Patients at the Plym Neuro Rehabilitation Unit took part in a special rehabilitation event designed to mirror the excitement of the Olympic Games.
Fittingly named ‘Plym-Pics’ patients took part in rehabilitation activities aimed at helping them to regain their physical, mental, and emotional functioning, following severe injury or illness.
Plym Neuro is a rehabilitation facility for adults with acquired brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions, based at Mount Gould Hospital. The expert team develop a programme that helps people to reach their rehab goals, supporting them to return to living as independently as possible.
Creating fun and memorable ways for patients to engage with their rehabilitation programmes helps aid in their recovery progress by encouraging patients to see that every step forward is a step closer to being back home.
Patient Sheila found herself needing help from our Plym Neuro Unit following the diagnosis and removal of a brain tumour earlier this year. As a big Team GB Olympic fan, Sheila was delighted to hear the team were not only showing the Olympics on the ward for patients to watch, but that they were intertwining her rehabilitation with her love for the Olympics, by organising Olympic-themed activities.
Sheila’s favourite activities included, the gymnastics, cooking her favourite meal, and the ‘Tour de Plym’ a cycling race in which, she said chuckling “I hopped on a bike, and I peddled for my life. You could do as little or as much as you could. I was not the best, but I did my part!”
Sheila came to Plym Neuro following a stay at Derriford Hospital for a period of focussed rehabilitation. When asked what she thought of the initiative to get patients engaging with their rehabilitation activities, Sheila said: “They make it fun, and you do not realise the therapy you are getting. But you look back and you see what they are doing.”
The unit created a two-week timetable of activities for patients to get involved in, if they wanted to and felt able, that was designed to increase people’s activity levels and group engagement. Activities included, boxing, cycling, gymnastics, hurdles and much more.
Plym Neuro Unit Lead Physiotherapist, Alice Brelsford-Ward, said: “The ‘Plym-Pic’ games has been designed to increase the fun, motivation and engagement for all patients and staff on the ward to help everyone’s recovery.
“Using groups is a great way to engage people. People in hospital often spend a lot of time inactive and alone, away from their relatives, friends, and family. Any way we can combat that, increase people’s activity levels, increase their engagement, their social activity and cognitive activity on the ward, that is the aim. It is also a great way to help patients keep in touch with what is going on in the outside world.”