CST and Brain Injuries

[JasonE]

I have trained a number of people suffering from a variety of long-term health conditions. Of these, some of the most challenged are those suffering from permament brain injury (BI).

As a trainer, I am careful to accept only those clients who have received medical clearance to exercise, and I recommend that they discuss the training we do with their health care providers. Health care providers are ALWAYS welcome to contact me to discuss a client, and I have occasionally contacted a health pro for guidance on how to best adapt training to support the client's health and medical treatments.

Circular Strength Training does not have a specialized set of protocols for brain injury. Being principle-based, it provides a general set of guidelines that can be adapted to fit pretty much any situation.

Despite their challenges, BI people want to work out as much as (or more than) anyone else. The BI people I have trained don't want someone to "go easy" and just put them on a machine. In most cases, "basic stuff" like balance, proprioception, timing, muscle function, coordination, dexterity, strength, endurance, breathing, etc. is significantly impaired. Common activity like walking a flight of stairs becomes a dangerous, herculean effort. BI people are very motivated to regain as much normal function as possible, and IMO they train very diligently.

With appropriate training based on CST principles, it is amazing to see how BI people can bloom and recover function. Today I celebrated a milestone with one of my clients: when we met, he was constantly wavering when standing, and zigzagged everywhere he went... as of today, he can stand still with good balance and also walk a straight line! He is also starting to use the stairs again. :)

I have another new BI client now, and we're just getting started. She is nervous but excited to see what happens, especially since two of her health care professionals referred her to me. Despite the many challenges we are aware of and others we will undoubtedly discover, I am also looking forward to working with her. BI people ROCK, and I hope to share more of their success stories with you in the future.

[Coach Flanagan]

Whoa! Very cool!

Could you give a few examples of what type of training progressions you've gone through with some of these clients?

[Scott Sonnon]

Jason,

Good on you! It's some of the most satisfying work I've ever had the privilege of experiencing. When I worked movement health with the brain damaged and mentally ill at a neurobehavioral clinic back East, we were amazed at the brain's plasticity - in that new movement created new mental function and even modified/expanded behaviors!

[Kathryn Woodall]

Nice work! :):)

[JasonE]

With appropriate training based on CST principles, it is amazing to see how BI people can bloom and recover function. Today I celebrated a milestone with one of my clients: when we met, he was constantly wavering when standing, and zigzagged everywhere he went... as of today, he can stand still with good balance and also walk a straight line! He is also starting to use the stairs again. :)

Just had to share a jaw-dropping experience from this morning:

The same client mentioned above showed me the drills he's been working on. Not only is he no longer using a hand support, but he stated that the supports he once relied on now just get in his way. :eek: He's moving BETTER without support than he has in YEARS!!

This was a pleasant surprise, but the best was yet to come. He proceeded to show me how his walking gait has changed, and... well, I darn near fell over. His gait will never be 100% normal, but he's walking straight as an arrow AND at nearly "normal" speed. Best of all, he appeared completely confident and relaxed!!!

It was one of those profound moments that makes training so personally rewarding.

We are now beginning work on more advanced drills to further improve his mobility and further decrease fear-reactivity regarding uneven ground, curbs, and stairs. He is a marvel of persistence and dedicated effort, and I look forward to seeing how his hard work pays off.

[JasonE]

Whoa! Very cool!

Could you give a few examples of what type of training progressions you've gone through with some of these clients?

For my BI guy making the progress with his walking:

I have been using selected portions of Intu-Flow, some customized breath drills, and a number of walking/stair-climbing drills inspired by my Chen Tai Chi and Chi Gung training. The walking/stair-climbing drills are designed to help him better integrate the TIMING of his movements, as his cognitive function surpasses his motor function.

One of the most effective things we have done so far is to work on the concept and principles of rooting. In heavy Clubbell work, the Hip Sway does a lovely job of reinforcing good rooting. Since heavy CB work was out of the question for this client, we focused on his structure, ground connection, and weight shift. Additional elements such as hand supports were used to provide additional sensory input to improve proprioception, and breath work was used to facilitate relaxation and establish a consistent rhythm.

As his rooting and basic footwork began to improve, we worked on specific elements of his gait mechanics to smooth out the drill. As he became more confident, we incorporated stricter standards for the rhythm and weight shift so he wouldn't get sloppy as he sped up.

Those familiar with FlowFighting principles may see some correlation here. We started with elementary stability and simple movements (Static Drills), have progressed to more complex and mobile exercises (Dynamic Drills), all in preparation for work on more freeform movements, such as getting around in everyday life (Fluid Drills). ;)

My client is also doing some basic strengthening exercises using a few machines that I felt were appropriate, as he has some leg strength imbalances that could be problematic if ignored. As his basic strength levels are increasing, it is also helping his confidence and overall stability. He is becoming able to work the 4CBD with the aid of hand supports, and that will become a staple drill as he progresses.

[Joseph David]

Wow, this brings up a lot of emotion for me. My brother was a BI person. He was a bicycle racer in the early 70's. In 1974 he was a victim of hit and run while riding to school, (he rode 25 miles to and from College as his active recovery). This was back in the day of leather helmets. He suffered a concussion that he hid with his pride. He started getting headaches when he would train. He had to back off his training. When he was invited to try out for the Olympic team in 1975, he had to decline even though he was still ranked as the top rider in CA. How my life would be different if my brother was an Olympiad athlete often crosses my mind.

Over the years his conditioned worsened. He digressed emotionally and would like to engage me in playful wrestling like we did as boys. I remember playing with him with kid gloves because the bounding was important and I didn’t want to hurt him. In 1986 he and my dad came and visited me up in Healdsburg. There I had an amazing climbing gym. We had a fat rope that went 30 ft up a huge oak tree, we had a 60 ft crack machine anchored to another tree. We had pulley machines and finger boards. Marty would watch Karl and I lap the fat rope. Then he would try. He made a few moves and I caught him when he fell. He remembered what it was like to be an athlete and he wanted to show his little brother he was still an athlete.

I don’t have the means to express my emotion here, yet I wanted to say something in tribute to my big brother and hero Marty Schwartz

[Wil Boyce, CSCS]

Jason,

That's so cool-- exactly the kind of work that inspires me to get CST certified. Thanks for sharing!

wB