Dismantling cars rebuilding lives for stroke victims
A new project for stroke victims sees them dismantling cars as a form of rehabilitation.
The Four Stroke Engine Club is about getting ‘‘blokes with strokes’’, aged in their 20s to 60s, under the bonnet of an impounded car for therapeutic rehabilitation.
The idea launched at Manfeild last week after health psychologist Dr Sara Joice noticed many struggle with traditional, clinical settings designed primarily for geriatric patients.
So when one of her clients – and a founding member of the club – told Joice he loved car racing, she made some inquiries.
A bit of networking revealed Manfeild was keen to jump on board together with the Manawatu stroke support unit, the Stewart Centre.
Joice said the group met under the car bonnet twice a week.
It helped some of the sufferers to overcome disabilities, such as loss of muscle control, coordination, speech impairment and memory loss.
But it was psychological affects like loss of confidence, self-esteem and social contact the club assists the most with.
‘‘It’s about having meaningful activity to engage the brain,’’ Joice said. ‘‘It might look messy, but dismantling a car involves problem-solving and deductive reasoning.
‘‘What’s helpful too is that they are accepting of each other and tolerant of the challenges each is facing in their recovery – because stroke affects everybody differently.’’
Many of the patients she had came through a partnership between Massey University’s Psychology Clinic and Mid Central District Health Board.
They don’t fit the traditional stroke-patient profile for age and post-stroke life expectations. They want to return to work, family life and pursue other activities, she said.
The idea provides therapeutic
‘‘Stroke affects everybody differently.’’ Sara Joice
benefits through a structured, fun and sociable activity in a nonclinical and non-stigmatised environment.
Removed parts are sent to wreckers’ yards for spares and the car bodies converted for stock car racing.
Traditionally, formal rehabilitation tended to focus on things survivors couldn’t do rather than what they could, Joice said.
‘‘Evidence suggests engaging survivors in meaningful activities has greater benefit.’’