By Victoria Kent on January 26, 2012
My name is Dawn and I have a very rare condition called HTLV-1 associated myelopathy, this is similar to MS.
Dawn Clark
Up until last year I managed to get around using walking aides but then my condition deteriorated and now I have to use a wheelchair.
I was referred to Ability Bow by my GP and started coming in July 2010 and much to my joy I have started to see signs of my legs getting stronger and have even started to walk again. This is like a miracle, even if I can’t walk all of the time, I can still have the sense of independence and freedom. For me to be able to walk into a restaurant, the theatre or to walk to the toilet is so wonderful. This may not seem much to someone who has the use of their legs but it is to me. I can now sit in a chair and not always in my wheelchair. I want to thank the staff at Ability Bow for the care and support they have given me.
Posted in Case Studies, Noticeboard
By Victoria Kent on December 13, 2011
My name is Angur Miah and I am 57. I had a stroke in September 2009. I had a haemorrhagic stroke (bleed in the brain) on the left side of my brain. It was a very bad stroke and I was unable to move afterwards.
I was referred to Ability Bow by the Disability Options Team (DOT) from Mile End Hospital in July last year. I came to the ‘Keep Moving’ group, an exercise and social group especially for stroke survivors and now I come once a week for a one-to-one session with my trainer Simohamed.
I really enjoy coming to Ability Bow. It’s given me some independence back and I enjoy meeting the other members, especially the other stroke survivors.
When I come to Ability Bow I now feel very motivated especially seeing the improvements that myself and others have made. I don’t get as breathless as I used to and my right arm feels much stronger too.
This year I helped raise money for Ability Bow by taking part in ‘The Big 5k Fun Run’, I didn’t run but I did walk the full 5k, it took me 2 hours. I am very proud of that achievement.
Posted in Case Studies
By Victoria Kent on November 2, 2011
Nehar Begum
We ask our gym users to tell us why they like coming to the gym and what they think of our Specialist Exercise Referral programme.
Gym user Nehar Begum is delighted to be able to use her walking frame. She says
“I must admit I would not be able to do it without the gym exercises. Since I started I got my limbs strong enough to hold myself up in the walker and the confidence to challenge myself.
Thank you!”
Nehar has Cerebral Palsy with Quadriplegia and she first came to Ability Bow in March 2011. She works with her Instructor every week on a one to one basis to progress her fitness goals. We asked Nehar to tell us about the difference that this has made to her:
What problems did this health condition cause you before you came to Ability Bow?
- Muscle stiffness
- Muscle pain
- Increased spasms
- Difficulty in moving
- Felt very weak
- Didn’t eat as much as I should
- Felt very tired every day even when I woke up in the morning
- My body weight wasn’t steady at all – for example: one morning my weight would be 8.5 stones and then 2 days after it would go back to 7 stones or a bit lower then that sometimes with the same intake everyday
How have these problems improved since coming to Ability Bow?
- Gained more independence
- Gained more confidence
- Feel more stronger
- Have less pain and stiffness in my muscles
- I can move a lot better
- Don’t have a lot of spasms as I did previously
- Have a better diet
- I am eating better than before
- Weight is not changing as often as it did
- I have a lot of strength in my limbs now than I did before coming Ability Bow
To be referred to Ability Bow ask your GP to complete one of our Referral Forms and return it to us. There may be a short wait for an appointment depending on our waiting list.
Posted in Case Studies
