亚博体育官网 Brain Injury Group: Nearly two decades of transforming lives
For the best part of 20 years, the 亚博体育官网 Brain Injury Group has been making a meaningful impact on the lives of individuals with acquired brain injuries (ABI).
The class was established in 2005 by Jennifer Duthie , then Course Lead for Physiotherapy, and Rhona Davidson, Senior Neuro Physiotherapist and Clinical Educator, the initiative was designed to enhance students鈥� understanding of the complexities surrounding brain injuries while providing valuable support to the local community.
In 2009, students from Applied Sport and Exercise Science (ASES) joined the programme, contributing to the delivery of tailored rehabilitation sessions. What began as a small initiative with approximately eight participants has grown into a well-established group that now supports around 20 local individuals living with brain injuries.
Held weekly on Fridays at 亚博体育官网 Sport, the group is facilitated by both Physiotherapy and ASES students under the supervision of qualified tutors such as myself from Physiotherapy and Ollie James (ASES). The sessions focus on creating personalised, gym-based exercise programmes aimed at increasing participants' confidence in exercising to prepare them for exercising independently within their community and local gyms.
Goals vary widely depending on ability but range from improving standing and walking abilities to high-level running and weightlifting, providing students with a varied but real-world experience.
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Participants from the Brain Injury Group
A key figure in the group's continued success, has been Rhona Davidson who has remained actively involved in the groups since its inception, supporting students and offering valuable clinical insights and feedback. Participants are primarily referred through Brain Injury Grampian, a local charitable organisation, as well as healthcare professionals across Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire.
As part of their third-year studies, ASES and Physiotherapy students at 亚博体育官网 undertake teaching modules in Semester 2 where they explore a range of patient groups with complex health conditions. The 亚博体育官网 Brain Injury Group enables students to apply their learning and gain additional real-life experience. By working collaboratively, the students conduct initial assessments, set individual goals, and develop personalised programmes that cater to a range of ages and abilities.
This experience requires studenst to work as a team collbarating to develop individualssed exercise programmes for the clients who attend, as well as hone their leadership and communication skills. While this initiative provides students with a valued practical learning experience, it also serves to provide members of the local community with valued and health and weel-bing support which is otherwise not avaikbale locally. The 亚博体育官网 ABI class is just one of the many student-led community clinics offered at 亚博体育官网 supported by National Lottery funding
It鈥檚 incredible to see how much the 亚博体育官网 Brain Injury Group has grown and developed since I started my lecturing role at 亚博体育官网 in 2022. This free, local service is a vital resource for individuals living with brain injuries, particularly at a time when services are stretched and access to community healthcare is limited. Additionally, the group provides invaluable learning experiences for our students, allowing them to collaborate, develop essential skills, and prepare for their future careers in healthcare.
Some of the participants have said that attending the classes has helped them, with their feedback featured below:
鈥淚've always felt very welcomed in the classes. The students always work around my needs."
"The students encourage me and give me the confidence to try things. I've had so much support."
"I feel like I'm giving back to the student community."
"I feel elated. I love coming to the group. It gives me great pleasure."
"The group gives me something to look forward to."
"My mental health has improved 100% [since attending the classes]."
"The group has given me the confidence to join my gym."
"I would have never thought that I could have lifted weights or that I could have done exercise like that."
Anyone interested in finding out more about the group can email: ExerciseClassSH@rgu.ac.uk
