Newsletters

Coordinator reports

Election of new ParaQuad Tasmania Chairperson

Profile of Scott Shaw
Chairperson 2006-2007

The Board of Management of ParaQuad Tas. is pleased to announce to members
that Scott Shaw, New Norfolk, was elected as the new Chairperson of ParaQuad Tas. at the ParaQuad Tas. AGM held in October, 2006.

Scott resides in New Norfolk and is also a Councillor on the Derwent Valley Council. He was elected as an Independent Councillor and is enjoying the learning experience of
being a Councillor.

It was on Christmas Day 2002 that Scott became a quadriplegic and since that time he has been rebuilding his life and is now looking forward to his role as Chairperson and working with the ParaQuad Tas. Board and its members so that ParaQuad Tas. continues its mission to become an even stronger, viable organisation that offers support services to its members and also education to the community on spinal cord injury and work closer with governments to ensure that people with disabilities are not disadvantaged by governments policy and / or actions. Scott has been employed in many different fields prior to his accident. Although he is not employed at the moment I would not be surprised if he decided to set up some type of business for himself in the future. He has two teenage children and one wonderful dog called Scotty—so now we have Scott & Scotty on the Board!

The ParaQuad Tas. Board welcomes Scott onto the team and we are sure that he has
an enormous amount of knowledge to assist the Association to undertake the challenges of the future. The Board has been proud of its achievements under the skilful ‘eye’ of Glenn Moore during the past 16 years so Scott has ‘big shoes’ to fill but the Board knows he is up to the task ahead.

Jenny Stanzel (secretary)

New SCI statistics released

The Australia Institute of Health and Welfare released the Spinal cord Injury, Australia 2004-5 statistics in late August.

you can download a copy of the report compiled by Dr. Raymond Cripps of the RTesearch Centre for Injury Studies, flinders University (SA)

Interestingly, figures show a rise in motor vehicle related spinal cord injury from 43% to 49%.

The online version is updated regularly and can be viewed at www.nisu.flinders.edu.au

Executive Officers Report. Summer 2006

Hello Members Well another year is drawing to a close, and we all may ask where does the time go? The past 12 months has seen considerable expansion of the services and projects supplied and undertaken by ParaQuad.

I am pleased to announce that the building of our respite unit is scheduled to commence early in the New Year and is on track to be open by the end of April. (Earlier than expected). This will see the fruition, of a long term goal held by the organisation. An enormous amount of work has been undertaken in the past 15 years to finally have in our sights a much needed place to provide respite and transitional care.

Our schools education program was run successfully again this year albeit with some hiccups due to availability of speakers. To ease the burden a DVD was developed for schools to use when a speaker is not available. This DVD contains interviews of five of our members relaying their personal experiences of suffering a spinal cord injury. I would like to extend a sincere thank you to these people for taking part in this most worthy project. I’m sure your efforts will have an impact in reducing the occurrence of SCI. Next year I will be looking to employ part time speakers to complete our obligations. If you live in the North or North West and are interested in participating in this program please contact the office.

Currently our website is being upgraded and will be completed by January 07 including an updated Wheelie Good Guide available for download. This comprehensive guide covers accessible accommodation and tourist activities state-wide. If you do not have internet access please contact the office on 6272 8816 and arrange for a hard copy to be posted.

Our fundraising venture, Bingo at the Granada Tavern each Thursday morning is proving to be very popular, and I would like to thank all the volunteers who provide their time each week to run this operation. If you are interested in playing Bingo commences at 11am every Thursday with prizes totalling over $1500 paid every week. You can play all games for as little as $14.

Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week was run from November 13 th – 18th. ParaQuad was represented in the major shopping centres in Hobart and Launceston passing on information about the consequences of risk taking behaviour. The volunteers who gave their time to distribute information about SCI and ParaQuad should be commended for promoting the association in such a positive manner. The hotels in and around Hobart and Launceston displayed posters and coasters for the week, aiding in distributing the message of the consequences of drink driving and also speeding

Finally I would like to wish you and your family a very merry Christmas and a safe New Year, and a thankyou to all the volunteers throughout 2006. The offices of ParaQuad and Independence Solutions will be closed from 2pm Friday 22 nd December, re opening Tuesday 2 nd January.

Merry Christmas

Chris Bosworth

Request for participants in sexuality survey

Would you be interested in helping us find out more about aspects of sexuality, adjustment to physical disability and sexual rehabilitation?

You are invited to take part in a research study conducted by Rhonda Kellaway, a Rehabilitation counselling Honours student from the University of Sydney, under the supervision of Dr. lynda Mathews. The study aims to explore the relationship between sexual self-esteem, sexual satisfaction, body image, adjustment to physcial disability and the experience of sexual rehabilitation.

Participation in this research involves completing a short questionnaire and returning it in the reply paid envelope provided or email. You can also indicate if you wish to be contacted for a potential follow up interview. All participants are eligible to enter a draw for a $50 Westfields Shopping Voucher.

To find out more, or volunteer tro participate in the study, please contact the organization advertising the study or Rhonda by mail or email.

Rhonda Kellaway (Honours Student)
C/O Rehabilitation Counselling Unit,
School of Behavioural and Community Health Science,
Faculty of Health Sciences,
University of Sydney,
PO Box 170 Lidcombe,
NSW 1825

Armed for Life

This article was produced by Paraquad NSW occupational therapists on upper limb overuse syndrome and it says it all. 

Many people in chairs, encouraged following their accidents to be as active and independent as possible, are now, 5, 10, 15 or 20 years later, facing pain in their upper limbs: shoulders, elbows or wrists.  However, with some careful management, wheelchair users can minimise the occurrence and effects of upper limb overuse syndrome.

The human shoulder joint, made up of the upper arm bone (the humerus), the shoulder blade (scapula) and the collar bone (clavicle), relies on a group of four muscles and their related tendons; the rotator cuff, to allow stable and controlled movement.  The shoulder joint has a greater rand of motion than any other joint in the body and therefore runs a greater risk of instability.  When these muscles and associated tendons are evenly balanced, shoulder movement is coordinated and painless.  Someone with spinal cord injury, depending on the level of injury, may not have all these shoulder muscles working effectively, so that there can be an imbalance.  Add to this the fact that the human shoulder joint is not designed to carry our body weight, and using a chair places far greater reliance on shoulders and arms for pushing; transferring and reaching and you can experience upper limb pain.

If you are encountering such pain, you're not alone.  figures vary, but one website; (www.rexdonald.com/shoulderpain.htm) quotes statistics reporting shoulder pain to affect from 30 per cent to more than 50 per cent of people with SCI, 'Percentages like these', it says cheerfully, 'put spinal cord injury survivors with achy shoulders right up there with the best of them - competitive swimmers - but with none of the glory!'

As with any situation affecting your health, prevention is better than cure.  So make sure that if and when shoulder pain occurs, you consult your doctor, physiotherapist or occupational therapist.  Be alert for any signs of heat, swelling or redness around your shoulder joint (or other joint) - rest, and again, talk to your health professionals.

Some of the things you can do to maintain your health and independence for as long as possible.

Work smarter, not harder - minimise the strain:

• Plan your day - by doing that you may be able to cut down on the number of transfers, so that you reduce the impact on your shoulders.
• When you start your day, warm up and stretch your shoulders before transferring or pushing
• Have a regular exercise program, to maintain cardiovascular fitness, and shoulder strength and endurance.  Don’t forget that everyone is different, exercises and activities others are doing may not be right for you, so you should have your program tailor-made by your physiotherapist.
• Try to maintain a healthy body weight - carrying extra kilos means more force to push your chair, and more strain on your upper limbs.
• Reduce the number of times you have to lift overhead - put things you use frequently at shoulder height or below (between hips and shoulders), and ask for help when you can.
• Be smart about transfers try to have transfer surfaces an equal height by example, having your bed on blocks, or using a higher cushion.  Use gravity, and make your transfers 'downhill', eg lowering an electric bed to the height (ir slightly lower) than you are transferring to, and try to avoid vertical transfers.  If this is not practical 'step' the transfer, by using, for example, a small stool to transfer from floor to chair.
• Use assistive devices to ease the load: trolleys for transporting heavy items; slider board or grab rail for transfers; a car hoist to get your chair in / out of the vehicle (but for this you will need a folding wheelchair); ultra-light power steering in your car.
• Slide rather than lift or carry objects.
• If you're a wheelchair sportsperson, you will have to be especially vigilant in not 'overusing' your upper limbs.  Vary your training activities to alter the demands placed on your shoulders and work out a program with your physiotherapist.

Monitor your equipment and environment

• When you're making important decisions such as the type of wheelchair to choose, involve a health professional with SCI experience, who can ensure that the chair is suitable for your build and circumstances.  The type of chair you choose, the way it's set up and how you sit in it, can all have an impact on the strain on your upper limbs.
• A manual chair should be as light as possible and that includes backrest and cushions
• Chairs with pneumatic tyres and sealed ball bearings are easier to push, because they offer less resistance.  Make sure the tyres are kept fully inflated.
• Ergonomic push rims, but altering your wrist position during pushing, may lead to a reduced risk of carpal tunnel syndrome.
• Consider a power assist or powered chair for longer, more strenuous, or outdoor activities.
• Flush-mounted floor surfaces in your home with a low rolling resistance, such as vinyl or timber, will make pushing indoors as easy as possible.
• Remember that the way you sit in your chair can contribute to shoulder pain.  Have your health professional analyse your posture, ensuring that the seat height is appropriate and that the width of the seat, with the wheels close to your body, provides the best pushing position for your arms and shoulders.
• Analyse too, the way you push your chair, the semi-circular push stroke is the most energy efficient.  Use long smooth strokes to decrease push frequency. 

To get more information on this article access www.paraquad.org.au or phone 02 8741 5622.

Other websites that you may like to access, if you have a spinal cord injury, are:

        
Courtesy: PQ News - July 200

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