About Adventure Rehab
What is ADVENTURE REHAB?
ADVENTURE REHAB is a dynamic new approach to managing the more active adult recovering from traumatic injuries or illness. Its Directors and principal staff have very recent professional experience of delivering rehabilitation in military contexts and are passionate about delivering services of a similar quality to a wider clientele.
ADVENTURE REHAB brings the approaches and methods developed by the British armed forces into the world of civilian rehabilitation, offering efficient, effective, exciting and challenging new routes to full independence.
The ADVENTURE REHAB Mission
ADVENTURE REHAB delivers innovative, progressive and measurable programmes that are motivating, inspiring and supportive throughout the rehabilitation pathway. Our validated, peer-supported approach encourages clients and their families to challenge perceived rehabilitation ceilings in order to guide them swiftly back to function, activity and a return to employment.
The ADVENTURE REHAB Team
ADVENTURE REHAB has selected a unique multi-disciplinary team who have direct professional experience of delivering the military rehabilitation model. The team draws together physiotherapy, unobtrusive psychology, prosthetics and adventure professionals all of whom specialise in delivering rehab activities in the outdoors. The team delivers a 360 degree approach to personalised rehabilitation that motivates, inspires and supports clients through their progressive recovery.
The ADVENTURE REHAB philosophy – is based on four key principles:
The Outdoor Clinic- Rehab in the real world
The ADVENTURE REHAB approach breaks away from traditional clinical stereotypes and tends rehab into the real world, rehabilitating injured muscles and rebuilding motor skills in a natural, unforced manner. Physiotherapy is delivered in a range of real-world settings with the emphasis on fun. These sessions are complemented and extended by outdoor adventure activities specifically linked to the physiological focus of clinical therapies. These activities provide therapeutic muscle stimulation and develop physical capability, capacity and confidence. Positive body image, self-esteem and confidence are also developed by our clients, as they build the life skills required to manage the new challenges they face.
360 Degree Rehab- Delivered by a multi-disciplinary team
The ADVENTURE REHAB team deliver a unique 360 degree approach to rehabilitation that is truly holistic. The team deliver a bespoke blend of clinical services and support for clients, their carers and families. Approaches to delivering psychology include unobtrusive psychological assessment and counselling, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Solution Focused Therapy. Goal-based physical rehabilitation therapies encompass manual therapy, exercise therapy, movement analysis, clinical Pilates, hydrotherapy, specialist gait analysis and re-education (including video analysis). A holistic approach is taken to pain management (including phantom limb pain), using acupuncture, mirror therapy, and massage therapy. These therapies are carefully interwoven and applied across a range of real-life settings.
Residential Peer-Group Setting – Sharing experiences and support
Group rehabilitation is a key element in the unique ADVENTURE REHAB philosophy. The peer-group setting relieves feelings of isolation and allows our clients to share their experiences in a mutually supporting manner. This setting complements the unobtrusive approach to providing physiological support and is carefully led by the ADVENTURE REHAB team drawing on their mentoring and leadership experience. Through facing shared challenges together in small groups in a focused residential setting, our clients regain confidence and learn to sustain enthusiasm, humour and a sense of perspective. This approach yields an extended network of support and friendship that breaks away from the isolation of traditional rehab practices.
Climb Your Own Mountain- A personal development opportunity
The ADVENTURE REHAB philosophy recognises the challenges facing our clients, their carers and families. Our approach empowers those affected by trauma or illness to view this as a personal development opportunity. Following comprehensive clinical assessment and positive goal setting, the team deliver a personalised rehabilitation route to motivate, inspire and support clients through progressive recovery. The ADVENTURE REHAB approach focuses on what can be achieved and challenges perceived rehabilitation ceilings. The four key principles of our philosophy are combined to build a carefully staged progression from dependence to fully-rounded physical, psychological, emotional and social independence. This methodology delivers more effective rehabilitation and a quicker return to social integration and employment.
The ADVENTURE REHAB Course Profile
A11AS- Assessment Course: A three-day residential course
This 3 day assessment enables the team to understand individuals’ specific needs and formulate an appropriate rehabilitation plan. It also provides an opportunity to experience the innovative ADVENTURE REHAB philosophy introduces the benefits of residential peer-group rehab, utilising the outdoors as a clinic and is conducted by ADVENTURE REHAB’s multi-disciplinary team. This course can be taken at a very early post-operative stage. The 3 day assessment leads into a 5 week progressive residential rehabilitation programme delivered over 6 months.
A1101RP – Week 1- Physio on the go: A five-day residential course
Intensive physiotherapy sessions are balanced by practical outdoor activities. These expose clients at an early stage of their rehabilitation to real-world situations, such as walking on uneven surfaces. They begin to rebuild motor skills and increase joint mobility assisted by unobtrusive psychological support. Clients learn pain management techniques and reduce their reliability on walking aids. They build confidence and self-esteem, and begin to see a route to greater independence. Families and carers are encouraged to join the programme for the final 2 days to share mutual support and understanding.
A1102RP – Week 2- Off-road in the countryside: A five-day residential course
The link between fitness and capability is introduced and reinforced. Clients build self-awareness and confidence in a range of increasingly demanding activities. Functional challenges, both indoors and outdoors, include steps and steeper ground and adventure is introduced through activities in the swimming pool or on the climbing wall. Each activity is carefully tailored to maintain and extend improvements in the muscle groups treated in physiotherapy sessions and improve physical confidence and self-esteem.
A1103RP –Week 3- Challenging terrain, challenging places: A five-day residential course
Physiotherapy sessions develop the tone and functionality of core and limb muscles. These are complimented by functional real-world activities that further develop these goals within different contexts. Concurrently, outdoor activities focus attention away from physiology to facilitate the essential development of instinctive and cognitive reactions. Clients experience activities in boats, on bikes or on a rock-face. Clients’ confidence and self-esteem are developed, whilst continuing to fine-tune fitness, balance and core physical functionality. Families and carers are welcome to return for the final 2 days of this week to experience the on-going progression and to continue to derive support from sharing their experience and coping strategies with others in a similar situation.
A1104RP –Week 4- Endurance and skill: A five-day residential course
Improvements in functional ability progressively allow clients to return to activities they previously enjoyed. Clients spend part of this week away from the familiarity of our base location – a critical step in developing independence and confidence. Accompanied by our team of physiotherapy and rehabilitation specialists, they undertake a multi-activity journey in a challenging environment that incorporates movement and exercise matched to physical and psychological goals. Clients walk further and faster, or develop their running gait. This week confirms motivation and builds strategies to enable retention of skills and focus.
A1105RP – Week 5- New horizons: A five-day residential course
This stage represents the culmination of developmental rehabilitation and the beginning of a steady state of continued physical fitness. It brings together clinical therapies and outdoor experiences through a challenging journey on land and water, to confirm and internalise the unique learning points that clients will take away. It further develops confidence and self-esteem, prepares clients for a return to the world of work, and delivers a challenging and positive experience on which to anchor their onward development.
ADVENTURE REHAB Validation & Reporting
ADVENTURE REHAB recognises that measuring the effectiveness of rehabilitation is critical to its success. We base our approach on recognised and validated clinical outcomes that draw on both qualitative and quantitative evidence. The ADVENTURE REHAB Team are committed to developing new innovative and dynamic methods of assessment.
At the end of each stage of the ADVENTURE REHAB programme, clients take away a written and pictorial 360 degree rehab report, reflecting their achievements to date and highlighting areas for ongoing development. Case Managers receive this report with a continuation programme for their client that guides them to the next appropriate stage in their rehabilitation. Clients, families, carers and health care professionals can join ADVENTURE REHAB’s network of likeminded individuals, who through a variety of web based media can continue to derive ongoing support, share information and maintain inspirational links with the ADVENTURE REHAB team!
