Celebral palsy sufferer walking again after 11 years
A comfortable cup of tea at a friend’s place is what Cecilia Hawke values most after learning to walk again.
The 62-year-old from Upper Hutt has cerebral palsy and has spent 11 years in a wheelchair, stopping her from enjoying visiting friends.
Before getting back on her feet, ‘‘they would offer me a drink and I would be thinking: oh no, I might want to go to the toilet; and that would be quite stressful.’’
Born with cerebral palsy, Hawke did not walk until she was age 7.
Problems with her hips and knees made walking increasingly painful. She was taking huge amounts of painkillers and found herself stuck in a wheelchair.
But she never gave up hope of walking. The turnaround came when she joined Upper Hutt boutique gym FXU Vibe.
With help from trainer Suzanne Fluerty, she is now back on her own two feet.
‘‘It took less than a year but it was hard work, it did not come easily,’’ Hawke said.
Although she can walk only short distances, being no longer stuck at home had been life changing. Hawke is determined to keep improving and to one day walk through the main entrance at the local mall.
She has always remained positive,
despite living what she describes as a ‘‘tough life’’.
‘‘I would like to tell people that no matter what their circumstances, do not give up. Try harder, just keep trying.’’
FXU Vibe owner Monique Ballinger said her gym began rehabilitating those with cerebral palsy when Genevieve McLachlan joined the gym six years ago.
Born with cerebral palsy, McLachlan was able to walk in her 20s but gradually deteriorated to the point where she needed a walking frame.
Within three months of joining the gym she was walking upright and unaided. It was the first time her husband, Bruce, had seen her standing tall.
McLachlan said that after being told by doctors she would never walk again, to do so was hugely satisfying.
The gym – now an accredited provider for Cerebral Palsy New Zealand – uses a vibrating power plate to stimulate muscle movement.
It has a philosophy of concentrating on functionality to get clients mobile and able to do the day-to-day activities that allow them to be independent and enjoy life.
FXU Vibe recently won an award at the New Zealand Exercise Industry Awards for its work with cerebral palsy patients.
Auckland University research fellow Silmara Gusso said that getting Hawke walking was an amazing achievement.
Treating cerebral patients was a complex issue, she said.
‘‘It’s great that Cecilia has benefited so much from her training.
‘‘But it’s important to remember that we’re still finding out about the effects and safety of vibration training. We already know the benefits won’t be the same for everybody.’’
There were different types of vibration equipment available and results could not be generalised, she said.
Without health professionals being involved, it was possible that vibration treatment could be detrimental for some patients.
Clinical trials had found young adults had greater mobility after undertaking vibration training but it had to be properly supervised.