Customer Success Stories
In this area you'll find various case studies and success stories from a wide variety of patients who've attended BOUNCE Back Classes.
Patient Case Study
John O'Dea
John O'Dea had suffered from back pain since 2001. He was constantly bent over and could only walk very short distances before needing to rest, often requiring the assistance of a trolley when out shopping with his wife.
John's pain was so acute that he was unable to do simple things like picking up a dropped object or standing from a seated position. He had lost his confidence and felt like an old man.
After a referral to a neurologist found him waiting for an appointment for 6 months, John's Doctor Niece referred him to well-known Olympic physiotherapist Trish Wisbey-Roth and BOUNCE Back classes.
From his very first meeting with Trish, John was amazed at the confidence she had in her ability to help him. Trish encouraged him to enrol in the introductory BOUNCE Back classes which he started that week. John felt improvement after the very first class and his confidence was lifted by his BOUNCE Back instructor, Suzie Williams (pictured with John), who didn't treat him as an `old man', which was how he had been feeling.
By the end of the fourth week of his eight week program, John had improved muscle strength and control as promised by Trish, and was able to stand erect and walk longer distances. Although there was still some weakness in his back, the pain had gone and his friends and family had noticed a marked improvement in his disposition.
John has now completed the eight week BOUNCE Back course and is approaching life with much more confidence and vigour while looking forward to feeling 72 years `young' once again.
Patient Case Study
Richard Douglas
Richard first came to "Take Control" Active Rehab early in 2007 suffering from a lower back injury sustained years earlier while serving in the army. Richard had spent several years in and out of physio and had also done Pilates and reformer work with no relief from his symptoms. He was experiencing constant back and hamstring pain, with altered sensation, strength and pins and needles down the right leg. On CT scans, Richard exhibited lower disc bulges at L4/5 and L5/S1. He was discharged from the army on medical grounds and was not working when he commenced treatment with Take Control.
Richard's initial Biomechanical assessment presented the following:
* Stiff right SIJ with the sacrum positioned in counter rotation.
* Significant increased mobility of the lower lumbar levels with tenderness of L4-S1 interspinous ligaments and right iliolumbar ligament, right SIJ ligament and right sacrotuberous ligament. This pattern of ligamentous tenderness indicated an underlying excessive mobility in the lumbo pelvic area.
* Significant weakness of isolated activation of bilateral multifidus and glut med with very poor right gluteal activation, compensated by overactivity of the right hamstrings.
* The right hip was very restricted in flexion/internal rotation and extension/external rotation.
* Left upper lumbar and mid thoracic spine were also very stiff particularly into right rotation.
Even though Richard had been doing regular Pilates, he had very little control over his pelvic floor, multifidus and gluts and had immense overactivity in his global muscles. The challenge for Richard was to retrain his motor cortex to recruit his gluteals and deep stabilisers, instead of compensating with his very strong and overactive hamstrings, adductors and lats.
Richards rehabilitation program combined mobilisation of the right hip, right SIJ (use of an SIJ belt to increase compression and proprioception in the area) combined with BOUNCE Back active rehabilitation exercise classes. Prior to Richard entering the BOUNCE Back Classes, he had a few sessions of Real Time Ultrasound for TA, pelvic floor retraining and Muscle EMG biofeedback training for gluteals/hamstring differentiation and multifidus activation.
Richard completed the Beginners BOUNCE Back class to ensure he had both laid down effective stabilising motor strategies in his motor cortex and had built up enough endurance in his spinal stabilisers and gluteals. He then went on to complete the Intermediate level class as a star student. "I found that the programs, Beginner and Intermediate, provided me with greater periods of pain free range of motion and increased movement," said Richard.
Richard has vastly improved his core stability and quality of life. He is now running and working out in the gym. His positive rehabilitation experience inspired him to complete his level 4 Certification as a Personal Trainer with a special interest in Rehabilitation.
"I would have no hesitation in recommending to sufferers of any back pain and associated disorders to consider the Bounce Back Retraining program to reduce pain and increase quality of life," said Richard.
Patient Case Study
National Softball League Player Kym Turnell
Using BOUNCE Back for effective One-On-One rehabilitation
In March 2007, young physiotherapist and high-level sportsperson, Kym Turnell was referred to Trish Wisbey-Roth with long standing right groin, bilateral low back and SIJ pain which was presenting worse on the right. Kym was also experiencing significant neck pain, headaches on most days, thoracic spine stiffness and right shoulder pain. She reported morning stiffness and has been having neck, thoracic and low back pain for the past 6 months particularly when working in Neurosurgery or while running. Approximately 8-12 months previously, Kym had been hit heavily in the right clavicle and now had pain in the right shoulder and neck. Kym is a catcher in the NSWIS softball team.
To read the complete case study, click here.
Patient Case Study
Personal Trainer
David is a 40 year old personal trainer who has suffered long-term lower back pain. Within the last 18 months this pain has increased to the extent where he can no longer do any high impact activity. He is still able to lift weights and do low impact cardio such as the cross-trainer.
To read the complete case study, click here.