06/08/2025
Day 2-5, Neurokinex Gatwick,
Elizabeth has completed her first week of her latest intensive at Neurokinex Gatwick. It was a busy but productive week. During the week, Elizabeth worked hard to increase her standing tolerance with the help of various different pieces of equipment, such as standing frames and the Kaiser machine, which is an anti-gravity machine that supports the users bodyweight through a harness thus enabling them to stand upright. When Elizabeth first started using these machines to help her stand, she used to get very dizzy due to her body not being used to being upright. However, over time, through gradually building up the amount of time she spent in her standing frame, etc., her standing tolerance has greatly increased, and she can now manage to remain in this position for quite a while. Standing and putting weight through her legs and feet is very important as it has many benefits for her overall health, such as increased bone strength and prevention of osteoporosis, prevention of pressure sores, better circulation, etc.
Each day at Neurokinex, she also had a session of Wide-pulse Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (WPS). During this treatment, electrical stimulus was applied to the target areas through the placement of electrodes on specific parts of her body. The aim of this treatment is to help activate her spinal cord and promote neuroplasticity, i.e., the brain's ability to adapt and change. The hope is that by combining this treatment with a purposeful activity, that together these will strengthen the existing pathways in her spinal cord and help to develop new ones.
Throughout the week, she also did lots of Activity Based Rehabilition (ABR). This is a type of neurological rehabilitation which aims to encourage functional recovery by using multiple strategies, such as high repetitions of various exercises and activities, to help promote neuroplasticity. Where possible these exercises and activities take place outside of the wheelchair. In Elizabeth's case, her ABR sessions for the week, included performing various exercises on the Kaiser, Cybex, Total Gym (TG) and Ski Erg machines, as well as other activities, such as boxing, weight lifting, kettlebells, resistance band exercises, beach ball, weighted ball, battle ropes, long sitting on the ground, etc. The great thing about this type of neurorehabilitation is that not only is it effective but it is also fun. What better way to do the necessary exercises than through a purposeful game or activity.
Near the end of the week, Elizabeth had a massage. The actual reason for this was to help break up scar tissue from her many surgeries and to help loosen up her muscles, but she found it nice and relaxing at the same time, especially as she was tired and sore after a long week of working hard at the rehabilitation centre every day. She found this very beneficial, and it gave her a lot of relief. so the plan is for to have a massage each week during her time here.
After all her hard work at Neurokinex last week, she spent the weekend recovering so that she would be well-rested and on top form for her second week of intensive neurorehabilitation this week. She is looking forward to working hard at Neurokinex during the rest of her time here, and with the amount of effort being put in by both herself and the staff at Neurokinex, we are confident that Elizabeth will gain much benefit from her time here as she has done previously.
