Stroke patients living in regional South Australia will be soon benefit from a unique ‘boot camp’ rehabilitation program as part of a trial to improve the function of upper limbs affected by stroke.
The program, backed by a fresh grant from The Hospital Research Foundation Group, will be run by physiotherapy students from the University of South Australia at health clinics in Whyalla and Mount Gambier.
Led by physiotherapist and senior lecturer, Dr Brenton Hordacre, the rehabilitation program has been expanded following a successful pilot, also funded by THRFG, in 2022.
Dr Hordacre said regional patients participated in the pilot, which indicated a wider interested in the boot camps.
“We had one participant travelling two hours each way and another from rural Victoria who came and stayed in Adelaide for the five-week duration, so it became apparent to us we might have to consider ways of upscaling this service,” he said.
“We know from the data that prevalence of stroke is greater in rural Australia. Perhaps of greater concern, South Australia has two major hotspots, being the Barker and Gray Federal electorates, that rank second and ninth nationally for stroke prevalence.”
Dr Hordacre said the upper limb function of patients who took part in the pilot improved up to three-times greater than typical rehab programs.
The original boot camp project ran over five-weeks, with patients working alongside physio students for up to three hours a day, five days a week to improve mobility.
“As a result of the original project’s success, we continued to offer the boot camp as a student led service, which keeps the costs low and also helps trains our next generation of physios,” he said.
Dr Hordacre said he was incredibly thankful to THRFG and its donors for supporting the boot camp project.
“This project will change people’s lives and have an ongoing legacy,” he said.
“I’m so pleased to have received this grant, not because I gain in any way, but I know the people we have been working with really desire this service to continue and expand. I know they will be absolutely thrilled to hear it has been funded.”
We look forward to keeping you updated on its progress!
