Thursday, November 29, 2018

New Therapy Techniques

This article on teenager Connor Walker's recovery mentions some interesting new techniques: use of a bionic exoskeleton, low-oxygen therapy, virtual reality, and reaction to music.  The combination looks pretty unique, and may be very promising. 

Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Video Update and Thank You to Biofit

A video update.  I’m holding my own on the rowing machine now, literally: keeping my legs where I want them and using them to help push backward.  This is a work in progress, but when I began working on a stationary rowing machine, I had to have help steadying my knees and ankles.  Certainly an improvement!

Also, since this is a time that is meant to be dedicated to giving thanks, today I’d like to express particular thanks for the wonderful physical therapists at Biofit.  It isn’t easy to find therapy, much less years after an injury that is thought to be so permanent.  But from the time I walked into Biofit, the therapists and personal trainers there have been up to the challenge of pushing for more.  I’ve been extremely grateful for their skill, experience, creativity, and positivity.  Thank you to Justin, Shannon, Kim, and everyone else who has been part of my ongoing recovery!

Thursday, November 8, 2018

Video Update, October 2018

The video I’m posting today shows an interesting difference of “mind over muscle.”  One focus I have right now is dropping to AFO braces only, which means activating knee muscles that have not been strong enough to move out of KAFOs.  In the first half of the video, you can see that I'm working more on distance and movement.  In the second half, there is more concentration on a very specific motion: pushing forward and keeping my left leg in a straighter step pattern, even if it takes more time and effort. 
We don’t usually think about slight differences like this, but I thought this video demonstrates how much they actually matter.  Typically, it's not this easy to see a small change of focus playing out.