Audette’s journey with Headway ABI Australia is a testament to the incredible strides possible through dedicated physical therapy and a willingness to never give up. Overcoming the challenges posed by a brain injury, Audette has embraced the path of recovery with grace and determination, utilising the remarkable capabilities of our physical therapy team the iCARE machine.
Her vibrant spirit and resilience have not only brightened our community but have also showcased the profound impact of what you can achieve when you set your mind to it. The following inspirational story was written by Audette herself:
Freedom and choices regained:
“My life has changed so much for the better in the last couple of years since I have been attending the Headway Wings wellbeing centre and using their specialised rehabilitation equipment.
Before starting the rehabilitation sessions, I used to have to wear a walk belt and someone would need to walk beside me ready to grab the walk belt to help cushion my fall when I fell, which was regularly.
As a result of my brain injury I now have a condition named Dystonia.
The main symptom of Dystonia is involuntary muscle contractions, that result in slow repetitive movements cramps or abnormal posture. This meant that it took me a long time to walk even the shortest distance.
My vocal muscles also cramp up and this greatly affected any attempts of communication. That has also greatly improved, and another story in itself.
Today, I want to focus on my physical ability.
When I first started in the Wings Wellbeing Centre I needed to wear a harness when using the machines.
This state-of-the-art technology uses sensors that tell them when I was moving the machine myself and when the machine was doing the work. I think it was about 50% machine and 50% me in the beginning. I started off doing 5 – 10-minute sessions and about 150 steps.
As I improved and my endurance improved, I started to set myself some goals, with the aim of reaching 1000 steps and then 1000 steps in 30 minutes.
I am now going to do some bragging as I am so pleased with myself as I have surpassed this goal, woohoo! Each session I do 1000 steps in around 26 minutes (depending on how much I talk). I haven’t used the harness for a very long time or the walk belt. I go to the gym 3 times a week and I love it and I know firsthand the difference it has made in me and my life.
I now walk with minimal assistance as someone stays close just in case my muscles spasm and I fall. I love the freedom and choices this has given back to me. I know and understand that I will always need to keep my Gym sessions up as there is no cure for Dystonia. These sessions help me greatly in managing Dystonia and the side effects I experience every day.
If you need this kind of help, I strongly recommend you contact Headway ABI and give it a go. The Clinical Exercise Physiologist himself has an amazing story to tell which you can view online here.
Don’t hesitate Just Do It as the Nike saying goes.
Audette”