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Neuro-Rehab Awareness Day 13th August

Announcement posted by Australian Institute of Neuro-rehabilitation 11 Aug 2016

#NAD2016

For the first time globally, neuro-rehabilitation has been given its own awareness day on Saturday 13th August. This is an initiative of the Australian Institute of Neuro-rehabilitation (AIN). Do we really need yet another awareness day?

 

“Yes we do! It is important to raise awareness that neuroscience discoveries of decades ago are not being translated into accessible therapy support services,” says CEO of the AIN, Trish Leonard. Dr Norman Doidge, international best-selling author of The Brain That Changes Itself, added “The brain and the spinal cord can actually form new connections once existing connections have been damaged. The brain is plastic from cradle to grave. That means that rehabilitation shouldn’t be a 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 week process.”

 

The significance behind 13th August is the Pedro Bach-y-Rita story, which was shared in Dr Doidge’s book. Pedro was born on 13th August 1893. In 1959, aged in his late sixties, he suffered a stroke, paralysing half his body. He was supported by his son George, to engage in ongoing exercise at home, despite being told there was no hope and being offered no options. Still paralysed and reliant on carers after 4 weeks in in-patient rehab, at home, Pedro literally re-learnt to crawl before learning to walk again. Each day George turned daily life activities into hours of exercise for Pedro. Pedro continued to recover at home over time and was eventually able to return to work. His recovery inspired his other son, the late Paul Bach-y-Rita, neuroscientist turned neuro-rehabilitation doctor. Paul is recognised as one of the fathers of ‘neuroplasticity’ – applying the idea that the central nervous system (brain and spine) can change and heal itself through stimulation. 

 

“This is why funding neuro-rehab is as important as funding research for a cure,” Ms Leonard stated. “As a nation, investing in care, disability and return to work programs for carers or individuals with disabilities makes good economic sense if it’s supported by a strong neuro-rehab sector which is helping individuals to maximise their ongoing neuro-recovery. Yet neuro-rehabilitation remains undervalued and under-resourced,” she added. Louis Rowe who has lived with a spinal cord injury since 2007 following a scooter accident, also explained “Neuro-rehab is a life-long journey, it gives your life purpose, but we end up having to become full-time fundraisers to continue to access physical therapy services in the community.”

 

Nearly 1 in 6 of the world’s population lives with the physical, emotional and financial impact of life with a neurological condition such as a stroke, a brain or spinal cord injury or diseases like MS or Parkinson’s.

Celebrating #NAD2016 is about taking Australia a step closer to neuroscience findings matching the clinical physical therapy services available and accessible to Australians.

 

Neuro-rehab is an individual journey and exercise plays an important role in ongoing neuro-recovery. That’s why the AIN is asking people to set their own personal exercise challenge for the day. No matter what your age or abilities, everyone can get involved! Show your support today by posting on AIN’s Facebook page or tweeting a picture of your personal exercise challenge using #NAD2016. On Saturday 13th August AIN is also asking Australians to take 5 minutes out of their day to watch their awareness day video message, featuring Dr Doidge and the family of the late Dr Paul Bach-y-Rita.

#NAD2016 Intro Video (1 minute) and Personal Exercise Challenge Pictures – please visit https://www.facebook.com/ainrehab