It’s time to open up the honours list at the clinic – for a very deserving cause.
We’re celebrating a huge success story for sports therapist Luke Almond, who has now
graduated as a fully-fledged chiropractor.
For the last two years, Luke has not only overcome the challenge of commuting from Bristol
to Bournemouth so he can study and still work for us but also, despite being partially
sighted, he’s passed all of his exams with flying colours.
The masters degree conversion to chiropractic is considered to be one of the hardest
vocational graduate entry courses in the country. It squeezes three years of typical learning
time into two, with a huge emphasis on practical skills.
Both Catherine and I, from the clinic, are associate lecturers at the AECC University College
in Bournemouth. From talking to the staff there, we know that Luke made a huge impact on
the course and was considered to be an all-round star in every aspect.
So now that Luke has attained his grades, he can start back with us properly in August, after
a well-deserved short break, of course.
Talking of stellar achievements, let’s look at a piece of kit that can make you feel like you’re
walking on the moon…
During a day in July, our Alter-G – an anti-gravity running machine that gives you a superb
feeling of weightlessness – was out of action for its annual service. Despite this, we
managed to squeeze all the patients into the day after, but it did create a busy time.
First up was a former Bristol Rovers player who got in early so he could zip off for training in
a whole other city. He is recovering from a severe injury, a fractured and dislocated ankle
suffered during a game. The anti-gravity environment is the perfect way for him to
rehabilitate. He was able to start walking at just 20 per cent of his body weight and now,
nine weeks later, he’s running at 90 per cent and looking forward to a return to full training
soon.
Next up was one of my patients who has experienced mixed fortunes after knee
replacement surgery. He’s been having treatment that includes mobilisation, manipulation,
shockwave and soft tissue therapy – as well as regular sessions on the Alter-G.
After just a couple of months his knee pain is significantly reduced, his range of motion is
fab and he can walk five times faster on the treadmill than he could at the beginning. It’s
such a great tool to watch as patients make progress.
The next person I want to mention came to see us after being completely immobile for two
years following a serious accident. Their only previous ‘go’ on the Alter-G had not been too
successful and they had ached for a few days afterwards. Currently they can only walk
around 0.5 km per hour. Over the next couple of months, however, I expect that we will be
able to help them progress from their current shuffle to a proper walk.
This is what we do best at the clinic. We aim to improve quality of life, help with mobility
issues and often – dare I say it – make you feel younger again. Too often people are left to
rot on waiting lists and just told to take pain killers.
Every life is important. We can’t cure everything or everyone, but we can try to help – the
first thing is just to listen and then formulate a plan.
Maybe you, too, need some time ‘walking on the moon’ to restore your confidence. Come
and give it a try!
