An innovative exercise and therapy program for people living with spinal cord injuries and neurological conditions is for the first time being delivered to clients in the comfort of their own homes, including in regional and remote locations, thanks to the GPNow telecare platform.

Since its inception 12 years ago the NeuroMoves program has made a profound difference to the lives of many Australians, particularly since the rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme which allows participants to access the program using their plan funding.

An NDIS participant to benefit from the online platform is Adelaide University student and Paralympic table tennis team member Hayley Sands, 20, who joined the program five years ago.

At 13 Hayley suffered a whiplash injury when she dived into a pool, resulting in tetraplegia. Although she has feeling in her whole body she was unable to move her body much until she started with NeuroMoves, which has given her increased upper limb and upper body strength through regular weekly sessions.

“I was one of the first two people to join the South Australian program when it started at the spinal cord gym in Angle Park when I was 15,” she says. “It’s made a huge difference to my life, improving my seated balance, giving me the strength to transfer more easily from my bed to a chair, from my chair to my car, and to play competitive table tennis!

“I like how the program is specifically tailored to me and focuses on practical physical and social goals, enabling me to be more independent.”

Hayley was concerned when the COVID-19 lockdown came into force and prevented her from attending face-to-face sessions, saying “it’s very easy to deteriorate quickly if you don’t maintain your form – it wasn’t possible for me to do regular online classes like my friends”.

So when NeuroMoves went online she jumped at the chance to participate.