Staff at Pendle Community Hospital in Nelson came up with a unique way of encouraging rehabilitation, by hosting their own version of the Olympic Games.
The team on Marsden Ward organised a fun-filled week of therapy-based activities for stroke patients, including discus and darts.
Each sporting event was carefully designed to strengthen physical abilities, encourage movement and raise spirits.
One special highlight of the week was a visit from local Paralympian Gregg Stevenson, who won a gold medal in the mixed double sculls rowing in the Paralympic Games in Paris earlier this year.
As he joined in some of the Games, he praised the creativity of the event and praised staff for coming up with such a novel way of encouraging rehabilitation.
He said: “This is exactly what I believe works. From being quite sedentary to being active to winning a gold medal at the Paralympics, it’s about being physically active and moving your body more and doing more.
“You want to be able to play with grandchildren, go shopping and live independent lives and this is what these games are helping you to do.”
This is the third year the team at Marsden Ward have organised the games – with each event receiving glowing feedback from patients and their families.
Ward Manager Gillian Gelder said: “The Marsden Ward Olympic Games are inspired by the Invictus games and Paralympics. We thought about how we could make rehab more fun for our patients and how we could adapt games so all could be involved.
“After a stroke, a lot of our patients often feel that it’s the end of the sports, hobbies and activities that they love.
“All the games at our event are adapted so every patient can take part.
“We audited the results from last year’s event and found that patients showed a significant increase in their wellbeing and motivation to take part in ongoing therapy which helped to speed up their recovery. Some patients progressed to facilitate a stand, while others took their first steps during the games.”
The games also provided the perfect opportunity to unveil the ward’s latest equipment – a Tigo Motor Rehabilitation Bike.
The new bike, which was funded by East Lancashire Hospitals Trust’s charity, ELHT&Me, and offers a convenient way for patients to perform gentle exercises from their chair or wheelchair.
It is customisable and adjustable to unique requirements, enabling therapists to offer a personalised plan for each patient.
The bike has been made possible thanks to donations and fundraising by the community.
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