Basketball Toss

This ball toss has been great for my balance.

Core Training

Good core training, also activates glutes and hamstrings. The plate is 25lbs.

Project Walk Fall 2009 - Stepping with Tubes

First steps without anything solid to support me.

Project Walk Fall 2009 - Standing on One Leg

Balance and to strengthen hip muscles.

Project Walk Fall 2009 - Wide Stance Sit to Stand

Project Walk Fall 2009 - Back Extentions

Project Walk Fall 2009 - Sit to Stand

The use of exercise tubing lets you combine balance and strength training.

Project Walk Fall 2009 - Knee Walking

This helps to practice keeping my hips in a better position when walking.

Project Walk Fall 2009 - Hiking Poles

Still practicing with hiking poles. They use a different set of muscle groups than when I use a walker.

Project Walk Fall 2009 - With my trainer Lisa

We returned to Project Walk in October to focus on balance, and gait training. Also trying to build strength in glutes, hamstrings and abductor muscles.

Extreme Planks

My trainer Tomas is supporting my feet and moving my legs, but the rest is all me doing these one- legged planks!

Giant Bungie Cord

This cord has 105 lbs. of resistance.

Oops

OK, some things just don't go according to plan.

Brand New Trainer

Lizabeth Ashleigh: Born August 21 : Weight 8 lb 1 oz : Length 19 in : This little one should be an excellent source of gait training. New goal is to walk before she does!

Standing with 120 lbs.

Have to start bearing more than just my body weight if I'm ever going to be able to stand and walk again, without assistance. This is a good start, but I'll be pushing for more! (Look close for the mini- squats near the end, that was hard.)

How low can I go?

I'm really working hard on my glutes. Trying to get as deep into these squats as I can. 75 lbs. of total weight, the most so far.

My New Wheels

This is my new all-terrain Trionic Walker. It's a very smooth rolling and is built for on and off road use. I have to use my legs more with this walker so its a good workout.

Floor to Standing

This is a work in progress. This is only the second day we worked on this so its not very pretty. But I was amazed I could do this much. We'll post a better looking one soon (I hope) to see my progress.

WOW!!!......10,000 Steps in a Day

July 19, 2009.........I didn't think this would happen only about 2 weeks after hitting 5,000. This was a major goal after I got my pedometer in December. Wayne and I talked about a plan to do it and made it happen. Special thanks to my trainers Lisa and Jim. The ultimate goal is still out there but its getting closer!

Sit to Stand

Finally!!....I've been working on doing this for 7 months. July 17, 2009

Barbell Squats

Working those glutes. Three sets of 10 at 35lbs and working towards more!

Tilt Table

It might look easy but there is a 20 lb weight at the end of that cable. This is good for my glutes and lower back. It is a total core workout!

5,000 Steps

July 2, 2009 : My pedometer is proof of a milestone accomplished, 5,000 steps in one day. Next goal 10,000!!!

Weighted Sled Part 3

My strength and endurance has increased tremendously. Back in the middle of February I started pulling this sled. The first couple of times I did it I topped out at 180 lbs. Now the middle of June I did a warm-up set of 225 lbs and then TWO sets at 300 lbs!!!

Walking Backwards

This is a good glute workout, and it helps practice controlling leg motion.

Walking on the lawn

This is the first time I tried walking on the lawn.

Grass and Dandelions

I was anxious to see if I had enough leg power and foot movement to drive the riding lawnmower. I did the whole front yard!

Spring has arrived!!!

Nice weather has finally arrived so why not do some PT outside. Nothing like having a 25 ft. chain wrapped around your ankle and pulling it around the parking lot! Actually its good leg workout.

Project Walk - Hiking Poles

When Lisa gave me these hiking poles I thought she just wanted me to stand and balance with them. Then she told me to take some steps. This was probably my biggest accomplishment on the trip.

The first part of the clip was the first time with the poles. I used them everyday and the last part is on the last day. Big improvement, especially in confidence.

Project Walk - Control & Strength

Working with Lisa on improving joint stability, muscle control and strength. Three keys to walking again.

Project Walk - Hips & Glutes

This is a hip & glute machine and is one of my favorite machines at PW. It helps with strength and fine motor control for the legs.

Project Walk - Pushing Tom's Table

My good friend Tom at PW has his own personalized table that he pushes around the gym. One of my goals was to push his table this trip. I did it, but not as good as Tom and not nearly the distance, but watch out Tom it won't long!

Check Tom out at....... http://firemantomscirecovery.blogspot.com

Return to Project Walk March 2009

Returned to Project Walk on March 16 and stayed to workout for a week and got an evaluation on my progress (which was good). Worked hard for the week and got some new ideas to bring back for my home workout program. Best of all we got to visit with our friends at PW that we had not seen for 5 months.

Weighted Sled Part 2

How many different ways can you pull a weighted sled?...........Two (so far)

Check out previous "Sledding Anyone?" video.

VibePlate for the Ankles

Back in September 2008 we first noticed a very small amount of movement in my ankles. The Vibeplate is a vibration machine that we hoped stimulate nerves and strengthen muscle to improve feeling and movement. We received the machine in November. Doing our regular ankle exercises and using the VibePlate 1-2 times per week movement and feeling have improved.

Lokomat

This is a Lokomat gait trainer. It keeps my legs in the correct position for walking with the hope that my mind and body will make the connection and eventually do this automatically. Kind of looks like something out of a sci-fi movie.

Sledding anyone?

This sure would be a lot easier in the snow. But it helps to strengthen my lower back and glutes.
The video shows me pulling 160 lbs. but I eventually topped out at 180 lbs.

Next Step - Chicago Continued

Jim is my trainer at Next Step. He gives me the hardest workouts since my accident. I'm usually exhausted after the two hour sessions. But I look forward to the days I go. As you can see he doesn't let me use the walker during training.

Next Step - Chicago

Next Step is a rehabilitation facility that specializes in spinal cord injuries. They are only about an hour from the house and can give me the training that I need to achieve my goal of walking.

Total Gym - Hamstring Workout

When I first started doing this exercise I couldn't even get my legs started by myself. Now I can do it with 10 lbs. of extra weight without help.

Floor to Walker

This move took alot of practice.

Return to Project Walk

In October of 2008 I returned to Project Walk to workout with my trainer Lisa. This video is Spinbike and Total Gym.

Rototiller Action

During the Summer and Fall of 2008 I pushed the rototiller to strenghten my glutes.

Project Walk June 2008

Lisa is my trainer at PW. We always have a good time during my workouts.

Project Walk

In the summer of 2008 I found out about Project Walk. I thought my best chance to walk again was going to come about through intense activety based therapy. I went there for the first time in June 2008. The workouts were certainly intense, but I felt muscles I hadn't felt since the accident, and that was a good thing.

Hard Work

Hard work at rehab pays off with gains in mobility.

Free at Last!!!

After four and a half months no neck brace and no body armor. Of course Bennys happy too.

First time standing

Sept. 19, 2007 . First time I was on my feet since the accident.

Rehab at Home

Started rehab at home as soon possible. This is at Methodist Hospital in Merrillville. Tough going wearing all that extra hardware.

Body Cast

Me and my new body cast. Rock hard abs the hard way!

Hospital stay

I about four weeks at the University of Wisconson-Madison Hospital. One week in ICU and the next three weeks at the inpatient rehab. They have a great hospital and wonderful staff.

This photo is them making a plaster mold of my torso so they can make a fiberglass body cast.

Day after Surgery

Lots of pain, Lots tubes and paralyzed from the top of my hips to my feet. Broken left ankle and foot. Not a good day! Morphine was my friend for the next week...

After Surgery

After 4 hours of surgery I had rods and bone fusing Vertebrae L1 to L3.

View from above

The CT Scan viewed from above. Note the bone compressing the spinal cord.

CT Scan July 26, 2007

CT Scan taken in emergency room. L1 compression fracture