Revolutionary New Treatment Gives Hope to UK’s 3 Million Brain Disorder Sufferers

The Brain & Spinal Injury Charity (BASIC) is revolutionising 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 this week. 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.

Laura Parry, 18, from High Peak, suffers from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME). She has already used the centre during trials, and says it has helped her to get her life back:

“Following my diagnosis I became very depressed, had no energy and put on a lot of weight. I found it hard to even leave the house. I’m a completely different person since I’ve started assisted exercise therapy.”

There is overwhelming medical evidence that shows regular exercise helps to improve many chronic medical conditions, as well as mood disorders. However many brain disorder patients report that they find it very difficult to perform daily routines, making exercise feel impossible.

Derek Gaskell, founder of BASIC, says: “We identified the need for patients to gain help with exercise when we discovered they had no long-term support following rehabilitation. They either find it difficult to access conventional gyms or that they don’t have the right expertise to advise them properly about their injury.

“Now they can exercise under clinical-supervision which will greatly benefit both their mental and physical recuperation.”

BodyBASIC is also a more suitable alternative to a conventional gym, where there is no clinical-supervision of exercisers with injuries, or where some people can feel intimidated by the ‘keep-fit culture’.

There are several routes for patients to access the therapy – either they can apply for funding through their GP or local PCT, (BodyBASIC is affiliated to the nearby Hope Hospital), or members of the public can access the centre on a private or subsidised basis.

BASIC offers advice, information, support and a range of alternative therapies to those with brain, spinal and neck injuries. Located next to BodyBASIC, its Neurocare Centre is also unique, and is frequently visited by people from as far afield as Scotland and London.

For more information, call BodyBASIC on Tel: 0161 707 6441, or take the virtual tour at www.basiccharity.org.uk.

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