The Physiotherapy Department at Epworth Rehabilitation Richmond conducts a Running Group for patients with high-level mobility problems. It is the original program which has been replicated in rehabilitation facilities throughout Australia.
The purpose of the Running Group is to
- Teach people how to run, if only for a few steps
- Improve high-level mobility skills in order to access social, leisure and sporting activities
- Improve community mobility to allow people to keep up with peers when walking, access public transport, cross roads and have the endurance to walk longer distances
- Improve mobility to promote health, fitness and weight loss
The Running Group forms part of a cluster of programs designed to improve outcomes, and is aligned with Epworth's Swimming Retraining Program, Bike Riding Program, Gym Program and Winter Sports Program.
Who can participate?
Any person who is able to walk without a gait aid (i.e crutch, frame, walking stick), is suitable for assessment to participate in the Running Group.
You do not need to be able to run to join the running group.
An assessment is conducted to investigate the cause of the client’s mobility restriction including spasticity, range of movement, strength, flexibility, control, coordination and balance.
The Running Group program accepts patients who have sustained:
- Traumatic Brain Injury
- Stroke
- Spinal Injuries
- Hypoxic Brain Damage
- Cerebral Palsy
- Neuro-surgery
- Other neurological conditions
Although conducted in a group setting, each person has an individual program tailored to their specific needs. The group is conducted 3 x per week, and people usually attend 1 - 2 x per week. Session times are Monday and Wednesday at 2pm and Friday at 1pm. Sessions last 1 hour.
An individual program is developed to treat the client's mobility restrictions in order to provide the client with the biomechanical, strength, co-ordination and balance requirements for running.
When running is achieved, the skills for return to sport are then retrained in order to facilitate a smooth transition back to the client's pre-morbid activities.
A referral is not necessary as any person with a neurological condition is able to attend for assessment.
If you have any queries regarding this program, please contact:
Epworth Rehabilitation Richmond Physiotherapy Department
Phone 03 9426 8727 or 03 9426 8700