Aim of the therapy

The aim of the therapy provided by theraMAX is to empower the individual to develop their full physical potential.

Physical potential is achieved by affecting and driving the recovery process rather than merely enabling the individual to make the most of what is left after the lesion. The recovery process is driven by the person learning how to perform actions and processes that were performed with ease pre-lesion.

Participation in the rehabilitation programme inevitably leads to the well-established general benefits of activity on health and well being (on cardiovascular function, bone density, etc). Furthermore, participation will also lead to the recovery of function.

Recovery, however limited, raises an important point.

Often, what able-bodied people consider functional may be very different from what a spinal cord injured person considers functional or life improving. Although substantial time may be required to affect small changes in sensation and movement, those changes are likely to have an enormous beneficial impact on individuals with severe injuries, both psychologically and in their ability to be more independent. For example, improved circulation and bone density reduces skin breakdowns, infections, bone fractures and hospitalisation. As a consequence, health care costs are reduced and the client benefits emotionally and physically.