Two years ago, 55-year-old Jamal was involved in a serious car accident while driving back from Canberra with his boss. His injuries were significant, and he experienced a stroke caused by compression of an artery to his brain between the C4 and C6 vertebrae.
After an overnight stay in Canberra Hospital, Jamal was transferred to Royal North Shore Hospital, where he remained for two months. This was followed by three months in the spinal unit at Prince of Wales Hospital.
Following discharge, Jamal initially received home-based private physiotherapy and occupational therapy. He was also supported by Royal Rehab’s Spinal Outreach Service, which provided nursing advice on continence management and occupational therapy support.
In June 2021, an intensive therapy program was recommended to support Jamal’s upper limb strength, coordination and functional retraining.
Jamal participated in therapy at Royal Rehab LifeWorks, where occupational therapists developed a program focusing on increasing independence in daily activities. Early goals included improving hand coordination for tasks such as handling medication and carrying objects safely.
Advanced rehabilitation technology was integrated into his therapy. The Tyromotion Suite supported strength, range of motion and coordination exercises. The Amadeo device was used for finger strength and fine motor control, particularly grasp control. The Pablo hand sensor combined with the Myro system assisted in refining grasp maintenance and control.
Jamal’s therapy also included functional mobility exercises involving weight-based training and obstacle navigation. He worked towards safely transporting objects and developing strategies for independent task completion.
As his therapy progressed, additional goals focused on walking ability and balance. Physiotherapy sessions incorporated advanced technology, beginning with the EksoNR robotic exoskeleton, which provided structured feedback on walking patterns. He then progressed to the ZeroG body-weight support system for advanced balance training. The C-Mill treadmill, integrating virtual and augmented reality, was used to simulate real-world walking scenarios in a controlled environment.
Through consistent therapy participation, Jamal demonstrated improvements in mobility and coordination. He engaged in task-specific training aligned with his interests to refine movement skills. Functional gait assessments tracked progress in walking speed, stamina and dynamic balance.
Rehabilitation specialists note that advanced technology enables concurrent physical and cognitive training while increasing engagement and variety in sessions. Body-weight support systems help manage fatigue, allowing higher repetition levels essential for motor recovery.
Jamal’s rehabilitation program aims to support application of therapy gains to everyday life. Structured sessions provide opportunities to practise skills relevant to daily activities and mobility. His therapy remains ongoing, with continued focus on optimising function and independence.
For more information on our programs, contact our friendly team on 1800 518 180 today.
In the spirit of reconciliation, Royal Rehab acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea, and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future and we extend our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island peoples.
To improve your experience and ensure your data is protected, please note you will be redirected to PracSuite, our secure booking platform.
If you're ready to sign up now, please select the most appropriate option and complete the relevant form below.
