The Open Mind Rehabilitation Centre is run by Richard Stoneman and offers treatment based on the Dikul method on a one on one basis. This has been extremely beneficial to Chris as it loosens ‘tightness’ in the muscles reducing his spasms, provides him with the motivation and positive thinking which the centre focuses on and makes him stronger through the exercises that he does. Chris attends this centre once a week for two hours. 

The F.E.S rowing programme, run by Robin Gibbons, is the newest treatment that Chris has started. Exercise rather than treatment, this programme is essentially pads placed on Chris’ legs (quads and hamstrings) and using electrical pulses to stimulate the muscles and make them contract. When Chris is on an adapted concept 2 rowing machine and uses these pads and electrical pulses, he achieves a whole body workout. The programme is for a PhD at the Brunel University for Robin therefore Chris’ results are monitored and recorded for his research. Chris sees a huge potential for benefit and has already noticed an improvement in his fitness and is optimistic this will continue.

In Stoke Mandeville Chris used the Thera Live leg bike and an electric standing frame. He found these so beneficial he has them at home to use everyday. Using a standing frame everyday has many medical benefits, as well as keeping the joints and bones strong and able to weight bear they also stretch out his legs and back. Supposedly, the kidneys and other body functions work better as the body is aligned. The leg bike provides passive movement of the legs to help keep the blood circulating and can also have the effect of reducing spasms. The multi-gym is not adapted for wheelchairs so Chris has to transfer onto the seat and can use the lat pull down and chest press. This is obviously very beneficial in building the muscles that Chris can use, making him stronger and able to push himself in his wheelchair longer. He also uses Nike wrist weights and dumbbells.

Treatments Chris has tried	Links
- Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT)	www.charms.fsnet.co.uk
- Acupuncture (Pictured Right)
- Skenar	www.rosedaleclinic.co.uk
Equipment that Chris has used
- Vita Glide
- Arm Bike
- Multi Gym

Chris felt that the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) was a very beneficial treatment when he left the hospital as it stopped him feeling dizzy when in chair and standing to start with, and also helped relieve muscle pains. He felt that this would have been very beneficial earlier in his rehabilitation at the hospital and wishes that hospitals saw it as a beneficial treatment rather than an ‘alternative’ one. His consultant at Stoke Mandeville was very upbeat about the treatment and was more than willing to sign papers for Chris to attend.

HBOT is basically the use of oxygen at a higher than atmospheric pressure. For more information please see the website. Chris no longer attends this treatment as he was using it once a week for over a year and no longer saw any benefit, however does not dismiss this treatment and would use again if in the future his circumstances were to change.The centre also provided much needed benefit advice and a warm welcome when Chris first came out of hospital, and for that he was extremely grateful.

Chris tried acupuncture for a few months in a clinic in Chelmsford but felt that it provided no gain. Other people with SCI we have spoken to however have noticed improvements in health and muscle pain.

Skenar (Self Kontrolled Energo Neuro Adaptive Regulation) is a device which is non-invasive and is supposed to send signals to the brain to stimulate the immune system (the sentiment is very much like the Laserponcture in France). Chris tried this treatment for a few weeks however the Clinic was very far for him to travel and made it difficult, Chris may purchase his own Skenar device as he was curious to see whether regular use would provide an improvement.

The Vita Glide and Arm Bike are machines that Chris used in hospital and they were successful in building up the strength in his arms when they were weak, but saw no use in them after and can substitute them for weights and more rigorous arm exercising.