It Starts With the Person, Not the Diagnosis
Your parent may be living with Parkinson's, dementia, a stroke, heart or lung disease, or several conditions at once. The diagnosis helps us understand what we're working with, but it doesn't determine what your parent can improve.
We look at what your parent can do today, where they're struggling, and what they need to improve or maintain to keep functioning in everyday life.
Then we build from there.
We don't use exercises simply to get better at exercises. We use them for what they make possible. And through it all, leg strength is a key part of improving and maintaining function, whether that's standing from a chair, walking safely, managing stairs, or getting in and out of a car.
Some people make changes quickly. Others need more time. We meet your parent where they are, work at their pace, and continue to challenge their strength and balance as they're ready.
The diagnosis may be part of the picture. It doesn't define what's possible.
When Health Conditions Challenge What’s Possible
We work with older adults living with many different health conditions. Explore the categories below to learn more about how Tandem can help.
Neurological Conditions
- Alzheimer's Disease
- Brain Injury (TBI)
- Dementia
- Lewy Body Dementia
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Multiple System Atrophy
- Neuromuscular Disease
- Parkinson's Disease
- Peripheral Neuropathy
- Spinal Cord Injury
- Stroke (CVA)
Joint, Muscle & Mobility
- Arthritis
- Back Pain
- Fibromyalgia
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Sarcopenia
Bone Health & Fracture Recovery
- Compression Fracture
- Hip Fracture
- Pelvic Fracture
- Femur Fracture
- Osteoporosis
- Joint Replacement Recovery
Heart & Circulation
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
- Hypertension
Lung & Respiratory Health
- Asthma
- COPD
- Oxygen Dependence
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary Fibrosis
Chronic Medical Conditions
- Cancer
- Chronic Kidney Disease
- Crohn's Disease
- Diabetes
- Immune Deficiency
- Lupus
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Obesity
Recovery & Independence
- After Hospitalization
- After Medicare Physical Therapy
- Deconditioning
- Fall Recovery
- Frailty
- Depression
- Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD)
- Recovering After Pneumonia
- Recovering After UTI
Learn more about these conditions & Tandem’s approach
Arthritis and Leg Strength: Reduce Pain, Stay Independent, and Keep Living Life Your Way
One of the biggest reasons older adults lose their independence isn't simply aging - it's loss of leg strength.
ArthritisStrength Training During and After Cancer Treatment: Rebuilding Leg Strength, Mobility, and Independence
Cancer and its treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery, can lead to muscle loss, leg weakness, fatigue, and balance problems that make everyday activities more difficult.
Cancer treatmentCOPD Recovery Doesn't End When Therapy Ends: Why Ongoing Leg Strength Matters
COPD affects more than the lungs. Shortness of breath can lead to inactivity, deconditioning, and leg weakness, making walking and everyday activities more difficult.
COPDCrohn's Disease Doesn't Just Affect Your Digestive System: How Leg Strength Training Helps Protect Your Muscles, Joints, and Independence
When most people think about Crohn's disease, they think about abdominal pain, digestive problems, and inflammation of the intestines.
Crohn's diseaseIt’s Not Just Memory. It’s Mobility, Too.
When someone is diagnosed with dementia, families naturally focus on memory, confusion, and changes in thinking.
Dementia and Alzheimer'sStrength Training for Diabetes: How Stronger Legs Support Blood Sugar and Independence
Strength training can help older adults with diabetes improve blood sugar management, preserve muscle, build leg strength, and maintain mobility and independence.
DiabetesHip Fracture Recovery After Surgery: Rebuilding Leg Strength and Independence
IN SHORT
Hip fracture recoveryLewy Body Dementia: How Strength Training Supports Mobility and Independence
Lewy body dementia (LBD) is a progressive neurological condition caused by abnormal protein deposits called Lewy bodies in areas of the brain involved in thinking, memory, movement, and behavior.
Lewy body dementiaLumbar Compression Fracture Recovery: How Leg Strength Helps Restore Independence
A lumbar fracture (broken bone in the lower back) can cause back pain, leg weakness, difficulty walking, and loss of independence.
Lumbar compression fractureStrength Training for Lupus: Building Leg Strength for Better Mobility, Balance, and Independence
Lupus can affect muscle strength, mobility, and energy levels, making everyday activities more difficult.
LupusMultiple Sclerosis and Leg Strength: How Strength Training Supports Mobility and Independence
Maintaining Strength and Independence with Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosisStrength Training for Neuromuscular Disease: Building Strength to Maintain Mobility, Independence and Quality of Life
A neuromuscular disease (NMD) can make it harder for the body to produce normal strength and movement.
Neuromuscular diseaseLeg Strength and Parkinson's Disease: The Key to Better Walking, Fewer Falls & Greater Independence
How progressive leg strengthening improves mobility, helps people get more from their medication, builds confidence, and supports independence long after physical therapy ends.
Parkinson's diseasePelvic Fracture Recovery: How Leg Strength Helps Restore Independence
A pelvic fracture can cause pain, leg weakness, and difficulty walking, standing, and managing everyday activities.
Pelvic fracture recoveryPeripheral Neuropathy in Older Adults: Leg Weakness, Walking, and Strength Training
Peripheral neuropathy occurs when nerves outside the brain and spinal cord are damaged.
Peripheral neuropathyStroke Recovery: Why Leg Strength Matters for Regaining Independence
A stroke can change someone's life in an instant.
Stroke recoveryTraumatic Brain Injury Recovery: Why Improvement Can Continue Long After Rehabilitation Ends
One of the first questions many families ask after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) is:
Traumatic brain injury
Wondering what comes after Medicare-covered therapy?Read about what Tandem does when therapy ends →
Questions families ask
Do I need a diagnosis on this list to work with Tandem?
No. Your parent does not need to have a specific diagnosis to work with us.
We work with older adults with a wide range of health conditions, and sometimes no specific diagnosis at all.
Our focus is building and maintaining the leg strength and balance needed for everyday function, regardless of diagnosis.
If you don't see your parent's condition listed, that doesn't mean we can't help. Contact us and we'll talk through your parent's situation.
Does Tandem diagnose or treat the condition itself?
The diagnosis is important. It helps us understand what your parent is dealing with and how it may affect their movement. Our focus is on what your parent needs to improve or maintain their mobility and everyday function.
Through ongoing strength and balance training, we address the physical challenges that may be affecting how your parent moves and continue building the leg strength they need to keep moving and stay as independent as possible.
What if Medicare-covered therapy has already ended?
Tandem was created to provide ongoing, private-pay exercise for older adults with complex medical conditions, people who may need more time to build strength and improve function.
When medical needs are complex, progress can take longer. Medicare-covered therapy may end before your parent has had enough time to make the progress they need.
For many chronic conditions, ongoing exercise is also important for managing the physical challenges of the condition and maintaining function.
Therapy may have ended. Your parent's need to keep working on strength hasn't.
Where does Tandem provide services?
We provide one-on-one strength and balance training wherever your parent lives. We work with older adults in their homes, apartments, assisted living communities, and nursing homes.
We bring the equipment and everything needed for each session to them.
We currently serve seven Twin Cities metro counties: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington.
Areas Tandem serves
All seven Twin Cities metro counties. Each area has its own page.
Counties
Cities - Tandem Strength & Balance® works with aging adults in all cities throughout the seven-county metro area
Let's talk about what your family is facing
A free in-home consultation with Nicole, Tandem's owner and a physical therapist. She'll see how your parent is doing, listen to what's become harder, and tell you honestly if Tandem can help.
No pressure. Just an honest conversation about what comes next.
Prefer to talk now? Call (952) 746-3222
Monday to Friday 7:30- 4pm