Spinal cord injury rehabilitation centre, Standing Start, is planning to open a state-of-the-facility in London for activity-based exercise programmes. 

Programmes provided at the current Cambridge-based centre have been helping people improve muscular control and maximise their physical potential after paralysis since 2007. 

The centre is one of only a few centres in Europe to offer this specific type of training to individuals with spinal cord injury and other neurological conditions.  

“Total Gym equipment has been a very valuable addition to our facility," says Harvey Sihota, managing director at Standing Start.

"The closed chain nature of the Total Gym equipment enhances the environment for clients to engage with the muscles below their level of injury when using it". 

The ability to target every muscle in the body on the Total Gym equipment while sitting or lying on the glideboard makes it exceptionally valuable to outpatient rehabilitation centres where different injuries and exercise requirements are catered for. 

The Total Gym Power Tower model used at Standing Start can be set to harness anywhere between 3 per cent and 72 per cent of the user’s bodyweight as resistance, making it hugely beneficial for spinal cord injuries where users need to build strength gradually and in small increments. 

The weight-bearing aspect of Total Gym training also improves proprioception and benefits user bone-density, which is important as osteoporosis is prevalent in the spinal cord injury community.

"Clients often have to go to the US, as our founder Peter Carr did back in 2006, to receive this type of therapy as our centre in Cambridge has a waiting list," says Sihota.

"The new facility will allow us to help include more individuals in the programme - it will be a destination for patients from across the UK and Europe."

As a registered charity and recognised adviser on home equipment needs for those with limited mobility, spinal cord injuries and other neurological conditions, Standing Start is keen to talk to potential fitness industry partners for the new centre.