Sport on the ward: Sarah's rehabilitation story
The results of Sarah Hale's sport and physical activity rehabilitation programme are clear to see. Sarah, 32 from East London said:
"Everybody keeps commenting on my triceps!"
Sarah never had much of an interest in sport, that is until she met Mark O'neil, WheelPower's Physical Activity Advisor on the spinal ward at the Royal National Orthopeadic Hospital in Stanmore. After undergoing surgery on a tumour on her spinal cord in March this year, that resulted in her being a T3 Paraplegic.
Mark supports lots of patients like Sarah to access sport and physical activity opportunities following a spinal cord injury, and it was on meeting Sarah that Mark noticed her determination and strength of character. She wasted no time in getting up and active after surgery, quickly understanding the philosophy and ideas for building up strength and general fitness by the physiotherapy team and Mark. There are endless benefits for remaining active now that she is a full time manual wheelchair user.
She has been making full use of all the sport and physical activity opportunities at Stanmore such as table tennis, swimming, slalom and wheelchair tennis. In addition Sarah was regularly seen utilising the onsite gym facilities like the handbike, resistance machines and machines for her legs.
Sarah is current hold record holder with the fastest time amongst Stanmore patients for the manual wheelchair slalom organised by WheelPower’s physical activity advisor.
Since being discharged from Stanmore at the end of June 2014 Sarah feels fitter, has more stamina and has the body to match! She has gained more muscle definition in her upper body and it has not gone unnoticed by her friends and family.
Sarah will be returning to her usual place of employment to look at accessibility issues and to discuss future work options. However, she is focused on continuing her active lifestyle and the progress she has made during her rehabilitation. Sarah is thankful of the support she received from WheelPower and plans to remain in contact to continue to utilising the support available from Mark.
In 2014 WheelPower’s physical activity advisors supported over 60 patients. With the expansion of the project to Pinderfields and Sheffield this is set to at least double our aim to transform lives through sport.
