MOTIONrehab receives a client grant from STEPS Rehabilitation Foundation
MOTIONrehab, a specialist neurological rehabilitation provider, has received a grant from STEPS Rehabilitation Foundation to continue its work with a stroke client, helping her receive more intensive rehabilitation using specialist technology to help maximise her recovery.
After applying to the STEPS Foundation, 42-year-old Kate was lucky enough to be selected as a beneficiary of a grant to fund her ongoing rehabilitation costs; rehabilitation that Kate describes will make a “world of difference” to her recovery following a sudden stroke.
Kate’s Journey
Before her stroke, Kate worked full-time in public health and led an active lifestyle. She regularly ran, spent weekends taking part in the local Parkrun she had helped establish and enjoyed camping outdoors with her family.
Following a brain bleed in December of 2021, Kate’s husband found her unwell in bed, with her condition deteriorating, unable to move, speak, or breathe properly.
Kate was placed into an induced coma at hospital and awoke several days later unable to move or speak. At this stage, Kate was experiencing locked-in syndrome; a condition which inhibits the patient’s ability to move or speak. Still understanding everything around her, Kate communicated using her eyes until, after more than 5 months in hospital, she was able to start her rehabilitation journey.
Initial Rehabilitation with MOTIONrehab
Over the course of 6 months in a rehabilitation facility with physiotherapy and occupational therapy, Kate showed incredible progress. Relearning to sit, stand and take steps again, Kate gained the strength and ability to gain back some of her independence.
Returning home, everyday tasks remained challenging. Showering, getting dressed, and other tasks still required support, and with limited availability occupational therapy and physiotherapy, Kate felt she had more progress to achieve. With this determination, Kate privately funded a 4-week intensive rehabilitation programme at MOTIONrehab’s Leeds clinic.
At MOTIONrehab, Kate began a programme tailored to her individual goals and abilities, combining hands-on therapy, targeted exercise and advanced rehabilitation technology. Using specialist equipment including the Lyra gait trainer and TYMO balance platform, she worked on improving her walking, balance, strength and confidence in a structured and supportive environment.
Kate described the programme as a “game changer”. It helped her recognise the abilities she wanted to continue developing and gave her clear goals: to walk more efficiently, for longer distances, and become as independent as possible. Unfortunately, the specialist neurorehabilitation and rehabilitation Kate needed to support further progression was difficult to access without financial support. This was when the MOTIONrehab team told her about the STEPS Rehabilitation Foundation.
Further Funding Through the STEPS Rehabilitation Foundation
Launched in Autumn 2023, the STEPS Rehabilitation Foundation is a charitable trust providing financial support to people recovering from complex trauma and neurological injury and illness. Its funding helps to provide specialist rehabilitation, home adaptations, equipment and other services designed to support greater independence and quality of life. The foundation helps individuals like Kate access specialist rehabilitation, home adaptations, specialist equipment, and other support services.
After applying with the help of the MOTIONrehab team, Kate was granted funding for 12 further weeks of intensive, outpatient neurorehabilitation, combining hands-on therapy, exercise sessions and technology access, along with support for her transport to the clinic.
Since starting her further rehabilitation at MOTIONrehab Doncaster, Kate’s strength has grown tremendously. She can now walk indoors for periods of time, walk outdoors with a frame, shower, dress, and manage stairs independently. Along with this, Kate is now able to lift weights and enjoy longer sessions on the LEXO, increasing her initial 20 – 30 seconds to now 40-minute sessions at a time.
Kate’s Journey Continues
Along with her incredible physical progression, Kate’s confidence as grown too, which she says is down to the supportive, knowledgeable environment she’s had at MOTIONrehab and the support of others at the clinic on similar journeys to her own.
More than 4 years after her stroke, Kate is still challenging herself to discover what’s possible. Her story is a testament to her determination, the importance of specialist support, and how targeted neurological rehabilitation can go beyond what is initially thought possible.
From relearning to stand and walk, today Kate’s goals now go well beyond walking. With her unwavering confidence and support from the MOTIONrehab team, Kate wants to continue to improve her physical independence at work, take part in a Parkrun again, and spend more time with her son outdoors.
The Difference Continued Rehabilitation Can Make
For Kate, funding from the STEPS Rehabilitation Foundation meant she was able to continue building on the progress she had already made, rather than seeing her rehabilitation limited by the cost of accessing further specialist support.
The additional 12 weeks at MOTIONrehab gave Kate the opportunity to work consistently towards her goals through an intensive programme combining hands-on therapy, targeted exercise and specialist rehabilitation technology.
The progress Kate has made highlights the importance of access to ongoing neurological rehabilitation. By helping to remove the financial barrier to further rehabilitation, the STEPS Rehabilitation Foundation enabled Kate to access the intensity and specialist expertise available at MOTIONrehab at a crucial stage in her journey.
Her journey demonstrates what can be possible when determination is matched with access to specialist rehabilitation, the right technology and the time and support needed to keep progressing.
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