, CTOS operated similar clinics at PPR Pekan Kepong and PA Seri Kota in Bandar Tun Razak before moving into PPR Seri Cempaka at Jalan Pantai last year.
“We decided to improve our programme by providing theoretical and practical training to the community at PPR Seri Cempaka for free,” says Nur Mashitoh, attributing her volunteering spirit to her mother, Wan Zaleha Wan Mohammed, 60, who does community works in her hometown in Dungun, Terengganu.
To date, CTOS has successfully trained 10 youths from PPR Seri Cempaka, who are now the in-house muscle therapists for the community centre.
Every success, however, comes with challenges.
Nur Mashitoh and her team said it was challenging at the start as most trainees lacked background in biological sciences.
“But kudos to them, their determination pulled them through,” says Nur Mashitoh, who also holds a Malaysian Skills Certificate Level 1 in Sports Massage from the Department of Skills Development.Another challenge was the lack of activity space at the PPR. However, the team managed to convert a small corner in the multipurpose hall into a conducive treatment area.
“Currently, we are trying to secure sponsorships or grants to build a proper treatment centre at the PPR foyer,” Nur Mashitoh adds.
Despite these hurdles, PPR Seri Cempaka’s Mini Muscle Therapy Community Centre has transformed some of its youth into trained therapists while offering affordable treatments to the community, especially seniors.
“We hope that with our services, seniors here will manage their muscle health more productively and effectively,” Nur Mashitoh says.Reaching Out
Nur Mashitoh highlights the lack of awareness about elderly muscle health, combined with the absence of elderly-friendly facilities in public housing, worsens the situation.
Her team conducted a survey on 50 selected senior citizens and found that only a quarter were aware they should consult a physiotherapist or doctor if they experienced muscle and joint pain.
“The rest didn’t know and opted to manage their pain with painkillers, which can harm the stomach,” Nur Mashitoh explains.
One patient, Norhana Hamid, 65, stopped her sports activities over a year ago due to a sprained ankle. Her ankle was healed but the inactivity gave her back and leg pain.
“After two months of muscle therapy, not only is Norhana pain-free, but she’s back on her feet, doing Zumba and other activities with her friends,” Nur Mashitoh adds.
She also points out that those who have muscle health issues are stuck in cramped homes with untreated health issues because their family members are too busy making ends meet.
“Worse, access to muscle health for the elderly is not prioritised in most government clinics,” she says.
Through their clinic, CTOS aims to educate seniors on fat-muscle composition, causes of muscle and joint pain, appropriate exercises, healthy diets, and proper follow-up care.
