Cork’s Northside Welcomes Neuro Functional Training Programme

Cork’s Northside is set to benefit with news that a Neuro Functional Training Programme has been established in Mayfield Sports Complex. The community-based service is available thanks to the collaborative partnership approach to community health and physical activity between Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (CKCH) Physiotherapy, Cork Local Sports Partnership (CLSP) and Mayfield Sports Complex.

Funding from Cork Local Sports Partnership’s Active Cities project has provided specialised gym equipment to support the service. Active Cities is based on the World Health Organisation’s Global Action Plan for Physical Activity (GAPPA), which is focused on getting those who are least active, active including those who have a disability.

Eóin Kaar, Cork Local Sports Partnership, Project Lead for WellComm Active said ‘Cork Sports Partnership are delighted to support the Physiotherapy team and community partners in delivering this important community service. It’s a project we’ve been working on for a number of years now, so it’s a huge step getting it off the ground in Mayfield and to see individuals receiving support through the service”.

Karen Brosnan, Senior Physiotherapist in Neurorehab based in St. Mary’s Primary Care is the clinician leading the Northside programme. Karen said, “the programme allows clients with neurological conditions to access exercise programmes devised by physiotherapists in a supported (non-clinical) environment”. An emphasis is put on promoting self-management of the individual’s condition and promoting independence while also maintaining a pathway for follow up with the physio service. “The goal is to maximise functional capacity for those with long term chronic conditions but also to keep people well in their community”.

Karen and her team provide the service in Mayfield Sports Complex with staff including General Manager Paul O’Leary, Personal Trainer Seamus Leddy and Cork Local Sports Partnership tutor Sandra O’Gorman, who provides additional support for participating clients. The service in Mayfield was first piloted with a group of individuals from Headway, a support service that provides rehabilitation services for people living with an acquired brain injury.

Bob O’Brien, Community Rehabilitation Worker with Headway highlighted the impact the service provides “Many of our clients attending this program would have had no access to physiotherapy for several years, nor would they have stepped into a gym for a long time due to expense of memberships, inaccessible machines, and untrained staff. Removing these barriers for our clients & creating pathways to physical activity and exercise in their community is one of the many goals of our community rehabilitation service in Headway. This wouldn’t have been possible without the fantastic support from Cork Sports Partnership & Karen Brosnan’s team, I can’t emphasise how grateful we are”.

Alan McCarthy a Headway client outlined his experience of the programme “Well I’m loving it, I’ve seen people come on leaps & bounds since they started. Even with myself, I’m improving which is a great bonus. There are people on the programme who I’ve been in hospital with, seeing them improving is phenomenal. Even though everyone’s brain injury is different, it feels like we’re on the same journey together. I’d love to do more of it, there’s not enough Wednesdays in the week! The adapted equipment has made a difference. I love going to Mayfield Sports complex, the staff are so friendly & welcoming. It makes such a difference”.

As well as the physical benefits, Michael Keogh highlighted the social benefits gained from his participation “I’m re- learning movements that I didn’t have before as well as getting new movements. I’ve found it fantastic meeting new people & making new friends with similar difficulties to myself”.

To find out more about The Neuro Functional Training Programme in Mayfield, check out the video in the link below.

To learn more about the patient referral process to the community service, please email karen.brosnan@hse.ie

More Information:

Contact: Eoin Kaar (WellComm Active Project Lead – Cork Sports Partnership)

Email: wellcommactive@corksports.ie

Phone: 086 1409225