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Our new assisted exercise
facility, called Body BASIC, has fifteen state-of-the-art power-assisted
exercise machines that have been designed with the help of British engineers,
in conjunction with doctors, physiotherapists and exercise specialists.
Assisted exercise treatment programmes are available by prescription
from a chartered physiotherapist.
Download our information sheet PDF
How do they work?
Each person is assessed by a neuro-physiotherapist and a short program
of exercise prescribed. Assistants are on hand at all times to motivate
and help and re-assessments are made as recommended by the physiotherapist.
The machines appear to do all the work for you and exercise can be passive,
resisted or cardiovascular. Each machine is designed to exercise more
than one part of the body at the same time, halving the time it takes
to see results. The machines are of great benefit to wheelchair users,
people with restricted mobility & those with reduced levels of physical
conditioning.
Who can benefit?
People with:
- Mild, Moderate & Traumatic Brain Injury
- Acquired Brain Injury
- Stroke
- Spinal injury
- Back complaints
- Parkinsons
- Multiple Sclerosis
- ME (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome)
- Other neurological injury & conditions
- Clinical Depression
What will the benefits be?
Benefits can include increased functional capacity, improved circulation,
increased mobility & co-ordination, increased muscle strength, and
increased general health, fitness and well-being, improved mood and
self-esteem, reduction in the risk of stroke, heart disease, hypertension,
diabetes etc.
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The Brain & Spinal Injury Charity (BASIC) is set to revolutionise
the recovery process of brain disorder sufferers, with the opening of
the country’s first Assisted-Exercise Therapy (AET) Centre.For
many of the UK’s 3 Million brain disorder patients, exercise is
out of the question, making depression and obesity common side-effects
– until now.
The clinically-supervised facility, BodyBASIC, is being launched on
Wednesday 15th March. It has been custom-designed in conjunction with
medical experts to make exercise both possible, and easy, for this group.
Research has shown that exercise is a key factor in their long-term
recovery.
Patients undergo an initial assessment with a neuro-physiotherapist,
who ‘prescribes’ an individual programme of Assisted Exercise
Therapy suitable for their condition. A series of state-of-the-art,
power-assisted machines will then do all the work for them.
Each machine is designed to exercise more than one part of the body
at the same time, halving the time it takes to see results. Just two
half hour sessions each week will get results.
As well as being ideal for those who’ve suffered traumas such
as stroke, brain injuries and spinal tumours, AET is also suitable for
any individual who finds exercise a struggle, such as those who are
overweight, depressed or suffering neck / back problems.
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Laura Parry, 18, from High Peak, Derbyshire
In 2004, Laura had what she described as a 'funny turn' at work, followed
bysome painful and distressing symptoms; her vision went blurry, her
arm and tongue went completely numb and she had an excruciating headache.
To make matters worse she found she couldn't speak properly to explain
to her colleagues what was happening to her.
Laura's symptoms confused Doctors, who at first diagnosed her with a
'migraine', and she spent months trying different medications and painkillers.
She continued to suffer from extremely painful headaches and fatigue,
which meant she was unable to work, until one day, she lost her job.
After undergoing numerous assessments, including a brain scan and eye
tests, and an appointment with two neurologists, Laura was eventually
diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). She was sent home from
the Hospital with little idea of what this entailed or how she could
overcome it. She explains:
"I left there feeling so confused, I'd never heard of CFS and the
Hospital
never even mentioned that this was in fact ME."
Laura was deeply affected by her illness, and she spent many months
'trapped' at home and unable to get out due to her fatigue and other
symptoms. She continues:
"There was no support from anyone on the medical side and I ended
up
depressed and gaining a lot of weight. There didn't seem to be any way
for
me to fight it."
After 8 months, Laura knew she must do something about it. She knew
of the Brain & Spinal Injury Charity through her Mum and contacted
them for help.
She soon started volunteering for the charity, and then learnt about
the opening of its power-assisted exercise facility, BodyBASIC.
She applied for a job to work at the new gym and has had her own 'prescription'
for exercise during trials at the centre. The state-of-the-art exercise
machines have not only led to a healthy one-stone weight loss for Laura,
she says it's also helped her to get her life back:
"If it wasn't for BodyBASIC I would still be sat at home depressed
and have gained even more weight. I'm a completely different person
since I've started assisted exercise therapy.
"It's so easy to just give in when you're suffering from CFS, but
the machines are fantastic, easy to use and do all the exercise for
me. I never thought it would be possible.
Exercising like this has given me more energy and I've even managed
to get myself a house, job and social life. Although I often get migraine-like
'attacks' where I can't speak or see, I'm able to live my life again."
Roger Ennis, 57 from Bolton, suffers
from Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Roger has been battling with MS for 6 years now. Although the condition
is most common in younger people, Roger fell victim to MS at 51.
Roger first noticed he had a problem when his right foot started falling
behind him and had blurred vision.
MS works like a virus, by attacking the central nervous system. It erodes
parts of the brain and spinal system, but can then lie dormant with
an unpredictable outcome when it ‘returns’.
Roger had to give up his job as a University lecturer when he was diagnosed,
leading to him becoming inactive. He was told by Doctors that, although
the illness wasn’t life-threatening, they had no way of predicting
its course.
Over the years, Roger’s walking has gone very downhill turn and
he has to now use a stick to get about. He has become very tired and
suffers from fatigue, making it hard to get any motivation to walk.
He explains:
“It’s the stamina that’s the biggest problem –
it’s very difficult for other people to appreciate how difficult
this is. It completely wipes you out and drains you.”
Although Roger sees a consultant on an annual basis, there is little
support by way of physiotherapy available to him on the NHS. Although
he’s constantly worried that his condition is starting to flare
up again, Roger remains positive and is determined to help himself.
He joined BodyBASIC during trials and, since then, says his mobility
has had the greatest improvement since his diagnosis. He says:
“My biggest problem was exercise and getting the ‘right’
sort of exercise. I find it too difficult to use a mainstream gym, and
can’t get the energy to do the exercise once I’m there.
The machines at BodyBASIC move my limbs whether I’m in the mood
or not! I’ve now got lots more mobility and stamina as a result.
“The last thing I want to do is sit at home and vegetate, and
the centre is the only thing that keeps me active. Because it’s
clinically-supervised, I can get lots of advice. The people who run
it are really friendly, so it’s somewhere you actually ‘want’
to go, rather than a chore.”
As well as getting more movement in his right leg and arm, which were
most affected by his condition, Roger says the therapy has also improved
his fitness and mood:
Glynis Shaw, 53, lives in Irlam, Greater
Manchester (Brain tumour & Stroke)
(Awaiting approval)
Glynis is continually recovering from a serious brain tumour, which
she had removed in 1998. During surgery she suffered a stroke, leaving
her with hemiplegia (weakness down one side of her body).
Most people would have given up by now, but Glynis has faced her illness
head-on, losing 10 inches during trials of BodyBASIC. She has also started
doing part-time voluntary work for the charity to keep her active.
Prior to her illness, Glynis used to work as a clerk at an insurance
brokers, until one day her leg started to drag behind her. Doctors initially
thought she had MS, but tests confirmed that Glynis in fact had a brain
tumour.
Since the tumour was benign, Glynis was sent home and booked in for
an operation to remove it several months down the line. However, during
this waiting period she suddenly became violently sick, and was rushed
into Hospital for an emergency operation. She explains:
"It was bad enough finding out about the tumour, but after I woke
up from my operation, they told me I'd also had a stroke. This left
me completely paralysed down my left hand side."
Glynis stayed in Hospital and underwent four months of physiotherapy,
then she was allowed home with full-time carers. She learnt to sit in
a chair on her own, then gradually, managed to stand and walk independently.
She initially attended BASIC for aromatherapy massages, which helped
to de-stress her mood and relax her. Then one day, Glynis learnt about
the opening of BodyBASIC, and jumped at the chance to become active
again. She says:
"Without dieting I've lost 10 inches from around my body - and this
is only in 3 months."
Glynis' main problem nowadays is that her left arm doesn't respond,
and she needs to have regular botox injections to get it moving. The
physiotherapy she can now receive from the Hospital is now extremely
limited, so BodyBASIC is the only way she can stop her muscles from
deteriorating through lack of use. She adds:
"All anybody in my position can really do is walk to the car and back.
There's no way I can exercise on my own. At BodyBASIC there are qualified
staff who know what they're doing, who assist me on the machines and
give me exercise that's safe to do."
Glynis is continuing to lose weight, build muscles in her arm and lift
her spirits through the power-assisted machines at BodyBASIC.
Ann Kurley, 53, from Swinton, Greater
Manchester – Spinal Tumour Patient
When Ann Kurley was diagnosed with a spinal tumour, she was terrified
by news that she might lose her ability to walk.
Although Ann found it difficult to stand, or getting up from sitting
down, and she went into denial about her condition, until one day she
could no longer ignore it. She says:
“I didn’t want to admit the problem, and kept trying to
avoid it. Then I stood up one day and, to my horror, I fell backwards.
I thought ‘I can’t keep going on like this’, and had
to face the reality of my situation.”
It was 1993 when Ann first went into Hospital and underwent the complex
procedure of having her tumour removed. The type of tumour she had can
intertwine in the spinal nerves, and neurosurgeons had no way of knowing
before operating what extent they would have to sever her nerves to
remove the tumour. Ann says:
“There was a real possibility that I would not be able to walk
when I came to from the operation. I was terrified when I woke up, especially
since I couldn’t feel anything in my legs or back.”
Fortunately, neuro-physiotherapists were able to put Ann at ease not
too long after she woke up. They thought from the way she was standing
after her op that she would be able to build her strength back up, and
walk again one day.
Although this was great news for Ann, the last twelve years have been
a struggle. Following her initial rehabilitation, Doctors said that
there was nothing more they could do for Ann. She has been on her own
learning to walk again and regain her balance. But Ann is determined
to improve things for herself.
She joined BASIC’s membership scheme many years ago, which gave
her access to it’s Neurocare Centre, and advice and information
on her condition. When she heard about the new Assisted-Exercise Therapy
at BodyBASIC she jumped at the chance of being able to exercise again.
She says:
“I’ve tried to join a normal gym before but it actually
did me more harm than good because I was doing things I shouldn’t
have been! It was very painful and not at all equipped for my injuries.”
Ann has been attending BodyBASIC during trials since September 2005.
A neuro-physiotherapist prescribed a programme of exercise for Ann that
was suitable for her condition, and since then there has been no stopping
her. She explains:
“The muscles in my legs had become very weak over the years. Now
the machines are building the muscle definition on my legs which is
improving my walking – I’m keeping at it, and determined
to improve my condition, and keep fit.”
For the first time, Ann can exercise confidently, and get the assistance
she needs on the machines. She adds:
“I have the peace of mind that I’m in good hands, and I’m
making more progress than I have done in years. BodyBASIC is not only
helping to strengthen my legs, but it’s improving the way I feel
about my situation, which is the hardest battle you face when trying
to recover from a spinal tumour.”
There is overwhelming evidence that people like Ann can benefit from
exercise, both in their mental and psychological recovery.
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