I am really enjoying the teaching I have been doing. I have more training days coming up and I am happy to discuss any other training dates for different venues. Please email: clairelomas@hotmail.com

The next ones are;

23rd Aug at Aylesford xc

30th August xc and sj  field farm

31st August Aylesford xc

17th Sept Aylesford xc

20th Sept Milton Keynes xc and sj

I have been working a lot on my core muscles, spending many hours just trying to sit up. I am certainly getting better, although I wish it was quicker! This photo shows me practicing sitting up straight, riding will help this too. It is something that to most of you seems just a little thing but it is a huge goal to achieve. Once my abdominal and back muscles are really strong my walking with the frame will be easier, I tend to over arch my back because the lack of stability in my hips and weakness in my abs and back.

I just have to keep trying to sit up straight…again and again. REPETITION!

USE IT OR LOSE IT!!

My core muscles are having no choice but to work! They are just very weak but with constant nagging they will build up.

I am working hard on my FES bike and walking on the treadmill (locomotor training). I read this on the Christopher Reeves website the other day:

”Two promising therapies are now becoming available to a growing number of Americans living with paralysis: locomotor training and functional electrical stimulation (FES). These therapies, known as “activity-based rehabilitation,” are based on the theory that the brain and spinal cord have the capacity to “rewire” if stimulated appropriately. The two techniques work differently. During FES, electrodes attached to the paralyzed limb send little electrical shocks to the muscle. These shocks activate nerves and make the muscle move. Locomotor training–used mostly with individuals suffering from spinal-cord injury–is a souped-up treadmill. During training, the patient is suspended in a harness above a treadmill while physical therapists or computer signals move his or her legs to simulate walking. Both help the brain recapture and relearn movement .”

I am doing both of these (thanks to everyone who has supported me I have bought an FES bike and treadmill/harness) along with lots of other exercises to help my recovery. If there is anyone else that wants to rehab then please contact me as I am more than happy to share all this very expensive equipment!

Also I am very busy at the moment with other things, I am very much enjoying some xc and sj teaching (see blog entry below) and also have a part time job with Simply Morzine. (Luxury winter ski holidays and summer special interest & family activity holidays in Morzine, France’s premier alpine resort) http://www.simply-morzine.co.uk/

Their office is 10 mins away and it fits in really well with my riding and rehab, plus I can not wait to get over there again for a few days skiing! If you are wanting a great ski hols I suggest you look at their website.

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