Healthcare & Rehabilitation

Contents: To jump to the topic you would like, click on the links below

Introduction Surgeons, Hospitals & Rehab Units Surgeons Rehabilitation Hospitals Life & Rehabilitation After Hospital Disability Info South Africa QASA - Bags of Hope Disability Empowerment Consultants, Life Coaches and Peer Support Groups Lidia Pretorius: Disability Empowerment Consultant and Life Coach Walking with Brandon Foundation - Peer Support Programme Thusanang - Enabling Support Services Self Help Centers General Practitioners Complications Related to Mobility Impairments 1. Loss of Independence Occupational Therapy (OT) Driver Training & Assessments Assistive Devices, Tools & Braces Nursing & Private Home Nursing Home Base Caregivers Care Attendant Training Courses 2. Development of Pressure Sores Wound Nursing

3. Loss of Bladder Function Colloidal Silver  Urology & Urologists 4. Loss Of Bowel Function Stomas & Stomal Sisters 5. Loss of Strength & Muscle Tone 6. Gaining Weight Dietitian Exercise & Rehabilitation Physiotherapy Standing & Walking Rehabilitation The Walking with Brandon Foundation - Therapy & Beyond Centre Hydrotherapy and Scuba Diving Handicapped Scuba Crew Electrotherapy Hippo & Horse Riding Therapy Exercise At Home or Gym WHASCP Fitness Sports 7. Depression 8. Covid-19 References Disclaimer

Introduction

Mobility Impairments or a physical disability is one that affects a person's mobility or dexterity, it can be the result of an accident, leading to paralysis, loss of limbs or brain damage, or can be genetic, such as Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy, or include birth defects which includes being born without limbs. There are a wide variety of different types of physical disabilities that can cause a Mobility Impairment, whatever  the cause of the disability, persons with mobility impairments require a different set of emotional, physical and Health Care needs. (Visit "Types of Mobility Impairments" to find out more.)

Health Care for persons with Mobility Impairments, is the maintenance or improvement of health via the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in those persons with Mobility Impairments. This Health Care is supplied by a variety of Health Care Professionals, Companies, Organizations, Hospitals and Rehab Units. Health Care starts with the Diagnosis and Treatment of the Mobility Impairment and most often includes Rehabilitation, which is a culmination of, professional therapies such as Speech Therapy, Hydrotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and may also include Scuba Diving, Hippo and Horse Riding Therapy and consultations with Life/Empowerment Coaches, a Dietitian and Psychologists, etc. Once the Rehabilitation is complete and the patient returns home, they may experience other issues relating to their Mobility Impairment, and so will generally still rely on these and various other Health Care professionals throughout the rest of their lives.

Below is information about some of the complications and issues that can effect persons with Mobility Impairments, as well as the Health Care Professionals, Companies, Organizations, Hospitals, Adaptive Fitness Experts and Rehab Units such as Plumrus Community Service Centre (CSC), NCPD, Rolling Rehab, LIDIA PRETORIUS: Disability Empowerment Consultant and Life Coach, WHASCP Fitness, QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) and Walking With Brandon Foundation, who have all supported us in the development of this page and can assist persons with Mobility Impairments.

Surgeons, Hospitals & Rehab Units

Persons who are severely injured through a Spinal Cord Injury or who develop Mobility Impairments through a disease or condition, are most often hospitalized, so that they can be treated and given time to recover or learn to adapt to their new circumstances. In many cases these patients are sent to Rehabilitation Hospitals or Hospitals that have Rehab Units, that specialize in the rehabilitation and treatment of specific conditions or injuries which cause mobility impairments.

Surgeons

Persons with Mobility Impairments such as Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI), will more often than not, have dealings with various types of Surgeons and Physicians. Those persons who have sustained their Mobility Impairment through an injury such as a SCI for example, will be allocated a surgeon in a hospital that specializes in certain types of operations, this includes Plastic Surgeons, Neurosurgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, general surgeons, paediatric surgeons and trauma or orthopaedic surgeons.

After the operation, the patient will generally then be allocated a physician, which will oversee the remainder of their stay at the Hospital or Rehabilitation Centre. Physicians or medical doctor is a professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining, or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury, and other physical and Mental Impairments. There are various Orthopedic Surgeons operating throughout South Africa, visit www.sadoctors.co.za - orthopedic surgeons to find an Orthopedic Surgeon in your area.

Rehabilitation Hospitals

Rehabilitation Hospitals are devoted to the rehabilitation of patients after the stabilization of their acute medical issues. The industry is largely made up of independent hospitals that operate these facilities within acute care hospitals. There are also Inpatient Rehabilitation Hospitals that offer this service in a hospital-like setting, but separate from acute care facilities. Most inpatient rehabilitation facilities were created to meet a perceived need for facilities which are less costly than general hospitals but which provide a higher level of professional therapies such as Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy.

There are various Hospitals or Rehabilitation Centres throughout South Africa, such as Walking With Brandon Foundation in Cape Town, visit our Health Care - Search Facility and search for "Hospitals" or "Rehabilitation Centres" to find one near you, or visit www.sadoctors.co.za - private hospitals to find a Private Hospital or Clinic in your area. You can also find out more information about the Walking With Brandon Foundation in Cape Town, by clicking the link. You can also visit www.sadoctors.co.za - state hospital to find a State Hospital or Clinic in your area.

Life & Rehabilitation After Hospital

Persons who sustain Spinal Cord Injuries (SCI) for example, may need anything from three months to a couple of years of rehabilitation in a Rehab Centre before they are ready to get back into normal life. In many cases, the patient will not recover fully from the Mobility Impairment, as there is currently no cure for a SCI, so this rehabilitation will also teach the patient how to manage the physical aspects of their disability, such as bladder and bowel function, pressure care, use of a Wheelchair and other Assistive Devices, as well as giving them resources to address issues such as independent living, employment and sexual options. Once the patient has completed their stay in the Hospital or Rehabilitation Centre, and it is time for them to return home or to a Self Help Centre, they should have a better idea about what they are up against, the severity of their Mobility Impairment and whether they are likely to recover some movement in the future. This however can still be quite  daunting, as there is still a lot to learn and get accustomed to, but there are some companies and organizations that are available that can assist them including those listed on this page below.

Disability info South Africa (DiSA)

''Disability info South Africa"  (DiSA) is a “One Stop Free Information Service" which was developed for Persons with Disabilities and their families in South Africa, whom are looking for information that can help them to be better equipped to face the challenges of their circumstances and any related barriers presented by society. This includes information about: Assistive Devices and the Suppliers; Suppliers of Services; Organizations; Sports Clubs; Health Care Facilities and Educational Facilities, which are available from various companies, organizations and clubs throughout South Africa. Visit ''Disability info South Africa" to find out more about us, what is available and which companies provide the products or services that can assist you, or Contact Us to find out what other "Services" we can provide or for any other assistance. DiSA supplies this service free of charge through the assistance from advertising and donations. If you would like to support this essential service, please contact us or click on the image above to donate to our Back-a-Buddy Campaign.

QASA - Bags of Hope

QuadPara Association of South Africa (QASA) assists Quadriplegics and Paraplegics living in South Africa and runs a number of Projects and Services which include the "Bags of Hope" & "Care Attendant Training Courses. (QASA) provides assistance for people leaving hospital after sustaining spinal cord injuries, by providing them with useful information and products. Once persons with Mobility Impairments leave a rehabilitation centre, they often have no further resources to assist them to cope with the changes in their lives. QASA and Coloplast have launched a project called Bags of Hope, which provides a bag full of information to each person being discharged from a Rehabilitation Unit. The bag contains samples of the healthcare products needed to manage quadriplegia or paraplegia, such as catheters. It also contains information on spinal cord injury and its consequences, coping with a Mobility Impairment, sexuality and sexual options after SCI, as well as the rights of persons with disabilities. Click on the link below to find out more about the Bags of Hope, or visit our Organizations - QASA Page to find out more about QASA and the Projects & Services that they provide, or read the article below to find out about the "Care Attendant Training Courses" and other Health Care Services provided in South Africa.

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Disability Empowerment Consultants, Life Coaches and Peer Support Groups

Both persons who are born with impairments as well as those who develop them later life, have to deal with various issues due to obstacles created by society or drastic changes in their situation, due to their disability. These changes may include a loss or change of career; relationship and financial difficulties; isolation; a change in living environments, as well as stereotypical social and personal attitudes; abuse; loss of roles within the family; stressors related to poverty and environmental barriers.

These changes can affect persons with disabilities in different ways, those who are positively affected by these changes, often first accept their disability and limitations, before they move on with their life and adapt to a "New Normal". Peer Support Groups such as the Walking with Brandon Foundation - Peer Support Programme in Cape Town can often assist you and your family to come to terms with your impairment and the changes that it may bring. Once you have acknowledged to yourself that your life will not be exactly the same as before your injury, will you be able to focus on what they are able to do, rather than what they cannot do due to your disability.

When you are ready to focus on your future, it is worth investing in life coaching to help you discover and use your #DisabilityMojo to live a purposeful and joyful life.  Life Coaches such as Lidia Pretorius are available to assist persons with disabilities in South Africa and around the world by improving their relationships, careers, and day-to-day lives.

LIDIA PRETORIUS: Disability Empowerment Consultant and Life Coach

I champion action that changes the narrative for persons with disabilities and their families by impacting on their ecosystems.  I am passionate about changing the disability narrative, by enabling persons with disabilities, their families and the people in their eco-system to unlock the potential of persons with disabilities by removing attitudinal barriers that detract from them aspiring to champion their own destinies.

Disability empowerment coaching is a short-term process to empower you to start your journey of embracing disability, of living a purposeful, joyful life towards self-actualisation. Be the change you want to see!

I support persons with disabilities to re-discover their #DisabilityMojo, using their disability gifts to remove roadblocks and free them to live a purposeful and joyful life.

• Embracing their strengths to expand possibilities
• Redefining their life purpose to live life beyond the impossible
• Creating a roadmap and new habits to live the life they really want

My consulting services focus on mentoring, capacity-building and disability inclusive project design and implementation.  Projects are conceptualised and implemented in partnership with enterprises and organisations owned by persons with disabilities and/or parents of children with disabilities as primary contractors, wherever possible. I integrate coaching principles and tools in all technical support, training, and facilitation to maximise impact, sustainability and empowerment. 

I bring to our partnership 30 years’ experience in disability rights advocacy, disability inclusion public policy development, and disability inclusive community development in the public, non-governmental, as well as international development cooperation sectors.

Service packages are customised according to client needs.  All services are offered on a contact-online hybrid basis.

HOW CAN WE WORK TOGETHER TO BRING ABOUT THE CHANGE WE WANT TO?

Follow this link if you are ready to invest in your happiness and would like to sign up for the free, no-obligation #DisabilityMojo Discovery Call to explore individual or group coaching. Follow this link if you want to explore how I can support you with building disability inclusion confidence and competence in the services and opportunities you offer. Visit my website and sign up for my weekly email newsletter with valuable advice and tips on disability policy, opportunities, and discovering and strengthening your #DisabilityMojo by downloading the free Gratitude template.

Embrace disability!  Be the change you want to see!

Walking with Brandon Foundation - Peer Support Programme

The "Walking with Brandon Foundation Therapy & Beyond Centre" offers a wide variety of assistance for persons with mobility impairments, including a Peer Support Programme which focuses on the mental well being of their patients. The Walking with Brandon Foundation Peer Support Programme promotes social integration, and is run by Brandon Beack, one of the founding ambassadors and also a patient of the Walking with Brandon Foundation. These sessions bring patients together at a venue other than the rehabilitation centre, to connect, share their experiences, and encourage and support each other. Several topical issues such as personal health and hygiene, wheelchair maintenance, the prevention and treatment of pressure sores, amongst others, are presented and discussed. Our Peer Support Programme has been effective in building camaraderie amongst patients, as well as reinforcing the view that no patient needs to undertake their rehabilitation journey alone. All sessions will be online, at least until after lockdown. "If you wish to join our Peer Support Programme, kindly contact Brandon Beack on (email): brandon@walkingwithbrandon.org or (cell): 083 259 6411, or visit the Walking with Brandon Foundation website to find out more: www.walkingwithbrandon.org."

Please continue reading this page or click on the following link to find out more information about the Walking With Brandon Foundation in Cape Town.

Thusanang - Enabling Support Services

Thusanang - Enabling Support Services provides assistance to persons with disabilities by seamlessly offering special medical consumables, with door-to-door delivery to certain areas. Working closely with Associate Case Managers enables us to determine and agree on each individual’s specific requirements and then provide a 3 month supply of medical consumables. We also have close relations with numerous manufactures and suppliers of equipment, devices and medical and surgical consumables and now accepts all medical aids. Our organisation also offers RAF benefits, motivational talks and specialised caregiver training aimed at equipping the caregivers with adequate hands-on knowledge on how to assist persons with disabilities in their day-to-day lives including healthy living, hygiene, simple exercise, diet, etc. Thusanang have offices in both Boksburg and Limpopo, you can contact them at:

Boksburg: You can contact Ms Edwina Makgamatha on Tel: +27 (0) 11 453 0480 or Email: edwina@te-ss.co.za or visit their office at: Boksburg: Unit 19, Jan Smuts Park, 62 Jones Road, Jet Park, Boksburg 1459.

Limpopo: You can contact the Limpopo Office at: Shop 6B Mokopane Plaza, 101 Nelson Mandela Drive, Mokopane 0600 on Tel: +27 (0) 15 491 1099 or view their Catalogue. Alternatively you can visit their website at: www.te-ss.co.za

Self Help Centers

After sustaining injuries such as SCI's, some persons with Mobility Impairments are not able to return home for a number of reasons, there are however various Self Help Centers, Homes or Group Homes such as the Ann Harding Cheshire Home in Northwold, Johannesburg and the Shalom Respite and Residential Care Centre near Magaliesburg which provide accommodation for persons with chronic disabilities, who cannot live with their families due to their disability and the specialised assistance they require. These homes cater for young adults, adults and seniors, they have trained caregivers available for 24 hours a day, depending on the amount of residence and the care that they need. There are a variety of other types of these centers available throughout South Africa, visit our Self Help Centers & Self Help Centers Page to find out more, or visit our Services - Search Facility and search for a "Assisted Living & Self Help Centers" to find out what is available, or Contact Us for any other assistance.

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General Practitioners

When leaving hospital, you will also need to find a General practitioner to assume responsibility for your continuing medical care, should any complications arise. When choosing a General practitioner, it is beneficial to choose one that is a specialist in your type of Mobility Impairment, and to try to keep to the same General practitioner over a lengthy period of time, so that you build up a relationship with them and and they become familiar with your condition.

There are various Doctors or Physicians throughout South Africa, visit our Health Care - Search Facility and search for a "Doctor" or visit www.sadoctors.co.za to find a Doctor in your area.

Complications Related to Mobility Impairments

There are wide variety of complications and conditions which can effect persons with Mobility Impairments, especially those who are unable to walk. The inability to walk is just the tip of the iceberg for many persons with Spinal Cord Injuries and other similar conditions or injuries. These "complications and conditions" listed below, may require specialist treatment from professionals that are qualified and trained in dealing with these complications and conditions below:

1. Loss of Independence
2. Development of Pressure Sores
3. Loss of Bladder Function
4. Loss of Bowel Function
5. Loss of Strength & Muscle Tone
6. Gaining Weight
7. Depression
8. Covid-19

Please read the article below to find out more information about these "complications and conditions" and the Health Care Professionals, Companies, Organizations, Hospitals and Rehab Units that can assist you in South Africa.

1.Loss of Independence

Many persons with severe Mobility Impairments find that their "Loss of Independence" resulting from their disability is one of the most difficult things to come to terms with. Some persons with Mobility Impairments may need assistance with activities such as Dressing, Transferring, Washing and Toiletries, Driving or being Transported, Eating and Drinking, but there are a wide variety of Assistive Devices and techniques that can be learned which can assist you with this, as well as Occupational Therapist which can create these Assistive Devices or advise you on what Assistive Devices are available and which ones would best suite your needs to assist you to become more independent. Visit our Assistive Devices and Equipment page to view various products that can assist you to break free of your disabilities, as well as the various companies or organisations that supply these products, Accessories, Health Care Accessories and Assistive Devices.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

Occupational Therapy (OT) is the assessment and treatment to develop, recover, or maintain the daily living and work skills of persons with a physical, mental, or cognitive disorder. Occupational Therapists also focus much of their work on identifying and eliminating environmental barriers to improve the independence of persons with disabilities. They place emphasis on the progress towards the client's goals and focus on adapting the environment, modifying the tasks, teaching the skills, and educating the client or their family in order to increase participation in and performance of all daily activities including: Self-care, Sports, Hobbies, Home-Making, Leisure, Work and Driving. Rehabilitation centres such as the Walking With Brandon Foundation in Cape Town, have Occupational Therapists which work with their patients, while Caroline Rule from Rolling Rehab is an Occupational Therapist who deals with Driver Training. (Read below) Various other Occupational Therapists also specialise in Seating and Positioning, visit our  Seating and Positioning page to find out more about this, or visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation below, for more information about how their Occupational Therapists can assist you.

Driver Training & Assessments

One of the biggest obstacles that many Persons with Mobility Impairments often encounter, is getting their independence back and being able to drive a vehicle or be transported in a vehicle. There are a variety of different types of Vehicle Aids and Adapted Vehicles, which are available in South Africa to assist you to be able to drive, as well as some Occupational Therapists and Organizations such as The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities, Rolling Rehab and QASA, which offer services such as Driver Training and Set-Up, which can help you get back on the road safely, thus giving the independence back to many Persons With Disabilities.

National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD): The NCPD is an NGO with a footprint throughout South Africa that plays a lobbying & advocacy role when it comes to the rights of persons with disabilities. "We're an umbrella body coordinating the advancement of the rights of persons with physical disabilities in accordance with the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and more. We have nine provincial Associations for Persons with Disabilities with numerous projects and branches that focus on rural development as well as social."

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities does advocacy work and services leading to an equitable and inclusive society. "We are affiliated to the South African Disability Alliance, as well as Rehabilitation International. Our programmes cover the whole of South Africa."

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities offer a wide variety of different types of Services, including short training of Professionals in the Services and Health profession, for which these professionals get CPD points. This training includes Transport and driving training. The majority of training sessions can be tailor-made to suit your needs.

Read More: ....

Rolling Rehab: is run by Occupational Therapist Caroline Rule and offers an independent consultancy service where they do a holistic assessment of the individual’s needs and abilities, and advise whether they are safe to start driving or to continue driving after an accident or illness which may have affected their ability to adequately control a vehicle. Each assessment is customized according to the client’s needs and include:

• Driver Ability Assessment
• Passenger Needs Assessment
• Vehicle Adaptations Assessment

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Assistive Devices, Tools & Braces

Occupational Therapy also includes the development of tools or braces and the education of the patient on how to use these Tools and other Assistive Devices, to make daily activities possible or easier to accomplish. These tools include:

• Eating Braces & Adaptive cutlery & utensils - for use at meal times - Visit our Accessories Page - Eating & Drinking Accessories to find out more.
• Writing & Typing Braces & Computer Aids - for an individual that has limited use of the hands or fingers - Visit our Accessories Page or Computer Aids page to find out more.
• Braces/Devices for Hobbies, Sport & Exercise - This enables persons that have limited use of their hands or fingers, to still take part in these activities. Visit our Sports, Exercise & Rehabilitation Equipment to find out more.
• Leg, Arm, Hand & Back Braces that assists you to Stand or to improve posture and prevent injuries. Visit our Seating & Positioning page to find out more about this, as well as the Occupational Therapists and Companies that specialize in Seating and Positioning.

Occupational Therapists often work closely with other Health Care professionals that specialize in Physical Therapy, Speech Therapy, Nursing, Social Workers, and the community. There are various Occupational Therapists throughout South Africa, visit our Health Care - Search Facility and search for an "Occupational Therapist" or visit www.sadoctors.co.za - occupational therapists to find an Occupational Therapist in your area, or visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation information below to find out how their Physical Therapist, Speech Therapists or Occupational Therapists that can assist you if you are in Cape Town.

Nursing & Private Home Nursing

Depending on the degree of your Mobility Impairment, the Assistive Devices mentioned above may not offer enough assistance to give you back your complete independence, in which case, you may need the assistance of a Sister, Nurse or Home Base Caregiver to assist you with your day to day activities. Private Home Nursing or Home Care is supportive care provided in your home by a Qualified Sister, Nurse or Care Giver, this care may be provided on a temporary or permanent basis to ensure that your daily needs are met and includes assistance with Wound Dressing, Catheter Care, bathing or showering, eating, dressing, etc. These services help the patient to stay at home versus living in a facility and are normally paid for by the patient or their family.

During your stay in hospital, Nurses and Sisters will have assisted you with these day-to-day activities as well as your recovery from surgery. During your rehabilitation process, this care is extremely important for your healing and rehabilitation, as neglect during this time can lead to many other complications, such as pressure soars and bladder infections. Once you leave the Hospital or Rehabilitation Centre, you may still need this type of assistance and care at home. Having qualified Caregivers that you can call on, is extremely important and can be just as important at home as it is in hospital.

Home Base Caregivers

Home Base Caregivers are often preferred, as they are a cheaper option than a qualified Sister or Nurse. Home Base Caregivers are generally not as qualified as Sisters or Nurses, but have completed various home base courses and work for Organizations, Agencies or Companies, who hire them out as the client requires them. One Organization that offers this Service is the PlumRus Community Service Centre:

PlumRus Community Service Centre: The PlumRus Community Service Centre offers both Home Base Care and Day Care to ensure that their clients are catered for in the best possible way, offering different types of packages to suite the clients needs.

Home Base Care: Plumrus Community Service Centre (CSC) provides basic home base care in the comfort and familiarity of your own home. These services are tailor made to meet the individual clients needs and range from a basic care routine to light housekeeping, engaging activities and companionship. We are able to provide all of this and so much more. You also get to choose when (which days) and for how long (hours of shift) you would like to have us care for you. Home Base Care rates starts from R345.

Day Care: For up to 12 hours a day you can drop your family member off at our facility and we will take care of all their needs, as if they are a resident of ours. This Day Care includes 3 wholesome meals and activities such as, movies, crochet, bible study, bingo, reading and so much more. We also supply a free clinic service every Monday. Day Care rate is R400 per day (weekends and public holidays included), Contact Plumrus Community Service Centre (CSC) to find out more.

The Plumrus Community Service Centre (CSC) are also available to assist you if you are traveling to Cape Town and need Home Base Caregivers to assist you. Contact Plumrus Community Service Centre (CSC) on Tel: 021 761 2323 or via email: rhodene@plumrus.co.za to find out more, or visit their website at: www.plumrus.co.za.

If you do not live in Cape Town, there are also various Home Base Carers working throughout South Africa, visit our Health Care - Search Facility and search for "Home Base Carers" to find one near you, or Contact Us and we will recommend some in your area.

Care Attendant Training Courses

Due to the high prevalence of pressure sores amongst some persons with Mobility Impairments, some organizations such as The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities, QuadPara Association of South Africa and Thusanang - Enabling Support Services offers Care Attendant Training Courses:

QuadPara Association of South Africa: Self Help Centre residents has been the cause of much concern over the past few years and in some circumstances, residents have died due the severity of their pressure sores, which is partly due to the fact that very few of the care givers have had formal training about pressure sores and the general care of paraplegics and quadriplegics. Through the QASA and the Momentum National Care Attendant Training Courses, QASA aims to change this, contact them to find out more.

Read More: ....

National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD): The NCPD is a NGO with a footprint throughout South Africa that plays a lobbying & advocacy role when it comes to the rights of persons with disabilities. "We're an umbrella body coordinating the advancement of the rights of persons with physical disabilities in accordance with the White Paper on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and more. We have nine provincial Associations for Persons with Disabilities with numerous projects and branches that focus on rural development as well as social."

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities does advocacy work and services leading to an equitable and inclusive society. "We are affiliated to the South African Disability Alliance, as well as Rehabilitation International. Our programmes cover the whole of South Africa."

The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities offer a wide variety of different types of Services, including short training of Professionals in the Services and Health profession, for which these professionals get CPD points. This training includes Caregiver training for carers of children or adults. The majority of training sessions can be tailor-made to suit your needs.

Read More: ....

Thusanang - Enabling Support Services: provides services and a hand to assist disabled persons by seamlessly offering special medical consumables, caregiver training, RAF benefits and motivational talks. Our organisation also offers specialised caregiver training aimed at equipping the caregivers with adequate hands-on knowledge on how to assist disabled individuals in their day-to-day lives including healthy living, hygiene, simple exercise, diet, etc.

Thusanang also provide primary medical health care for the treatment of wounds in the comfort of patient home i.e Non-healing wounds, pressure ulcer, Diabetic foot wounds, burn wounds, post operative wounds and last but not least cancer wounds. A wound neglected is a wound infected, hence at Thusanag we endeavor to bring healthcare services to the people.Thusanang have offices in both Boksburg and Limpopo, you can contact them at:

Boksburg: You can contact Ms Edwina Makgamatha on Tel: +27 (0) 11 453 0480 or Email: edwina@te-ss.co.za or visit their office at: Boksburg: Unit 19, Jan Smuts Park, 62 Jones Road, Jet Park, Boksburg 1459.

Limpopo: You can visit the Limpopo Office at: Shop 6B Mokopane Plaza, 101 Nelson Mandela Drive, Mokopane, 0600, or contact them on Tel: +27 (0) 15 491 1099. Alternatively you can view their Catalogue, or visit their website at: www.te-ss.co.za

2. Development of Pressure Sores

Pressure Ulcers, also known as Pressure Sores or Pressure Injuries are localized damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue that usually occur over a bony prominence as a result of pressure or pressure in combination with shear and/or friction. These Pressure sores are normally caused from staying in one position for too long and commonly form where your bones are close to your skin, such as your ankles, back, elbows, heels and hips. The Elderly and some persons with Mobility Impairments are at risk if they are bedridden, use a wheelchair, are unable to change position, or have poor circulation and blood flow to the area.

One of the first signs of Pressure Sores is a reddened, discolored or darkened area on the skin, the skin may look purple on persons with darker complexion and may also feel hard and warm to the touch.

Wound healing is an intricate process where the skin or other body tissue repairs itself after injury. In normal skin, the epidermis (surface layer) and dermis (deeper layer) form a protective barrier against the external environment. If the affected skin is broken,  you should clean open sores with saltwater (saline) solution each time the dressing is changed. Increasing your protein intake, staying off the affected area and putting on a Dressing speeds up healing. (Pressure sores should be kept moist, visit our Health Care Accessories - Wound Care Products page, to find out more about some of the Health Care Accessories that are available to prevent and treat pressure sores, or visit our  Seating and Positioning page and Pressure Care Products Page to find out more about the various services that can assist your posture or pressure relief, or products that can supply pressure relief while you sitting in a chair or wheelchair or lying in bed. Alternatively you can visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation below, for more information about how their Occupational Therapists and Peer Support Groups such as the Walking with Brandon Foundation - Peer Support Programme in Cape Town can assist you and your family to deal with pressure soars.

The wound healing process is not only complex but also fragile, and so is susceptible to interruption or failure, leading to the formation of non-healing chronic wounds. Factors that contribute to non-healing chronic wounds are diabetes, venous or arterial disease, infection, and metabolic deficiencies of old age. If you are affected by any of these or have a wound that is open, you should contact a Wound Sister.

Wound Nursing

Wound Nursing  is provided by Wound Sisters and is the treatment of patients with acute and chronic wounds. These wounds can be caused by medical treatments, diseases, or injuries, these Wound Sisters often work with a healthcare team, assessing patients, managing wounds, and monitoring healing. Wound Sisters provide a modern line of wound care products, for various types of wounds, such as burns, acute and superficial wounds, and diabetic leg syndrome, including surgically complicated wounds. There are various companies, organisations and Wound Sisters working in South Africa, that can assist you, this includes the "Mobile wound care clinic" provided by Thusanang-Enabling Support Service.

Thusanang-Enabling Support Service: Provide primary medical health care for the treatment of wounds in the comfort of patient home i.e Non-healing wounds, pressure ulcer, Diabetic foot wounds, burn wounds, post operative wounds and last but not least cancer wounds. A wound neglected is a wound infected, hence at Thusanag we endeavor to bring healthcare services to the people.

Boksburg: You can contact Ms Edwina Makgamatha on Tel: +27 (0) 11 453 0480 or Email: edwina@te-ss.co.za or visit their office at: Boksburg: Unit 19, Jan Smuts Park, 62 Jones Road, Jet Park, Boksburg 1459.

Limpopo: You can visit the Limpopo Office at: Shop 6B Mokopane Plaza, 101 Nelson Mandela Drive, Mokopane, 0600, or contact them on Tel: +27 (0) 15 491 1099. Alternatively you can view their Catalogue, or visit their website at: www.te-ss.co.za

If you require assistance outside of Boksburg or Limpoo, please feel free to visit our Health Care - Search Facility and search for "Wound Sisters" to find one near you, or Contact Us and we will recommend one in your area.

Pressure Sores can be prevented by using various types of Assistive Devices called "Pressure Care Products", or by getting the correct Seating & Positioning in your Wheelchair or bed. Click on the links below to find out more about this, as well as the Occupational Therapists and Companies that specialize in "Seating & Positioning" and sell "Pressure Care Products".

3. Loss of Bladder Function

Many persons with severe Mobility Impairments such as Quadriplegics and Paraplegics have "Loss of Bladder Function", this could lead to problems emptying their Bladder or loss of bladder control. There are various options for people with a neurogenic bladder and they include:

• Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to improve bladder function. These medications might help reduce bladder contractions, lower urinary frequency, improve loss of bladder control (incontinence), increase bladder storage or empty the bladder.
• Clean Intermittent Catheterization (CIC): In CIC, you or a health care professional inserts a thin tube (catheter) through the urethra and into your bladder several times during the day to empty your bladder.
• Continuous Catheterization: A health care professional may insert a catheter through your urethra or abdominal wall and into your bladder to continuously empty your bladder.
• Surgical Intervention: Doctors trained in bladder management (urologists) may perform bladder reconstructive surgery that may resolve or improve bladder symptoms and management.

This equipment which is used by persons with "Loss of Bladder Function" is supplied by companies such as Thusanang - Enabling Support Services, who stock various types of Health Care Accessories. Visit our Health Care Accessories - Urine Health Care & Incontinence Accessories page to find out what products they supply or visit our Assistive Devices Search Facility and search for "Health Care Accessories" to find suppliers near you.

Persons who use CIC or in-dwelling catheters after their injury, can often lead to them experiencing Urinary Tract Infections in hospital or after they return home. UTIs also known Bladder Infections can occur as often as 3 to 4 months apart and occur more frequently for a number of reasons including:

• "Open wounds"
• The cleanliness regime of the carers or persons looking after the person.
• Not drinking enough water.

There are also various products such as Colloidal Silver which can drastically reduce the risk of persons with spinal cord injuries from getting UTI's.

Colloidal Silver

Colloidal Silver is made through a process of electrolysis which creates a solution with a small percentage of silver. Research has shown that organisims like e-coli can survive for hours on stainless steel, whereas if placed on a silver surface, they are killed in less than half-an-hour.

Colloidal Silver is available at many pharmacies in both a liquid and gel and is not very expensive. It is recommended that Colloidal liquid be sprayed around the catheter "wound" two or three times a day.

Using Colloidal Silver Concurrent with a rigorous sterile regime of hand washing and drinking lots of water helps prevent UTI's from developing. Click on the link below to find out more about how Colloidal Silver can help prevent UTI's. (Information supplied by the The National Council of and for Persons with Disabilities -NCPD.)

Read More: ....

If this or other treatments don't work, you may want to contact your primary care provider who can often treat simple urological issues, such as urinary tract infections or frequent urges to urinate, but if your problems are more complex, or if your primary care provider's treatments have failed, you may need to seek specialized help from a Urologist.

Urology & Urologists

Urology is the branch of medicine that focuses on surgical and medical diseases of the male and female urinary-tract system and the male reproductive organs. Urologists specialize in the health of the urinary system, as well as male reproductive health and deal with Organs which include the kidneys, adrenal glands, ureters, urinary bladder, urethra, and the male reproductive organs.

Persons with brain and spinal cord injuries may have urological issues, as in many cases the brain and spinal cord signals don't properly travel to the urinary system, resulting in incontinence, erectile dysfunction, loss of sensation, or difficulties with sexual arousal. In other cases, spinal cord or brain injuries give rise to disuse that causes the urological system to deteriorate. Urological infections are also prevalent among spinal cord injury survivors, particularly those who are immobilized in hospital or unable to void without assistance. In cases such as these, the Doctor or Urologist would normally recommend that the patient use a catheter to void their Bladder. (See information above.)

If you require a Urologist and you don't already have, you can search for a Urologist on our Health Care - Search Facility or visit www.sadoctors.co.za - urologists to find a Urologist in your area.

4. Loss of Bowel Function

A Spinal Cord Injury or a nerve disease may also damage the nerves that help control the lower part of your colon, therefor causing "Loss of  Bowel Function." The muscles and nerves around your rectum and anus need to work together for your bowels to work properly. Nerves control the muscles of the rectum, and they signal when the rectum is full, damage to these nerves can interfere with bowel control. This damage may reduce the peristalsis in the muscles around the colon and may block signals to or from the rectum and anus. This means you may not feel when you need to have a a bowel movement (BM) or you may not be able to have a BM when you want. This often causes constipation and bowel accidents and gets in the way of your normal ability to store and eliminate waste.

There are various Bowel management options for people with a neurogenic bowel, they include:

• Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to manage timing and consistency of bowel movements.
• Anal Irrigation: Anal irrigation is a new conservative bowel management therapy, whereby fluid is inserted through a catheter with an inflatable balloon to reduce constipation and assist in effective bowel movement and management.
• Surgical intervention: Surgeons trained in bowel surgery (colorectal surgeons) may perform reconstructive surgery to resolve difficulties in bowel management. Surgical interventions can also include a stoma operation, so that a colostomy is used.

The equipment and medication which is used by persons with "Loss of Bowel Function" is supplied by companies such as Thusanang - Enabling Support Services, who stock various types of Health Care Accessories. Visit our Health Care Accessories - Bowel Incontinence Products page to find out what products they supply or visit our Assistive Devices Search Facility and search for "Health Care Accessories" to find suppliers near you.

There are also various "Colonic Hydrotherapists" throughout South Africa, visit www.sadoctors.co.za - Colonic Hydrotherapists / Hydrotherapy / to find a "Colonic Hydrotherapists" in your area.

Stomas & Stomal Sisters

Some persons including some Quadriplegics and Paraplegics choose to have their bowel surgically relocated to open onto the abdomen, this opening that is created is called a 'stoma' and it is enclosed in a sealed bag system. Stomal Therapy is the management of stomas and Stomal Sisters or Stomal Therapists are responsible for helping patients adjust to living with either a permanent or temporary colostomy. This role includes pre-operative counselling, immediate post-operative care and education and follow-up assessment and counselling following patient discharge. Some Stomal Therapists also provide the equipment that the patients need on a monthly basis.

This Stoma equipment which is used by persons with "Stomas" is supplied by companies such as Thusanang - Thusanang Enabling Support Services, who stock various types of Health Care Accessories. Visit our Health Care Accessories - Bowel Incontinence Products page to find out what products they supply or visit our Assistive Devices Search Facility and search for "Health Care Accessories" to find suppliers near you.

If you don't already have a Stomal Sister and you require one, you can search for a "Stomal Sisters" on our Health Care - Search Facility or Contact Us.

5. Loss of Strength & Muscle Tone

Loss of Strength and Muscle Tone, is one of the more noticeable complications or side effects of having a serious Mobility Impairment, whether it be through disease or injury. Persons who permanently use a wheelchair, or are bedridden and are unable to move their arms or legs may start to experience Muscle Atrophy where their muscles start to waste away due to lack of physical activity. This type of atrophy often occurs just after you are injured and are recovering in hospital, but can often be reversed or prevented to some extent with exercise and improved nutrition. Regaining muscle mass is beneficial for persons of all ages and not only improves your appearance, but also increases strength; lowers blood pressure and also increases bone density and helps reduce the risk of osteoporosis-related fractures.

You can regain muscle mass quickly by incorporating strength training into your daily routine and making a few minor dietary modifications such as increasing your protein intake. You should eat up to 1 gram of protein per pound of body weight during your rebuilding period and also increase your intake of vegetables, healthy fats, and fruits, and consider supplementing with fish oil. You also need to make sure that you get enough sleep and vitamin D and don't cut carbs but limit your alcohol intake. We advise that you speak to your doctor and consult a qualified Adaptive Trainer such as Victor Buitendag from WHASCP Fitness, to find a diet and exercise routine that would suite you and your condition. A Dietitian can also assist you to draw up a diet to assist with this, visit our Dietitian section below to find out more, or our Exercise & Rehabilitation section below, or Sports sections or Hydrotherapy and Scuba Diving sections below which includes information on Scuba Diving for persons with Mobility Impairments, this also assists to build strength, fitness and gives various other benefits. If you are living in the Cape Town area, you can visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation which offers a wide variety of services to help persons with Mobility Impairments to get fit again and up and walking again if possible. Click on the links above to find more information about this, or read the information below.

7 Tips to Help You Regain Muscle Mass

6. Gaining Weight

Some persons with Mobility Impairments who use wheelchairs or scooters are also at a high risk of gaining weight, after initially losing weight when they are first injured. After returning home from hospital, they often find it difficult to gauge how many calories they need to eat and so eat more than they need to, but use less energy through physical activity, and so begin to put on weight. Once they have put on this weight, they will find it harder to lose this weight, because they tend to use fewer calories through the fact that they are often less active. “Wheelchair users also tend to lose muscle in their legs over time and less muscle requires fewer calories to maintain your body weight.”

Persons with Mobility Impairments, especially those who use Wheelchairs can encounter various complications if they are overweight or obese, these complications include:

• Difficulty Transferring or being transferred
• Increased risk of Pressure Sores
• A range of serious health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.
• Covid-19 brings a whole host of dangers for persons with Mobility Impairments and those who are over-weight.

There are however still changes you can make to achieve a healthy weight, but you will need to adjust your diet and level of physical activity, to use more energy than you consume through food and drink. You can start by eating and drinking fewer calories and being more active. If your ability to move around is severely restricted by your condition, then dieting will be the main way that you can lose weight.

You should aim to lose between 0.5kg and 1kg a week until you reach your target weight, thereafter a healthy, balanced diet and regular physical activity will help you to maintain a healthy weight in the long term. Tips to losing weight include:

• Get into a regular eating pattern
• Achieve a balanced diet
• Become more physically active
• Drink lots of water throughout the day and before meals
• Reduce overeating and portion sizes.
• Avoid alcohol, sugar and to many starches
• Learn new long-term lifestyle skills

The average man needs around 2,500 calories a day to maintain his body weight. The average woman needs around 2,000 calories a day. If you are a wheelchair user, it’s likely you’ll need less calories than these guideline amounts, but becoming more active is important to maintain a healthy weight and this will help you to use more calories regularly than you consume in food and drink, which will lead to better fitness and help weight loss. We advise that you consult a qualified Adaptive Trainer such as Victor Buitendag from WHASCP Fitness, to find a diet and exercise routine that would suite you and your condition, you can also contact your Doctor to discuss an exercise plan and a Dietitian to help you to work out your daily calorie needs. If you are living in the Cape Town area, you can visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation which offers a wide variety of services to help persons with Mobility Impairments to lose weight through their Rehabilitation programme. Click on the links above to find more information about this, or read the information below.

Dietitian

A Dietitian is an expert in human nutrition and the regulation of a diet. A Dietitian alters their patient's nutrition based upon their medical condition and individual needs. Dietitians are the only healthcare professionals licensed to assess, diagnose, and treat nutritional problems.

Regulating the diet of patients with certain conditions or mobility impairments is out of physician's scope of expertise, thus a Dietitian must be called to permit any changes based upon their knowledge of nutritional biochemistry. Dietitians work in a variety of settings including hospitals, health-maintenance organizations, private practices, and other health-care facilities.

After learning about a patient's health history, favorite foods, eating and exercise habits, the dietitian helps the person to set goals and to prioritize. Follow-up visits often focus on maintenance and monitoring progress.

A balanced diet is important to staying healthy, but exercise together with a balanced diet, is even more important to reduce your weight and to stay healthy. You should aim to do regular cardiovascular activity, as well as regular muscle-strengthening exercise. Cardiovascular physical activity is particularly important when it comes to losing weight. This activity raises your heart rate and gets you slightly out of breath and can causes you to break a sweat. We advise that you speak to your Doctor before starting to diet or exercise, or consult a qualified Adaptive Trainer such as Victor Buitendag from WHASCP Fitness, to find a diet and exercise routine that would suite you and your condition. If you are living in the Cape Town area, you can visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation which offers a wide variety of services to help persons with Mobility Impairments to lose weight through their Rehabilitation programme, or they can put you in contact with a Dietitian near you. Click on the links above to find more information about this, or read the information below. There are also various Dietitians throughout South Africa that can assist persons with disabilities, visit our Health Care - Search Facility and search for a "Dietitian" or Contact Us.

Exercise & Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation is a step-by-step process that helps persons to recover and to function as effectively as possible after a life-changing event. For persons with Mobility Impairments, this may include getting them moving again, helping them regain their strength through exercise, relearning old skills, or finding new and different ways of doing things. A team of doctors, nurses, social workers, physiotherapists and occupational therapists will oversee the rehabilitation process. Rehabilitation may be needed for a short period, after an operation, or for a longer time, such as after a stroke. The length of time is decided by the team and can take place:

• in hospital or in an in-patient rehabilitation facility
• on a long-term outpatient or day patient basis at a hospital
• in a community rehabilitation centre or in the person’s own home, depending on where the person lives.

As mentioned above, a balanced diet is important to staying healthy, but exercise together with a balanced diet, is even more important, as this will assist you to reduce your weight quicker and to stay healthy. Exercise or Sport assists you to keep motivated and to stick to a balanced eating plan.

It is recommended that to improve fitness, adults with SCI should engage in at least 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise two times a week and three sets of moderate strengthening exercise for each major functional muscle groups two times per week. To improve cardiometabolic health, it is suggested they engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise, three times per week. We advise that you speak to your Doctor before starting an exercise program, or consult a qualified Adaptive Trainer such as Victor Buitendag from WHASCP Fitness, to find an exercise program that would suite you and your condition. You can also contact an organisation such as Handicapped Scuba Crew who provide Scuba Diving for persons with disabilities, which provides various benefits during rehabilitation and post rehabilitation.

There are a variety of different ways that you can exercise, including doing regular:

• Physiotherapy
• Hydrotherapy and Scuba Diving
• Electro Therapy
• Hippo and Horse Riding Therapy
• Exercise at home or in the gym
• Sport

You should start slowly and build into it, whether you are playing sport, going to therapy, exercising at home or spending time at the gym. If you are living in the Cape Town area, you can visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation which offers a wide variety of services to help persons with Mobility Impairments to lose weight through their Rehabilitation programme. Click on the links above to find more information about this, or read the information below.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy involves the illnesses or injuries that limit persons abilities to move and perform functional activities in their daily lives. Physical Therapists use a persons history and physical examination to arrive at a diagnosis and establish a management plan which commonly includes assistance with specific exercises, manual therapy and manipulation, mechanical devices such as traction, education, physical agents which includes heat, cold, electricity, sound waves, radiation, prescription of assistive devices, prostheses, orthoses and other interventions.

Physical Therapists also work with individuals to prevent the loss of mobility before it occurs by developing fitness and wellness-oriented programs for healthier and more active lifestyles, providing services to individuals and populations to develop, maintain and restore maximum movement and functional ability throughout their lifespan. This also includes providing therapeutic treatment in circumstances where movement and function are threatened by aging, injury, disease or environmental factors. It is therefore important to continue with physiotherapy throughout your life, even once your rehabilitation period is over.

Physical Therapists offer a variety of different types of treatments to assist in rehabilitation and recovery, these include Standing and Walking Rehabilitation; Hydrotherapy; Electrotherapy and even Hippo Therapy. If you are living in the Cape Town area, you can visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation which offers a wide variety of services to help persons with Mobility Impairments to lose weight through their Rehabilitation programme, or they can put you in contact with a Dietitian near you. Click on the links above to find more information about this, or read the information below.

If you don't already have a Physio Therapist, you can search for a Physio Therapist on our Health Care - Search Facility or visit www.sadoctors.co.za - physio therapists to find a Physio Therapist in your area.

Standing & Walking Rehabilitation

Our bodies were made to be upright and so standing and walking delivers enormous health benefits for all persons, especially those who use wheelchairs. These benefits include:

• Standing strengthens virtually every muscle in the body. The feet, legs and abdomen are used and strengthened every time a person stands.
• Bone density is improved by standing, particularly in the feet, legs and spine.
• The occurrence of Scoliosis (or curvature of the spine) is reduced by using a standing frame.
• Standing has positive impacts on a person's hips and spine.
• Standing improves digestion; the urinary tract drains better and bowel function is improved.
• The body's respiratory and circulatory systems are also improved when in the standing position.
• Standing improves your overall posture and prevents pressure ulcers caused by prolonged sitting by changing your position and therefore relieving pressure areas.
• Standing increases self-confidence, self-esteem, self-image and overall quality of life.

Advances in research also suggest that functional neuro-recovery offers tremendous potential in rehabilitation medicine. The rewiring of neural pathways or the recruitment of new pathways to control movement offer hope for the restoration of function following traumatic injury, as the central nervous system is malleable and can still adjust and relearn post-injury.

Body weight supported gait training is used in various Rehabilitation Units in South Africa such as The Walking With Brandon Foundation, who uses the Ekso Suit. It provides the sensory experience of walking, with the goal of re-training neural pathways, ultimately resulting in ambulation. Trained physical therapists provide the necessary manual assistance, facilitating extension of the hip, knee, and ankle. This training helps to improve your balance, motor control, weight-bearing ability and the re-creation of a natural gait. It also increases endurance and speed.

WALKING WITH BRANDON FOUNDATION AND THERAPY AND BEYOND CENTRE: The Walking with Brandon Foundation (WALKING WITH BRANDON FOUNDATION), founded in 2015, formulated a comprehensive and considered approach to rehabilitation based on the very latest in research and development in neurology and orthopaedics at its Therapy and Beyond Centre (Therapy & Beyond Centre | Walking with Brandon Foundation).

Its neurological and orthopaedic programme comprises an integrated, holistic treatment package which considers rehabilitation of both the body and the mind. Developed to meet each of its clients’ unique needs, the Therapy and Beyond programme is made up of the following core specialist functions: (View the video on the right to find out more)

Biokinetics Physiotherapy Occupational therapy Speech therapy Hydrotherapy Peer support Family support Para sport

Fully committed to making its rehabilitative treatment available to all South Africans regardless of their financial status or other limitations, the Walking with Brandon Foundation and its Therapy and Beyond Centre also run a very successful Subsidy Programme which makes it possible for people from poor socio-economic backgrounds to access its world-class rehabilitation at reduced rates.

For more information, if you wish to sign up for our rehabilitative treatment, or sponsor a subsidised patient, kindly contact Mark Beack on (email): mark@walkingwithbrandon.org or (cell): 083 456 3006 or join our Peer Support Programme, by contacting Brandon Beack on (email): brandon@walkingwithbrandon.org or (cell): 083 259 6411, or visit the Walking with Brandon Foundation website to find out more: www.walkingwithbrandon.org.

There is a variety of different types of equipment which can be used to assist persons with Mobility Impairments to be able to stand or walk during Rehabilitation, this includes Standing Frames, Standing Wheelchairs, Parallel Bars and Tilt Tables. Visit our Sports, Exercise & Rehabilitation Aids - Standing & Walking Equipment to find out more about this type of equipment and the companies that provide them.

Walking and Standing Rehabilitation is also possible and made easier in a swimming pool, this form of therapy is known as Hydrotherapy.

Hydrotherapy and Scuba Diving

Hydrotherapy, is a form of physiotherapy, that involves the use of water for pain relief and treatment, it encompasses therapeutic methods that take advantage of the physical properties of water, such as temperature and pressure to stimulate blood circulation and treat the symptoms of certain diseases. It is also used in the treatment of a variety of different conditions, including paralysis, arthritis and related rheumatic complaints. Scuba Diving also provides various benefits to persons with Mobility Impairments, including pain relief, increased mobility and blood circulation and Mobility of joints in entire body, to name just a few. Scuba Diving sometimes also takes place in a heated swimming pool for training purposes (Discover Scuba), but also in the sea (Open Water).

Hydrotherapy differs from swimming because it involves special exercises that you do in a warm-water pool, whereby the  temperature is usually 33–36ºC, which is warmer than a typical swimming pool. Hydrotherapy treatment is done with a physiotherapist who will show you how to do the exercises. The focus of the exercises can be adjusted to help your range of movement or strength, depending on your symptoms, it is different to aquarobics, which can be quite strenuous, as Hydrotherapy is generally more focused on slow, controlled movements and relaxation.

In South Africa organisations such as the The Walking With Brandon Foundation, listed above provides Hydro Therapy, while the Handicapped Scuba Crew promote and offer Scuba Diving for persons with disabilities, as both an activity and a form of therapy, thus improving the lives of many persons with disabilities throughout South Africa and promoting Scuba Diving for persons with disabilities.

Handicapped Scuba Crew

Handicapped Scuba Crew is a Nonprofit Organization (Registration No: NPO 240/281) which is based in Pretoria and has a mission to break down barriers with “Scubility” – “We Use SCUBA as a tool for rehabilitation back into normal society and to make sure that persons with disabilities are given the same opportunities to receive excellent quality training, certification and dive adventures, as able-bodied divers do. We enhance the lives of all persons with  disabilities and their families through the sport of SCUBA Diving. - We raise funds for all of these activities."

In 2019 the Handicapped Scuba Crew completed more than 400 Sea Dives (Veneus include: Sodwana Bay; Aliwal Shoal; Ponta do Ouro Mozambique and the Red Sea); more than 1000 Pool Sessions and more than 40 x courses up to and including:

• Discover Scuba
• Open Water
• Advanced specialties such as deep/nitrox/night/rescue/emergency first aid /and dive master.

Handicapped Scuba Crew have worked with persons with various disabilities/conditions, including persons with mobility impairments/conditions, who have dived with us, which include:

• Persons with Spinal Cord Injuries - paraplegics and quadriplegics
• Persons with Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Sclerosis
• Amputees and persons with Spina Bifida
• Hemiplegics and Persons with Muscular Dystrophy
• Persons who have had a Stroke and Persons with Cancer

Handicapped Scuba Crew also offer these services to persons with various other conditions/impairments, including persons who are Deaf; Autistic; Blind, or have Down Syndrome; PTSD and TBI. All of which have dived with us.

Adaptive techniques enable our organization to live our ethos of everyone is equal, giving people as above an equal opportunity to experience all parts of the dives, including sitting on the pontoon if viable! The benefits of Scuba Diving are vast and include both mental and physical benefits:

• Mental advantages include increase serotonin, increased activation of different parts of the brain, improvements / miracles that should not happen. e.g. feeling goosebumps below injury on complete paralysis paraplegic.
• Physical advantages include increased mobility and blood circulation; Mobility of joints in entire body; Scuba Diving activities also free some persons from the wheelchairs they use into a weightless environment and be like everyone else.

New medical studies confirm the therapeutic benefits of Scuba Diving and the Handicapped Scuba Crew have been recognised for the work that they are doing and the benefits of Scuba Diving for persons with disabilities. Dr Wilson has used the Handicapped Scuba Crew rehabilitation methods in her International Presentations and Netcare has recognised HSC as a valuable contributor to their patients and staff, especially around the Sports Days held in November / December each year.

Handicapped Scuba Crew have changed many peoples lives over the years, through the various activities that they offer, these activities can benefit persons with disabilities by building confidence and independence - "Through scuba therapy, HSC innovative and exciting methods also help temporarily decrease pain and helped me with my disabilities by increasing my self-esteem. My pain associated with a Spinal Cord injury in a motor vehicle accident in 2013 left me as a paraplegic and this pain improved and nearly vanished while under water and for a brief amount of time after the dive." - Sue Jordaan.

Visit "Handicapped Scuba Crew - Lives We Have Changed" to view various other testimonials of people that have benefited from these activities that HSA provide or contact them on the details below if you are interested in Scuba Diving, or would like to find out more about the various events planned. You can contact Dean on: 083 6789 849 or via email: dean@scubacrew.co.za; Richard on: 082 579 3732 or via email: info@scubacrew.co.za or Sue on: 064 545 1671 or via email: sue@scubacrew.co.za. You can also visit the Handicapped Scuba Crew: Facebook Page or click on the link below to find more information about Handicapped Scuba Crew and the services they provide.

Read More: ....

If you don't already have a Physio Therapist, that does Hydrotherapy and you are living in the Cape Town area, you can visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation which offers a wide variety of services to help persons with Mobility Impairments through their Rehabilitation programme and also supply Hydrotherapy. Click on the links above to find more information about this, or read the information above. You can also search for a Hydro Therapist on our Health Care - Search Facility.

Electrotherapy

Electrotherapy is the use of electrical energy as a variety of treatments, including the use of electrical devices such as deep brain stimulators for neurological disease. Electrotherapy is primarily used in physical therapy and has been researched and accepted in the field of rehabilitation for the following:

1. Pain management - Improves range of joint movement

2. Treatment of neuromuscular dysfunction: Improvement of strength; Improvement of motor control; Retards muscle atrophy; Improvement of local blood flow.

3. Improves range of joint mobility: - Induces repeated stretching of contracted, shortened soft tissues.

4. Tissue repair: Enhances microcirculation and protein synthesis to heal wounds; Increased blood flow to the injured tissues increases macrophages to clean up debri; Restores integrity of connective and dermal tissues.

5. Acute and chronic edema: Accelerates absorption rate; Affects blood vessel permeability; Increases mobility of proteins, blood cells and lymphatic flow.

6. Peripheral blood flow - Induces arterial, venous and lymphatic flow.

7. Iontophoresis: Delivery of pharmacological agents; DC (direct current) transports ions through skin.

8. Urine and fecal incontinence: Affects pelvic floor musculature to reduce pelvic pain and strengthen musculature; Treatment may lead to complete continence.

9. Lymphatic Drainage - Stimulate lymphatic system to reduce edema.

If you don't already have a Physio Therapist, that does Electrotherapy and you are living in the Cape Town area, you can visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation which offers a wide variety of services to help persons with Mobility Impairments through their Rehabilitation programme, including Advanced Wireless Electrical Stimulation. Visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation to find more information about this, or if you are not in Cape Town, search for a Electrotherapist on our Health Care - Search Facility or visit www.sadoctors.co.za - physio therapist to find a Physio Therapist in your area and check with them to see if they offer it.

Hippo & Horse Riding Therapy

Horse Riding is available in South Africa for persons with various disabilities, as a Sport, Hobby and as various forms of Therapy, known as Horse Riding Therapy and Hippotherapy or Equine Therapy. There are many benefits of animal-assisted activities and therapies, which have been recognized recently and are becoming more well known.
Working and interacting with horses can have a major physical and emotional impact on adults and children of almost all ages with a wide variety of issues and disabilities, including Physical disabilities or Mobility Impairments. These benefits include Recreational; Therapeutic Benefits; Mental Benefits; Physical Benefits and Encourages Socializing. Horse Riding as a Sport, Hobby and as various forms of Therapy is available in most Provinces in South Africa and is supplied by companies and organizations such as Tumanako Equine Therapy and Equestrian is also one of the sports that are available for persons with Mobility Impairments at the Paralympics.

Tumanako Equine Therapy: is run by Andrew and Jolene Rowland and offers Special Needs Riding for a wide variety of special needs individuals of all ages, as well as offering practical, hands-on experiences to help introduce newcomers to this unique form of therapy.

Operating since 2007, Tumanako is a specialised practice that utilises horses to provide a multi-disciplinary therapeutic approach that encompasses the fields of Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Psychology and Speech Therapy.

Many studies have been conducted overseas with regards to the effects of Hippotherapy:  improvements in joint mobility, balance and coordination, relaxation of spasticity, increased muscle power, increased self-confidence through improved self-image, improved learning, concentration, spatial awareness of neurologically impaired individuals and more.

Tumanako operates Tuesdays to Sundays and offers long and short-term treatments depending on the needs of the client. Cost structures are applied accordingly. The sessions are carried out under the strictest of safety standards, which typically involves the therapist, horse leader and side-walkers, and are designed to address the physical needs of the client as well as to assist in developing social skills. The aim of the treatment is to make it as fun as possible, while ensuring optimum therapeutic benefits.

If you require any of the services listed above, or are a medical professional interested in treating your own clients with Tumanako, please contact Andrew Rowland (082 782-1103) or Jolene Rowland (081 588-1086) for more details. Email: tumanakosa@mweb.co.za, website: www.tumanako.co.za, or search “Tumanako Equine Therapy” on Facebook. You can also visit us at: Hartzenbergfontein Estate, Walkerville, Johannesburg South.

Contact Tumanako on the details above if you are in Gauteng, or visit our Health Care - Search Facility and search for a "Hippo, Equine & Horse Riding Therapy", or click on the "Read More" link below to find more about Horse Riding for persons with disabilities, as a Sport, Hobby and as various forms of Therapy.

Read More: ...

Exercise At Home or Gym

Taking part in regular physical activities offers many advantages to persons of all ages, and is even more important for persons with disabilities, whether they want to lose weight, reverse muscle atrophy, build strength or improve their mobility. Persons with Mobility Impairments who went through rehab, usually would have attended Physiotherapy once a day 5 days a week when in rehab, but this is generally not possible when they return home. It is however important to continue with physiotherapy, even if it is once or twice a week and then try to do some other type of physical activity two or three times a week.

It is recommended that to improve fitness, adults with SCI should engage in at least 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise two times a week and three sets of moderate strengthening exercise for each major functional muscle groups two times per week. To improve cardiometabolic health, it is suggested they engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous intensity aerobic exercise, three times per week.

There are various activities that can help you to burn fat and build strength, if you push your Wheelchair, you could start by making short journeys by pushing yourself in your wheelchair, or doing various other exercises at home or in the gym including rowing machines adapted for wheelchair use, and weight machines for resistance exercises.

We do however recommend that you contact companies or individuals who are qualified or specialise in rehabilitation or exercise programs, which include strength building and improve balance. It is not only important to get an experts advice to be able to get the best results, but also to do so without getting injured. Injury can often happen if the exercises are done incorrectly, or by overdoing certain exercises. Injuries through incorrect training techniques will not only result in you having to delay your plans to get fit and lose weight but can lead to loss of independence or possible time in hospital. There are various companies and qualified individuals such as WHASCP Fitness that can assist you with these types of fitness and weight loss programs, thus reducing the risk of these types of injuries.

WHASCP (Wheelchair Holistic Adaptive Strength and Condition Program): WHASCP Fitness was founded by Victor Buitendag in 2018. As the founder of WHACSP, I have lived an active lifestyle as an adaptive athlete for more than 20 years. Being healthy and independent remains the ultimate goal, a never-ending battle to overcome the challenges of living adaptively. The WHASCP journey is a lifestyle I live, a lifestyle beyond and above the stigmas and labels placed on people living adaptively. WHASCP Fitness is a company purposefully developed to support the fitness and health needs of adaptive and able-bodied trainees, regardless of their presented impairment. Vic, the founder of WHASCP and your fitness coach, is a certified Level One CrossFit trainer and ATA (Adaptive Training Academy) coach with extensive physical rehabilitation and adaptive sports background.

WHASCP Fitness programms are inspired by an inclusive global CrossFit community that provides training opportunities irrespective of ability, gender, age or impairment. They are created in an environment where you can train hard, be challenged and supported by highly motivated professional coaching. These programms are functional and lifestyle orientated and are conveniently hosted at accessible venues around Pretoria and the East Rand but can also be done in the comfort of your own home, if preferred. They are purposefully designed for people with adaptive needs and mainly focus on functional movement and technique​.

All training sessions include: Warmup, Strength Training, Body Weight Exercises, Cardio/Aerobic and Weight Training, with various packages on offer to suite your situation, including:

• In-Person Training for: Individuals; Couples or Groups Sessions.
• Virtual Training: Daily Home Video Program.
• Traveling Expenses: Packages include travel expenses for persons living inside and outside of Pretoria as well as Group Sessions.

Contact WHASCP Fitness to book a session on the details below or view some of Victors clients in action: Training Sessions.

WHASCP Fitness not only supplies Exercise Training Programs and Diet Programs but they also sell various types of exercise and sports equipment that can be used by persons with mobility impairments who have limited use of their hands. This includes:

WHASCP Adaptive Hands: Adaptive Hands is a Mobility Grip which is ideal for persons with mobility impairments. Possible Applications include Weight Training and Fitness; Fishing; Playing Pool/Snooker and ADL's.

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WHASCP Adaptive Kettle Bags: Kettle Bags have adjustable weight capabilities ranging from 0.5 Kg to 6.0 Kg. Possible Applications include Tri/Bicep Training; Shoulder Presses; Adaptive Deadlifts; Lat/Front/ Raises and Kettle Bag Swings.

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WHASCP Rage Rope: The Rage Rope collection is available in various sizes including: 16mm, 20mm, 36mm, 50mm. Possible Applications include Cardio; Shoulder Stability; External Shoulder Rotation; Postural Improvement; Upper Body Endurance improvement; General Arm strength and endurance; Sitting Balance and Coordination.

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WHASCP Sand Bags: These sand bags are proudly made in South Africa, extremely easy to clean and have 4/6 accessible lifting handles. Available Weights include 15kg, 10kg and 5kg. Possible Applications with this equipment include Chest Press; Shoulder Press; Bicep Curls; Russian Twists and many more.

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Please visit our Sports, Exercise & Rehabilitation Equipment page to view more information about these and other types of equipment that is available from WHASCP Fitness, or please feel free to contact Victor Buitendag from WHASCP Fitness on Tel: 084 308 5856 or via email on: whascpfit@gmail.com or visit their website at: www.whascp.com

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There are also a wide variety of You Tube videos available to give you ideas on what exercises are possible for persons in wheelchairs at home or in the Gym. Click on: Disability Gym Workout from YouTube to show what exercises are possible for people of all abilities, click on the link to find out more. Unfortunately not all gyms are wheelchair accessible, so contact Victor Buitendag for accessible places in Gauteng or if you are living in the Cape Town area, you can visit the Walking With Brandon Foundation which offers a wide variety of services to help persons with Mobility Impairments through their Rehabilitation programme. Click on the links above to find more information about this, or if you are not in Cape Town or Johannesburg, check your local gym to make sure that they are accessible and have equipment that you can use. If you can't find an accessible gym near you or prefer to exercise from home, visit our "Sports, Exercise & Rehabilitation Equipment" page to see what equipment is available to assist you to Stay Active!

Please note that it is advisable to speak to your Doctor before starting to exercise and consulting an expert such as Victor Buitendag from WHASCP Fitness, to find an exercise routine to suite you and your condition. Contact Us to find out more or for any other assistance.

Sports

Sports are very important to keep a person healthy and are even more important if that person has had an injury or has a Mobility Impairment and uses a wheelchair. Sports such as Scuba Diving (Handicapped Scuba Crew) and Cross Fitness Training (WHASCP Fitness) offers many advantages to persons with disabilities and are equally important, not only when you are first injured, to build up your strength, but also in later years, to keep your fitness up, assist to keep the weight off and to make sure that you don't lose any movement or strength that you have regained since you injury. Persons with Mobility Impairments or Physical Disabilities can take part in a variety of Sports at both club, provincial and international level. Whatever your age, disability, experience level, or gender, there's a place for you in Mobility Impaired sports. Whether you prefer team or individual sports, Winter or Summer sports, high action or something a bit slower, if you've got the enthusiasm and the drive, you can find something in this section that will suit you. Focus on the things that you can do, rather than those you cannot and click on the link below to find out more about these sports that are available in South Africa, including organisations such Handicapped Scuba Crew who provide Scuba Diving for persons with disabilities in South Africa.

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7. Depression

Depression and loneliness are very common among all age groups around the world, but it is even more common for persons with disabilities and the elderly, especially during this time of Covid-19 and the consequent lockdown. There is substantial evidence which indicates that persons with Mobility Impairments are at least three times more likely to experience depression compared to the general population.

Many persons with disabilities have to deal with various difficulties related to their impairment, which can often be the cause of depression, such as: A change or loss of job; relationship and financial difficulties; isolation; change in living environments, or adaptions to current accommodation, as well as stereotypical social and personal attitudes; abuse; loss of roles within the family; stressors related to poverty and environmental barriers, and often a lack of access to appropriate Health Care, etc.

These changes and difficulties can affect persons with disabilities in different ways, those who are ultimately positively affected by these changes, often first accept their disability and limitations, before they can move on with their life and adapt to a "New Normal". Once you have acknowledged to yourself that your life will not be the same due to your injury, you would then be able to focus on what you are able to do rather than what you cannot do due to your disability. We believe that, if you accept your limitations, you can then focus on finding ways to get around them and still achieve your goals, you might just have to tackle them from a different angle! such as a person who may be paralyzed from the neck down and learns to paint with his mouth, or that person who has dreamed of playing rugby for the springboks and goes on to playing wheelchair rugby after he or she is paralyzed. These and other Sports and Hobbies can also help to reduce depression, as well as offer various other benefits, such as exercise, meeting new people who offer motivation and support, etc.

There are also a number of organisations and Health Care professionals that can assist persons with disabilities to learn how to deal with their depression, if they are feeling depressed and need to speak to a professional about their disabilities and the difficulties associated with this. This includes Peer Support Groups such as the Walking with Brandon Foundation - Peer Support Programme in Cape Town, they can possibly assist you and your family to come to terms with your impairment and the changes that it may bring. Click on the link above to find out more information about this, or contact The South African Depression and Anxiety Group (SADAG), to find out if they can assist you, or Contact Us if you need any other assistance. Please also click on the link below to find out more information on Depression and loneliness and how it affects persons with disabilities, especially due to Covid-19 and the current lockdown.

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Covid-19

Across the world, 15% of the population are affected by some form of disability who generally have more healthcare needs than those without disabilities. In South Africa, 7.5 percent of the population (2,870,130 people) live with some form of disability (According to a Census 2011), but this is more likely in-line with the world statistics of 15%.

The consequences of Covid-19 for persons with disabilities are broad, many persons with disabilities are at higher risk of serious illness or death due to Covid-19, this is especially true for persons with Mobility Impairments, while many of these same Persons With Disabilities are also at a Higher Risk of Infection due to various reasons. Due to the forced lockdown, there is also a lack of access to basic healthcare and healthcare products, while other essentials like water, food and economic support for some persons with disabilities are also lacking.

Click on the link below to find out more information about the Corona Virus (COVID - 19) pandemic and how it can affect some persons with disabilities and also information on companies, individuals and organisations who provide solutions to alleviate these difficulties, including the removal of the barriers that groups face in, transport, health services, food and hygiene products.

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References