Working together the BRITISH POLIO FELLOWSHIP and KIRSTEN GOOD PHYSIOFUNCTION
In 2015 Mike Jackson the Welfare Officer of the BPF Northamptonshire branch was diagnosed with Post Polio Syndrome and was referred to the 2 week post polio syndrome rehabilitation programme at St Thomas’ hospital in London.
Part of the programme included an afternoon exercise session in the Hydrotherapy pool under the instruction of a senior physiotherapist Alex Curtis. Following the programme all of the participants were recommended to continue exercising and if possible locate a hydro pool and a physiotherapist in the locality where they lived.
As a result Mike located Kirsten Good a member of the PhysioFunction practice at the Chris Moody Centre at Moulton College and commenced a weekly one to one session with her from 2015. During this time together they both developed a very clear understanding of the exercises that were beneficial for polio survivors in order to avoid excess work outs that would be detrimental to the patient.
In 2016 they jointly decided to share their experiences by carrying out group sessions for other polio survivors, and to set up a project to raise funds to ensure that despite individual personal financial circumstances the group sessions would be available to all.
In early 2017 the BPF Northamptonshire branch was approached by the Wellingborough Hatton Rotary group with the offer of both financial and practical assistance. As a result a 6 week trial was funded by both Rotary and the British Polio Fellowship.
The results were an outstanding success . Kirsten from her assessment of each participant was able to identify a range of benefits from improved mobility; confidence from exercises in the pool; assistance for those with breathing problems. Improved balance , and cardiovascular benefits. Overall it was very noticeable that there was a significant benefit to the “well being” of participants.
As a result of the success in the Hydrotherapy pool, Kirsten organised a land based exercise programme to complement the exercise programme for polio survivors.
In order to ensure that Kirsten was kept up to date with the rehabilitation programmes at St Thomas’ hospital in London, arrangements were made for her to visit and meet with Alex Curtis the senior physiotherapist which again provided additional information that has been implemented into the exercises programmes.
The exercise programmes being carried out by the BPF Northamptonshire members and Kirsten has been recognised nationally by both the medical profession, Rotary International and the media. In recognition of her work and commitment to polio survivors Kirsten was awarded the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellowship in 2019.
The pandemic in 2019 brought both programmes to a halt.
However, in late 2020 Kirsten set up gym exercise programmes on ZOOM which has enabled us to include polio survivors for Northamptonshire; Leicestershire; Warwickshire; Norfolk and London to take part and again has been very successful. Whilst the group were awaiting the start of the Hydrotherapy programme members have been able to use a specially designed treadmill the ALTER G at PhysioFunction which pneumatically supports the body weigh whilst allowing gentle exercise whilst walking and in a stationery position.
In conclusion, worldwide we have a lot to celebrate on World Polio Day as the vaccination programme funded by Rotary International, the World Health Organisation and the Bill Gates Foundation has virtually eliminated polio with only 40 cases worldwide being reported this year. This compares to over 350,000 cases worldwide in 1986.
We also have to thank Kirsten Good and PhysioFunction for all the support and assistance they have provided to polio survivors since 2017.
For more information contact British Polio Fellowship Northampton or rehab@physiofunction.co.uk
