Life can be difficult even at the best of times. People with spinal cord injuries (SCI), in particular, can find the going tough as they traverse many personal, social, programme, policy and environmental barriers to live a meaningful and happy life.

"The current gap between inpatient rehabilitation and outpatient health and wellness prevents people with SCI from living a productive and good quality of life because of the lack of support after their discharge," says Dr Candace Vermaak who recently obtained her doctorate in Sport Science at Stellenbosch University (SU). Vermaak is a biokineticist and also Director of Bridging Abilities, a non-profit company operating in Stellenbosch and Somerset West. The company caters for persons with physical and intellectual disabilities. Her supervisor was well-known Matie Parasport coach Dr Suzanne Ferreira from SU's Department of Sport Science.

As part of her doctorate, Vermaak developed and implemented an eight-week community-based intervention that focused on physical activity and aimed to make a positive change in the lives of those suffering from SCI. She says that impairments following a SCI depend on the level of the injury and whether the injury is complete or incomplete.

"In persons with tetraplegia, all four limbs are affected and they might be confined to a motorized wheelchair. In most cases, they may need help to perform most activities of daily living including transfers to and from wheelchairs. In those with paraplegia, the trunk and lower limbs are affected and they can function more independently. People with a complete injury are unable to walk again."

Vermaak adds that people with a SCI can also suffer from pressure sores, bladder and  respiratory infections and obesity, while their fitness and muscle strength also decrease.

Being passionate about working with people with disabilities, Vermaak identified 16 individuals (one female and 15 males) with SCI in Mitchells Plain, Strand and Macassar to participate in the programme. According to Vermaak, these individuals, who were between the ages of 19 and 53 years,  had to deal with personal barriers such as pressure sores, bladder infections, and a lack of finances, skills and lack of knowledge about physical activity and the risks associated with inactivity.

"They also had to overcome social barriers such as a lack of support from friends and family as well as negative societal attitudes toward people with disabilities. Some participants were rejected by their friends and family once they got injured."

Vermaak says the physical activity programme focused on improving the individuals' cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility as well as their functional performance which assists with activities of daily living.

"With the help of personal facilitators from the community the 16 individuals did a cardiovascular warm up, followed by strength training, functional activities (weight shifting, balance training) and each session ended with stretching. These 90min sessions were perfomed twice a week."

"Because of these activities, participants improved their cardiovascular endurance, strength and flexibility. They were able to to push their wheelchairs further and also found it easier to perform normal daily activities and do more on their own. They required less assisstance with transfers to and from their wheelchairs and were able to eat and dress themselves more independently due to improved strength and flexibility."

Vermaak adds that participants indicated that their appetite also improved, that they slept better, had lost some weight and had more self-confidence.

"Some participants also said the sessions helped them to be more mobile. They were also more satisfied with their ability to reintegrate into their respective communities."

Vermaak says six months after the intervention the barriers have been successfully reduced and personal facilitators have seen to the participants follow the programme.

She adds that the current programme has grown in terms of the number and variety of disabilities that are represented as well as in the number of volunteers, as they also benefit from being physically active.

"We are currently training other people with disabilities and volunteers to implement two more programmes in 2017 in the Winelands district (Kayamandi, Cloetesville and possibly Franschoek)," says Vermaak. 

FOR MEDIA ENQUIRIES ONLY

Dr Candice Vermaak

Director: Bridging Abilities

Tel: 021-843 33362

Cell: 082 782 1625

E-mail: [email protected]