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The Pathways Newsletter is the online newsletter of the First Step Therapy Centre in Newry, Co. Down in Northern Ireland.

The Pathways Newsletter will keep you up to date with what is happening at the First Step Therapy Centre and also with what is happening in the world of health in general and neuro-rehabilitation in particular.

We have a special interest in the problems that affect children and adults with physical disabilities or neurological disorders and will bring you news of developments and issues as they arise.

We will also bring you news on the progress of patients who attend our Centre for treatment and other things that may be of interest to you.

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To view back issues of the Pathways Newsletter, please click here

Pathways Newsletter Back Issues

Michelle Is One In A Million

A Co. Down family is battlling the odds to defy nature's cruel hand of fate with the help of a pioneering treatment programme at The First Step therapy Centre in Newry.

Read More

Twitter

We are now using Twitter - follow us by clicking on the link below...

http://twitter.com/FirstStepNewry

There was great interest in the First Step Therapy Programme at the Ability NI exibition which was held on the 4th-5th June 2010 at Lisburn Leisureplex. We had lots of enquiries about the programme for many medical conditions and as a result have booked more new patients who going to benefit from our treatment. We have also had more international patients looking to take up the programme and are preparing to come in the next few months. July and August are always busy months for us, especially for those wishing to bring children for treatment, so if you are thinking about coming for treatment during this time, then please contact us as soon as possible, before all the available slots are filled.

Contact us about booking summer therapy sessions

Come and see us at the Disability Exhibition 2010 in the Lagan Valley Leisureplex 4th-5th June 2010

We will exhibiting at the Disability Exhibition 2010 in the Lagan Valley Leisureplex in Lisburn Co. Antrim on Fri 4th and Sat 5th June from 10.00am - 5.00pm.

Admission is free to all attendees.

Why don't you come along and talk to us to see how we can provide a solution to your or your family member's medical problem?

Hope to see you on the day.

For more click on the link below...

Disability Exhibition 2010

On 22nd and 25th April 2010, two courses were delivered by Goshi which gave qualified physiotherapists the abiltiy to diagnose and treat muscle-related problems. Goshi gave a comprehensive explanation of the bio-mechanics of muscle and joint movement, motor control theory and demonstrated practical techniques for restoring correct muscle functioning and treating injury.

All those who attended really enjoyed the course and took away valuable knowledege and skills, which they could apply immediately to their patient caseload.

More courses are planned for the future. If you are a qualified Physiotherapist or Occupational Therapist or other Professional in this sector who needs to maintain a CPD portfolio, then contact us using the link below to get priority notification of up and coming courses.

Contact Us About Future Courses For Professionals

Special Offer - Get Two Hours Of Treatment For Free

*** THIS OFFER HAS NOW CLOSED ***

We are offering you the opportunity to get 2 hours of treatment on the First Step Therapy programme absolutely free.

Just sign up for a 10-hour block of therapy for you or a family member and we will give you the 9th and 10th sessions absolutely free – so you get 10 hours of treatment and pay for only 8. That’s a saving of £100 on a 10-hour block of therapy.

*** THIS OFFER HAS NOW CLOSED ***


Muscle Energy Techniques CPD Course

Are you a Physiotherapist - why not update your Continuous Professional Development portfolio (CPD) by attending our Muscle Energy Techniques & Management of Pain in The Lumbar-spine & Pelvis (Level 1) Course?

The course will provide attendees with a comprehensive explanation of the biomechanics of the lumbar-spine and pelvis and detail the neurological properties of lumbar flexes. The course will also enable therapists to successfully identify and treat dysfunction of the lumbar-sacral spine.

Find out more


Irish Income Tax Payer's Tax Relief on Physiotherapy Treatment

Did you know that you can claim income tax relief on most healthcare expenses including physiotherapy treatment if you are an Irish income tax payer?

Also, did you know that a refund on physiotherapy costs is available on most Irish health insurance plans?

Read more here


Take Control of Your Family's Health Needs

Governments around the world are preparing for huge cuts in public spending including health care, to offset action taken over the banking crisis. All services including therapy services will be affected. You cannot now afford to rely on what has gone before in relation to therapy service provision.

You need to take control of your family's health needs and take your own action in order to ensure that these are now met. This may require you purchasing private health insurance or additional therapy sessions to top-up that which you receive from Government-funded sources.

Why not contact us to see how we can help you meet these needs. We can offer you a free initial consultation & clinical assessment and can give you a demonstration of how the First Step Therapy Programme can help you or your family member's health condition. Contact using the link below.

Contact us to find out about the First Step Therapy Programme

Over the last year like all other businesses, we have been feeling the effects of the economic downturn as people tighten their belts and cut back on all types of goods and services, including therapy services.

We have had to reduce our overheads and continue to work hard at delivering effective therapy services for our child and adult patients.

Over the past year we have treated patients from many parts of Ireland including Mayo, Donegal and Dublin and have had treated patients from throughout Northern Ireland. We have also welcomed patients from London and have treated patients from as far away as Italy.

All the patients who have committed to the First Step Therapy Programme and have attended regularly have made improvements in their condition. Some have made fantastic improvements such as being able to stand or walk for the first time. Some have improved their hand and upper-arm functions and fine-motor skills, whilst others have had improvements in speech, cognitive abilities and in social skills. We have treated patients with all manner of conditions, such as:

- Stroke & Brain Injury
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Cerebral Palsy
- Autism and ASD
- Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Global Developmental Delay
- Metabolic & Genetic Disorders

We have also treated patients with a wide-range of back, leg and arm problems and have successfully treated less common conditions such as Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

We would like to thank our loyal patients who have remained with us through these harsh economic times and have continued to bring their children and other family members for treatment even though their personal financial circumstances had worsened during this time.

We are pleased to say that we have appeared to have weathered the storm and we are now looking forward to better things in the coming year. We have plans to further invest in more equipment including designing and developing our own equipment. We want to further improve the facilities available to our patients and in keeping with our vision of ‘providing the best level of treatment regardless of the patient’s circumstances’ we will be further reviewing and improving our treatment approaches as new research and developments become available.

If you or a family member has a medical condition that you think would benefit from our services, why not contact us to see how we can help. We can offer a free initial consultation for the patient and will give an honest opinion of how we think we can improve the patient’s condition.

Christmas is over and the New Year is almost upon us. It is now time to look forward with a new hope for the future for us all.

Make an enquiry about the First Step Therapy Programme

Coiscéim Eile Charity and First Step Rehabilitation Centre, Co. Limerick, Featured on Irish National Broadcaster RTE's Most Popular Television Programme, The Late Late Show

The Coiscéim Eile charity and First Step Rehabilitation Centre in Patrickswell, Co. Limerick were tonight featured on Irish National Broadcaster RTE's Most Popular Television programme, The Late Late Show. Viewers got to hear about the background of how Coiscéim Eile charity was founded and got to see how a Lokomat machine is bringing great hope to people in Ireland who suffer from a neurological disabilty that impairs walking abilities.

Coiscéim Eile is a charity founded by Joan Ryan of Cashel, Co. Tipperary and supported by parents of children attending First Step Paediatric Rehabilitation Centre.

Joan and her daughter were involved in a serious car accident in 2001 and this resulted in Joan being severely visually impaired. She now relies on her family and guide dog to get about. Sadly her daughter, Edel, was also involved in the accident and is likely to be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life. It is the belief of Edel’s family and her physiotherapist that she would benefit from regular walking exercise, to assist in protection of her current health status, oxygen uptake, circulation, lungs, muscles and skin.

Coiscéim Eile (which translates from Irish as 'Another Step') is raising funds to purchase a Lokomat Machine and so far it has raised €200,000 of the required €300,000 to purchase this equipment.

Coiscéim Eile has teamed up with The First Step Paediatric Rehabilitation Centre in Patrickswell, Co. Limerick where they will operate the equipment on an 8am to 8pm basis, six days a week. This will ensure that the greatest number of individuals, children and adults, can access the equipment. The Centre will provide Lokomat therapy at no additional charge to their basic physiotherapy charge (currently €75 per hour).

This will mean that children who up to now have had to travel to the Children’s Rehabilitation Clinic in Switzerland to avail of specialised intensive walking therapy programmes including daily walking on the Lokomat can now be facilitated, right here in Ireland.

First Step Therapy Centre in Newry works hand-in-hand with the First Step Paediatric Rehabilitation Centre and our patients can also avail of Lokomat therapy on the same basis as set out above. Our patients can combine Lokomat therapy with the core First Step Therapy Programmes as well as Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy which is available in Newry and is well suited to patients with MS, Cerebral Palsy, Stroke and Spinal Cord Injures, amongst others.

To find out more about First Step Therapy programmes, download our brochure here

To view The Late Late Show Piece on the Lokomat, click Here, then select the More link under the Natalie Clein video

Information Evening - Tue 31st March 2009 from 7.30pm - 9.00pm

We are holding an information evening for parents and carers of those affected by neurological disorders such as Stroke, Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Spinal Cord Injury, Autism and other rare or undiagnosed disorders. You will here about the therapy programmes we are delivering and about the improvements our patients are making as a result of our therapy approach.

Admission is free and all are welcome to attend. The information session will run from 7.30pm – 9.00pm.

Hope to see you on the night.

First Step Therapy Staff Attend Rehabilitation Symposium, at the National Rehabilitation Hospital, Dun Laoghaire

First Step Therapy Staff attended a rehabilitation symposium at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in Dun Laoghaire today, where some of the leading researchers in the field of neurorehabilitation were in attendance.

Tom Vanderhenst, Movement Scientist with the Hocoma Equipment Company from Switzerland, spoke about the various pieces of equipment that they supply and how they work including Armeo arm strengthening device, the Erigo Tilt table and the Lokomat machine.

Dr Andreas Meyer-Heim, Consultant in Paediatric Rehabilitation with the University Children’s Hospital in Zurich, Switzerland gave information on the Affoltern am Albis Children’s Centre where the first paediatric Lokomat machine was installed.

Professor Jane Burridge, Professor of Restorative Neuroscience at the University of Southampton spoke about the developments in neuroscience and the evidence base for the use of technology in neurorehabilitation.

The use of Functional Electrical Brain Stimulation to improve limb movement was presented by Jane, as was the idea that that fine motor skills and limb movement is improved through repetition and learning and that a trial and error feedback mechanism is central to successful motor relearning.

The take home message from Jane’s presentation was that contrary to popular belief, the human brain is in fact constantly evolving in response to sensory input and stimulation by a process called neuroplasticity.

By taking a whole body approach and using intensive repetitive activities (as shown by the First Step Therapy Methods), the brain can indeed improve in its functioning and the functional abilities of a person can be improved in cases where there exists potential for recovery. Constant stimulation through hands-on and incentivised play (eg reward charts or small treat) and varied (random) tasks helps ‘rewire’ the brain and improves functional abilities.

Neuro developmental abilities are acquired through sensorimotor inputs from the age of 0-2. Which is why the maximum sensory stimulation of children in this age group is vitally important, especially for those with an underlying neurological disorder.

We also heard of a charity founded by Joan Ryan of Cashel, Co. Tipperary called Coisceim Eile (translates into English as ‘Another Step’) which seeks to raise money to purchase a paediatric Lokomat for use in the First Step Paediatric Rehabilitation Centre in Patrickswell.

Click on the link below for more...

Coisceim Eile Charity

Calling All Disability Support Groups !!!

Are you a member of a Disability Support Group - if so we want to here from you?

Many of the families who attend our Centre for therapy often tell us that there is no support group available, that relates to their child's specific medical condition. Parents often feel isolated when trying to cope with their child's condition and needs and feel they have nowhere to turn to when trying to survive the challenges of life with a disabled child. Many often have other children to look after as well as the disabled child and sometimes they find it very difficult to cope.

If you are a member of a support group why not have your Secretary or Chairperson contact us. We will then put the contact details up on our website or pass them on to others who may need your support.

To reward you for your efforts, we will give each of your group members a 20% discount on a 10 session block of therapy which is worth £100.

If you would like us to come a give a presentation on how the First Step Therapy methods can benefit your Group or would like to arrange a Group visit to our Centre, then please contact us using the Contact Us form on the website.

It's Our Birthday ... but YOU get the presents!!!

The First Step Therapy Centre is celebrating being open exactly one year on the 1st February 2009.

To mark the occasion, we are giving all our customers (old and new) a fantasic deal.

During February 2009, we are giving everybody the opportunity to buy a package of 10 sessions of treatment for the price of 8.

That is a saving of £100 off the regular Neuro clinic package or £60 off the regular Pain Clinic Package.

You can buy as many packages as you like during February and these can be carried over into the subsequent March '09 and April '09 months.

This offer will end on Sat 28th February 2009 and all special offer treatment sessions must be taken by 30th April 2009.

Why not buy a package for a son, daughter or a grand-child, nephew or niece and provide them with potential life-changing therapy and help improve their abilities. Or, if you know somebody that is currently suffering the pain of an injury, why not buy them a package of pain relief therapy or a private one-to-one relaxation programme.

Call us TODAY on Free Call 0800 56 77 560 (UK) or on 048 3083 2865 (Ireland) or on +44 28 3083 2865 (International) to book your packages. Don't forget that we also provide a detailed free assessment for all patients prior to commencing treatment.

We also offer a special rate for our intensive 350 hour neuro-rehabilitation programme, so please call us on the above numbers to find out more.

(The 350 hour intensive programme is already great value and is not part of the above offer).

Download The First Step Therapy Neuro Clinic Brochure

Download The First Step Therapy Pain Clinic Brochure

Free Assessment Week, Sat 10th - Sat 17th January 2009

To mark the new year we are running a series of free assessment clinics for those parents who want to find out about how the First Step Therapy Approach can help their child. Don't forget adults can also benefit from the Programme. The assessment will last 1 hour and we can also give some therapy in the session, so you can see at first-hand the benefits that can be achieved.

We have a number of slots still available but these are filling up fast, so to book your free no obligation assessment, contact us on

Free Call 0800 56 77 560 from the UK and Northern Ireland.

For those calling from Ireland call 048 3083 2865 and for those calling from outside of UK call +44 28 3083 2865.

Looking forward to seeing you and your family soon.

For more, check out the background on the First Step Therapy Approach using the menu bar on the left of our website.

Linda Adamson, receives her £50 gift certificate
from Ramya, our Yoga Therapist

2nd January 2009 16.10 GMT

And The Winner Is...

The winner of the Free Relaxation Session worth £50 is Linda Adamson of Gilford, Co. Down. Linda was nominated by her husband Trevor.

A big THANK YOU to all of you who made nominations to the website. If you would still like to avail of our one-to-one relaxation sessions on a fee-paying basis, why not contact us to arrange an appointment. For all the ladies out there, we will be resuming our Ladies De-stress, Relax and Tone Class this Thursday Night 8th January 2009 at 7.30pm and every Thursday night after that. Why not come along and join the other ladies and enjoy a relaxing hour with our therapist Ramya. The cost for the session is £5 per person.

Contact us on Free Call 0800 56 77 560 or on (028) 3083 2865 for more details.

First Step Therapy Programme Has Never Been Better Value

With the Euro and US Dollar currencies dramatically increasing in value over the last few months, the result is that First Step Therapy Programme has never been better value for our patients (children & adults) who come from outside of the UK.

See on Yahoo Finance how these currencies have increased in value over the last 2 years.

Euro v Sterling Currency Comparison

Dollar v Sterling Currency Comparison

Over the last year the Euro currency has increased in value from 75 pence Sterling in January 2008 to today’s value of 90 pence Sterling (the US Dollar was worth 50 pence at now it is almost 70 pence). Indeed many shops here in Newry are allowing Euro for Sterling, which is providing even greater savings. It gets even better when you factor in a 2.5% drop in the UK VAT rate (Sales Tax) which has just been introduced by the Government to stimulate the weak UK economy.

So, if you are thinking of enrolling your child (or an adult) in the First Step Therapy Programme in Newry, NOW IS THE TIME TO DO IT.

Who knows how long this situation is going to last, but you can rest assured that it will probably be a long time before these economic conditions return, if ever.

Maybe you are not ready to enrol just yet, but would like to get the fantastic current value available. No problem, why not book and pay for a place in advance and lock in at the great value price. Then when you are ready to come to Newry, you can be sure that not only is the patient getting great therapy but that you are getting it at the best ever value.

After a detailed assessment, we will advise you on the treatment plan for the patient. Generally our patients stay for 3 – 4 weeks of therapy at a time, or for those in travelling distance by car, 2-3 days a week over a longer period - either way the savings are still fantastic.

Why not come and make a holiday of your stay and view the fantastic sights that Ireland, North and South has to offer and pick up a few bargains while you are here. Newry and Northern Ireland has most of the UK’s best retailers and plenty of independent shops which can also offer great value for money.

Contact us today to see how we can help your child (or adult) - at the best ever value for your Euro or Dollar

To round of 2008, we are offering one lucky person the chance to win a FREE one and a half hour relaxation session, worth £50. The session consists of a 1 hour de-stress programme with Ramya, our female therapist with a deep-breathing and meditation session to un-clutter your mind. Then there will be a 20-minute relaxing pulsed electromagnetic field therapy or some gentle relaxation and soft music in our sensory room. Then to finish, a 10-minute soothing massage.

This is just 'what the doctor ordered' after all the stress leading up to Christmas and is suitable for both men and women. If you are the lucky person chosen, you will be notified on Tuesday 23rd Dec 2008. From 29th Dec 2008, you can contact us to arrange when you can receive your prize.

All you have to do is complete the nomination form below with the correct details for each person you wish to nominate. You can nominate more than one person, but multiple nomnations for one person from the same source will be filtered out, prior to the selection of the winner, which will be drawn at random.

Nominations close at 9.00pm on Monday 22nd December 2008 and the draw will be made on Tuesday 23rd Dec 2008. The winner and the person who made the nomination will be notified, using the details submitted on the form.

Gift Certificates For Christmas

Gift certificates are now availbale for our relaxation and physiotherapy programmes

Our relaxation package is delivered by Ramya Sivakumaar and consists of a

Personal one-to-one de-stress, Relax and Tone Session (1 hour)

Relaxing Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy Session (20 mins)

Soothing Massage Session (10 mins)

This package is guaranteed to leave you feeling totally relaxed and is at a special offer price of only £45 (Usually £50).

Subscribe to our emailed newsletter above and get a further £5 of the price. (Offer valid until 31st December 2008)

Gift Certificates are also availabe for physiotherapy treatments. Do you have a loved-one who would benefit from some therapy for Back Pain, Neck Pain, Sciatica, Headache, Sports Injury, Work-related Injury, Fractures or Surgery Rehabilitation or maybe a child who could benefit from our acclaimed First Step Therapy Programme. If so, why not buy them a gift certificate to help them on their way to recovery. Physiotherapy sessions cost £25 per half hour.

Subscribe to our emailed newsletter above and get a special deal of 2 half-hour sessions for a total of £45. (Usually £50, Offer valid until 31st December 2008)

Remember basic physiotherapy consultations are free of charge as are our detailed assessments for children for the First Step Therapy Programme.

We have just started a class for ladies who want to de-stress and relax and at the same time improve their muscle tone and fitness. The class takes place every Tuesday and Thursday from 7.30pm - 8.30pm in the Centre and is provided by Ramya, our female Yoga Therapist. Why not come a long and get fit and at the same time get rid of the stress that builds up when having to deal with the day-to-day issues that you have to face. You can also meet other women like yourself and maybe even make a new friend or two. Beginners are most welcome and everything is provided, just wear some comfortable clothing.

The cost for each session is just £5. Hope to see you there.


Read more on First Steps To Fitness

To mark the National Back Care Awareness Week, which runs from Sat 4th October - Sat 10th October 2008, we are offering free back pain assessments in our Centre in Newry, Co. Down.

We can identify underlying back / neck problems and provide advice on how to protect your back. You can also get treatment for your condition following your free assessment.

Call us now on 0800 56 77 560 (UK) or 048 3083 2865 (Rep of Ireland). As well as daytime appointments, we also have evening and weekend slots available and free car parking is available at the door.

Mind your your back !!! It is the only one you will ever get.

Winner of the Therapy Competition Chosen

Due to the time pressures of the event programme of the Friends of Children Gala Ball, it was not possible to announce the winner to the audience. Therefore, the winner was chosen at the First Step Therapy Centre tonight and we are please to announce that the winner is:

Michelle McCartan from Newry. The lucky ticket was 351 on a pink ticket and Michelle was nominated by Ita McCartan.

A big thank you to all who entered. We had over 3,700 nominations to the website. Your interest and support is very much appreciated.

For the children who were not chosen, we are offering a free assessment of their condition at our Centre.

Please contact us on 0800 56 77 560 (UK) or 048 3083 2865 (Rep of Ireland) or +44 28 3083 2865 (International)for an appointment.

You can keep up to date on Michelle's progress and the other developments in the First Step Therapy Centres by subscribing to our emailed newsletter called Pathways. Subscribe using the form at the top of this page