Dan is a young adult who acquired a neurological brain injury following treatment for a brain tumour in 2022. He first attended Hobbs Rehabilitation in November 2023, at which time he was focused on re-establishing his independence and returning to university life. Prior to his diagnosis, Dan was studying at Swansea University and was highly active, with a particular enjoyment of playing football. During his initial period of rehabilitation, Dans’ primary goal was to successfully return to university in September 2024 and complete his degree, which he achieved by graduating in the summer. Following graduation, Dan re-engaged with Hobbs to pursue new rehabilitation goals, including improving his running technique and overall exercise fitness. These goals are aimed at increasing his employment opportunities and supporting a potential return to social participation, including playing football again.
•Reduced confidence
•Altered gait pattern – walking and running
•Reduced coordination and dexterity
•Mild right arm weakness
•Mild right leg weakness – especially in posterior chain and reduced explosively/absorption of calf muscles particularly
•Central and peripheral vestibular impairment causing dizziness
•Reduced dynamic balance
•Reduced coordination and weakness in write hand
On previous admission
●Requiring supervision for outdoor mobility
●Reduced confidence and ability on stairs
●Reduced participation in everyday activities
●Unable to engage in university life and studies.
On current admission:
●Able to run short distances, deconditioned and fatigued quickly
●Only confident to run on the grass or with hand support on the treadmill due to impaired balance
●Altered gait running pattern – reduced coordination of arms, hyperextending at the knee, describing as ‘hoping’ pattern
●Reduced cardiovascular exercise fitness
●Reduce ability to coordination and weakness
●Reduced speed of writing and typing speed
Dan was very motivated and participated well within the intensive module of practice. In his recently attentive block he mainly attended for physiotherapy and had one of occupational therapy sessions for handwriting/type advice. Within his physiotherapy we work on:
●Strengthen programme – focus on building strength and conditioning particularly for the posterior chain
●Polymetric and dynamic balance work
●Functional resistance training through lunges, squats and deadlifts
●Using neurotechnology for gait re-education – the use of andago to provide confidence when completing balance work, Lexo for repetitive gait training in a consistent gait pattern at higher speeds and reducing support from upper limb, C-mill for speed reaction and other element of gait while walking and running
●Task and sport specific exercises – completing football drills and running drills
●Provide Gait analysis and advice on motor patterns
●Vestibular assessment and treatment through maneuvers and graded visional exposure
Dan has made some major gains over the course of this intensive rehab block:
● increased posterior activation during walking and changes of speed
●Dan achieved a maximum running speed of 15 km/h.
●A major achievement was running the full 350m perimeter of a football pitch without stopping.
●Appears more relaxed when running and breathing technique has improved
●Video analysis of running form showed a more efficient, level head position (less bobbing) and improving arm swing.
Hobbs helped to change my life for the better. The physiotherapists are all extremely friendly and easy to get along with. The specialist equipment is fun and enjoyable making it feel that you are not even doing rehabilitation in the first place. I would recommend anyone to go to Hobbs and experience the lovely times I did.
