While Les was in the hospital, Paula learned about Project Walk from the internet, while reading a story about someone that was going there. Les and Paula have researched it alot, and It is was his goal to go to Project walk to work on his recovery. We are very happy to say that the goal of getting to Project Walk did come to pass. Les was able to work at the Carlsbad Project Walk for two weeks in August 2013. Project Walk is a facility designed to help individuals with Spinal cord injuries (SCI) reach their full potential at becoming healthy, strong and independent as possible. It's extremely important to do whatever is needed to stay healthy and strong. There's not much a doctor can do for a person living with paralysis besides prescribe medications as various symptoms occur. It's often said, "there's no cure to paralysis" and that's why it's so difficult to get insurance to help with expenses for available treatments, programs, equipment and other life enhancing options that are available. The situation is beyond frustrating for anyone living with SCI and causes a lot of individuals to give up and settle for what little is available. Les refuses to live his life confined to his chair, not moving his body and relying on help for everything, knowing that there are options to improve his quality of life and be stronger, healthier and better. The following information about Project walk was taken from their site for information purposes.
How can Project Walk Help?
. Traditionally, spinal cord injury (SCI) rehabilitation focused on compensation. The thought was that the human nervous system could not re-organize and improve function below the level of injury. Recent research and our own client success over the last decade have proven this to be false for many people with SCI. At Project Walk we cannot guarantee who will regain function, however, we understand and recognize symptoms that present the potential to improve function below the level of injury.
We tap into this potential through an intense activity-based program. This program focuses on using specific exercises that are related to the same movement patterns that occur during human development. Through these movements we are attempting to re-establish patterned neural activity within the central nervous system. These movement patterns are replicated by our clients with the assistance of our highly trained SCI Recovery Specialists. Our Specialists have been taught to respond to the cues each client’s nervous system gives them and, by providing the proper stimulus, help it to re-organize.
In addition to the unique exercises and highly trained staff, Project Walk also believes that the use of antispasmodics and other medication associated with traditional SCI treatment may hinder the chance of recovery. Many of our clients have found that the elimination of medications, under their doctor’s supervision, improves their quality of life and helps them to progress in their recovery. As a result of increased activity and less medication, our clients improve their overall health and quality of life.
The Dardzinski MethodThe Dardzinski Method is a theory based upon more than a decade of experience working with SCI as well as current scientific research. Research on activity and how it relates to SCI has progressed rapidly in the last few years. After SCI, the body begins to breakdown physiologically. This is partially caused by reducing the effect of gravity on the body and through exercise we are attempting to reverse this breakdown. The effects of exercise on someone with a spinal cord injury are similar to that of able-bodied individuals.1 Passive exercise alone has been shown to decrease physiological breakdown after SCI, but we believe weight bearing exercise may have an even greater effect.2,8 This type of exercise is what the human body was designed to do; standing, walking, lifting, etc.
Many of the exercises we use are based on recreating patterned neural activity. This is the process by which it is thought the central nervous system develops its structure and function in the growing human being. The continuous repetition of movement may help to create this neural pattern in the brain and spinal cord.
www.projectwalk.org.
We tap into this potential through an intense activity-based program. This program focuses on using specific exercises that are related to the same movement patterns that occur during human development. Through these movements we are attempting to re-establish patterned neural activity within the central nervous system. These movement patterns are replicated by our clients with the assistance of our highly trained SCI Recovery Specialists. Our Specialists have been taught to respond to the cues each client’s nervous system gives them and, by providing the proper stimulus, help it to re-organize.
In addition to the unique exercises and highly trained staff, Project Walk also believes that the use of antispasmodics and other medication associated with traditional SCI treatment may hinder the chance of recovery. Many of our clients have found that the elimination of medications, under their doctor’s supervision, improves their quality of life and helps them to progress in their recovery. As a result of increased activity and less medication, our clients improve their overall health and quality of life.
The Dardzinski MethodThe Dardzinski Method is a theory based upon more than a decade of experience working with SCI as well as current scientific research. Research on activity and how it relates to SCI has progressed rapidly in the last few years. After SCI, the body begins to breakdown physiologically. This is partially caused by reducing the effect of gravity on the body and through exercise we are attempting to reverse this breakdown. The effects of exercise on someone with a spinal cord injury are similar to that of able-bodied individuals.1 Passive exercise alone has been shown to decrease physiological breakdown after SCI, but we believe weight bearing exercise may have an even greater effect.2,8 This type of exercise is what the human body was designed to do; standing, walking, lifting, etc.
Many of the exercises we use are based on recreating patterned neural activity. This is the process by which it is thought the central nervous system develops its structure and function in the growing human being. The continuous repetition of movement may help to create this neural pattern in the brain and spinal cord.
www.projectwalk.org.
Another important goal Les was working towards also came to pass. Les had relied on Paula to get everywhere, and he had been unable to drive since his paralysis. Les and Paula were able to purchase a modified van for Les, and he can now not only get himself places and run errands for the family, but also do most of the family driving as he would have done before.