Recovery Options

Train Your Trainer Program

Consistency and persistence are major in our client recovery. However,  not all of our clients are able to attend Project Walk on a regular  basis. Still, the human nervous system needs proper stimulation to heal  correctly and if that stimulation is stopped, recovery is hindered.  Therefore, Project Walk has developed an educational programme, Train  Your Trainer, to teach individuals how to safely and effectively train  our clients at their homes or gyms. This programme allows our clients  to stay at home while getting the proper stimulation to regain  function. We supply you and your trainer the knowledge and skills  necessary to effectively work your paralysed body through your  personalised programme.

Details

The Train Your Trainer programme is a one-week intensive educational  and training course designed to introduce you and your trainer to The  Dardzinski Method of spinal cord injury recovery. You and your trainer  will be educated on spinal cord injury (SCI), the issues associated  with it, and Project Walk safety guidelines.

The programme  requires your trainer to attend all of your workout sessions at Project  Walk during your week visit. During this time, you and your trainer  will go through the introduction to The Dardzinski Method, your  baseline evaluation, and the development of your individualized home  programme while under the supervision of a Project Walk certified SCI  Recovery Specialist.

Prior to coming to Project Walk your trainer must  meet the following criteria:

• Read the SCI 101 study guide--a manual that covers the issues  associated with SCI and how they are related to Project Walk® ideals
• ake and pass (with 80% proficiency) the SCI 101 exam--a 75-question comprehensive exam on the topics covered in SCI 101
• Read and understand the Project Walk Safety and Professionalism guidelines

The Program

A one week visit is required for this programme. The objective of the  week is to effectively educate you and your trainer in your  personalised home programme.

First Day You will start with an orientation  meeting with your supervising specialist. At this time, we will go over  your required paperwork and answer any questions you may have about the  programme, etc. We will also discuss the agenda for the week.

Day Two Extension of day one where your trainer continues  safety training and observes while you workout.

Day Three With your supervising  specialist, your trainer will review your individualized home programme  and discuss its goals, purpose, and safety issues. At this time, your  trainer will begin the safety practical exam and working hands-on with  you. The Standing Start staff will begin filming your home programme.

Day Four An  extension of day three. You will continue to workout and your trainer  will continue to review your home programme, perform the safety  practical exam, and hands-on training. The Project Walk staff will  continue filming your home programme.

Day Five By  now you will have perfected your workout and your trainer will have  completed the required hands-on training and safety practical exam. If  necessary, The Standing Start staff will continue filming your home  programme.

During the last 30 minutes of your final  workout, you and your trainer will meet with your supervising specialist. During this meeting, we will review your home programme,  its goals and purpose, and the safety issues involved. We will also go  over the SCI 101 and safety practical exams. You will be provided  contact information and a long-term plan can be formulated at this time.

Communication  with your trainer and supervising specialist is extremely important. If  you have any changes in function, you must let your specialist know.  Remember, your programme was designed to meet the needs of your nervous  system displayed during your week visit. Changes of function must be  followed up with an increase in stimulation and demand.

Hiring a Trainer

You will need to hire a very strong individual because your workout  programme takes place out of your wheelchair. Much of the work is done  on the floor and moving from one piece of equipment to another. In  addition to a trainer, you will also need someone to help lift and spot  on some exercises. This programme is very hard on your trainer;  fighting spasms and training a dysfunctional nervous system isn’t easy.  Because of this, be very careful when you interview trainers. You need  to look for someone who believes in you and your goals, and is  professional and willing to commit to you for the long haul.

With  this programme, you are entering into a long-term relationship with  your trainer. Be smart and do your homework. You don’t want to hire  someone, pay for their training, and have them quit in a month.

Plan for Recovery

Success does not come over night, nor is it easy. Our clients that  are regaining function are constant in their workouts. They do the  repetitions at home with their trainer on a consistent basis and they  return to Standing Start on a regular schedule. For some clients,  return visits are every three months for a week, others come every six  months for a week up to three months. The programme is different for  each individual and their needs. Together we will design a recovery  plan specifically for you and your needs. If you stick to it, you will  improve your chances of recovering.

Standing Start and  Project Walk are one of the few centres in the world with highly  skilled and certified Specialists in The Dardzinski Method trained to  coach and guide you through your goals and recovery.

If you have any questions on the Train Your  Trainer programme, please call or email Laura Patten-Carr, at +44 1223 709953  or laura@standingstart.org