Living with and Beyond Cancer | I Can Therapy Case Study | Guest Blog

02 August 2021 — david-allen

The I Can Therapy Centre provides a unique exercise experience using specially adapted power assisted equipment to move and mobilise your muscles and joints throughout their natural range of movement. By combining the science of human movement and wellness with the coaching skills of an experienced team of professionals and volunteers, the team help their users to feel empowered and enabled to safely and effectively increase their physical activity levels.

Independent charity Valley Leisure has recently secured the future of the centre in the heart of Andover with the help of funds donated by local company Simplyhealth, enabling more people to move more and feel better.

Here we take a look at their latest case study for 71-year-old Donald.

In June 2018 a friend of Donald’s, and I Can Therapy Centre customer, suggested he join I Can after he received a cancer diagnosis.
 
The following month, Donald completed his first assessment with the Assessment Practitioner, Dr Samantha Meredith PhD. where he mentioned he had kidney cancer that had spread to his bones. He rated his physical health as being 5 out of 10 and indicated that he wanted to improve his overall fitness, improve his mobility and strengthen his right leg specifically as it would enable him to go up and down stairs more easily.
 
Donald began exercising at I Can once per week and after completing 25 sessions he completed a review assessment in January 2019. He stated that he was enjoying coming to I Can as he especially enjoyed the social side of the Centre as it helped him “get out of the house”. Donald also rated an improvement to his physical health, a rise to 7 out of 10 from 5. He also indicated he was feeling more mobile and was able to pick things up off the floor more easily.
 
During a routine appointment with his consultant in November 2019, it was explained that the cancer had grown and an increase in medication was prescribed to manage it. During the appointment, the consultant confirmed that “exercise is very important and you must continue with it”.
 
In March 2020 the I Can Therapy Centre suspended service temporarily due to the global pandemic, COVID-19. The team remained in contact with Donald throughout to remain connected with him, signpost him to additional support services if needed and help to motivate and encourage him to move.
 
With the easing of lockdown restrictions in April 2021, Donald returned to exercise at I Can having completed a review assessment with new Exercise Therapist, Jacob. Donald felt positive that no real change was noted in his functional ability. He was keen to reset his goals to get back out to his garage and to maintain his ability to walk to his local shop. 
 
Shortly after, Donald returned to using the circuit once a week and is already feeling “stronger and more mobile”.

By June 2021 Donald is on track to meet his goals, he’s close to getting back out to his garage and is almost able to walk to his local shop. He’s able to carry a 2-gallon watering can, something he hasn’t been able to do for a long time. Whilst his family may not have noticed physical progress, they have noticed a positive change in his mood and it makes them happy knowing he is doing something that he enjoys.
 
Donald says “I Can is a welcoming environment that has a really nice social atmosphere and also motivates me to do more exercise than I would at home on my own”.
 
“I Can is really beneficial, mentally and socially. Having something booked in the diary every week to look forward to makes a big difference, being able to meet a range of people all dealing with different conditions but all enjoying the exercise together.”

 For more information about I Can Therapy Centre, visit www.icantherapycentre.co.uk, email info@icantherapycentre.co.uk or call 01264 568241 to speak to the team.