The medical team attempts to address medical problems. EMG evaluation is done to evaluate patients with nerve injuries.Nerve blocks and surgeries are done for spasticity reduction..Assessment and management of the neurogeic bladder is crucial and includes Ultrasound scans, Cystoscopy. and Urodynamic studies. Surgeries done include multiple soft tissue release, suprapubic cystostomy, cystolitholapexy, excision and closure of pressure sores and flap surgeries

Understanding the dynamics of movement while using various designs of appliances is a constant challenge. As a combined effort between PMR and IIT Chennai , the first Gait Analysis Lab in the country was set up in the year 1989 and this was supported by the DST. The gaits of children with cerebral palsy, stroke patients and amputees are analysed here. The lab has 12infrared cameras , a motion lab EMG system and a Kistler force plate.

Our team of nurses, attendants and housekeeping staff introduce the patients to a new way of life different but worthwhile. They don’t just teach care , but teach patients and families to look after themselves, help them to understand diagnosis, implications and ways to cope with it. This may include teaching intermittent catheterisations, , push ups for pressure relief, sexual counselling, health education etc. The focus is always on the patient and family empowering them to look after themselves.

Physiotherapists work towards strengthening muscles and employ compensatory strategies to improve mobility and balance with appropriate appliances. Will I be able to walk is the first question asked by most of the patients . Patients are trained initially in the parallel bars and after repeated practice sessions,they may progress to to walk on rough terrain, ascend and descend ramps and stairs according to their neurological level.

Occupational Therapists focus on enhancing function by training independence in transfers, ADL training and assistive strategies to get the best of everyone. Mirror therapy is a recent research for patients with hemiparetic arm.

Patients with TBI have cognitive deficits and they are given cognitive retraining and taught strategies to compensate for deficits Patients are taken to the community at the end of their training so that they feel confident in real life situations.

Speech therapists work to improve speech and communication and work with patients to ensure safe swallowing. Patients with severe difficulties in language are evaluated for the usefulness of alternate and augmentative communication aids.

The psychologist sees patients in the outpatients and wards to assess various neurobehavioural issues and cognitive issues, provide counselling to patients and their families and help them through the period of denial and grief. There is also regular input from the Psychiatry team .

Our team of engineers, P&Os and Artisans help to fabricate appliances appropriate to assist weak muscles and replace lost limbs. There are 2 centres- one in the hospital for outpatients and the other in Rehab for inpatients. Plastic modular low cost light weight prosthesis and orthoses are fabricated here which help patients to walk. The P&O section works closely with the ICRC over the last 20 years incorporating plastics like polypropylene in the fabrication of appliances and this has revolutionized the field of P&O. An educational unit was set up in 2011 to improve P&O education. This is now a training centre for professionals from Africa and South East Asian countries.

In 2011, a specially dedicated Rehab unit was set up recognizing the need to treat young children in a wholistic , yet friendly manner..Families are also given guidance regarding their schooling opportunities and training for life skills.

Social workers facilitate the rehab process by being a vital connection between the patient, family, rehab team and the community. They do an initial home visit while the patient is in the hospital to assess the socioeconomic and vocational back ground and the environmental accessibility so that contextually appropriate goals can be made. They help the patient and families to cope with the various issues arising from disability and play a significant role in giving guidance regarding future vocation. In addition they help to educate patients regarding their rights and responsibilities as well as various social security benefits. Other staff include clerical staff, pharmacist, accountant, librarian and a driver.

Understanding the dynamics of movement while using various designs of appliances is a constant challenge. As a combined effort between PMR and IIT Chennai , the first Gait Analysis Lab in the country was set up in the year 1989 and this was supported by the DST. The gaits of children with cerebral palsy, stroke patients and amputees are analysed here. The lab has 12infrared cameras , a motion lab EMG system and a Kistler force plate.

Sports is a way to regain fitness, boost self esteem and restore personal dignity. Some form of sporting activity is encouraged- a game of caroms, athletics, badminton, cricket , basket ball- Several players represented the country in the national level and last year won the 3rd prize in the national wheel chair basket ball competition.

Vocational Rehabilitation of the Severely Disabled (VRSD) Project has been successfully carried out with enormous support of the Mary Verghese Trust (MVT). The Home accommodates 15 persons at any time to offer training in tailoring for severely disabled people such as Spinal Cord Injured persons, people with lower limb amputation People affected with Post Polio Residual Paralysis etc of both sex from the age group of 18 to 45 residing in any part of our country.

The training programme is designed for each individual separately considering their physical and mental ability and market feasibility for their vocational practice after completion of the training. Their progress has been monitored and evaluated regularly by conducting weekly and monthly tests and also by external evaluation done periodically. To ensure the family involvement, relatives meetings were organized periodically.

The training programme has benefited several hundreds of persons over the years. About 92% of the persons undergoing vocational training through this programme has gone on to live earn a living and an integrated member of the community. Life skills training and independent living skills taught in MVT while undergoing training has been helping the persons with severe disabilities immensely in handling challenging situations at home and in the community. Sports Training has been initiated in the past two years with gold medallists at the National Level and participation in marathons using wheelchairs and tricycles.

Exploration of New Vocational Options:

We are continuing exploring various possible for new vocational options to benefit severely disabled persons around us. Mr. Paul C Dass- Founder Director -ProVISION India had come forwarded to train our people in various new vocations options starting with Greeting Card Making and Fabric Paining. These trainings will be continued after the Corona Pandemic problem gets over.

Patients on wheel chairs find it very difficult to navigate the long queues and reach the counters. To overcome this, various follow up strategies including review home visits, support groups and melas have been set up.

Home visits are done once a month and the whole team is involved, one from each discipline. Monthly support groups organized since 2003 provide social and recreational activities for the depressed and lonely. They discuss various issues and get guidance on coping strategies.

The annual Rehab mela is an annual reunion and review event that ensures follow up of spinal cord injury and brain injury patients efficiently and cost effectively..The 3 day spinal injury mela was initiated in 1994 and has been taking place regularly in the 3rd week end of February. Inaddition to medical reviews, there are sports, health education, talent ahows and networking and is a chance to review friendships and peer interactions. A separate brain injury mela was initiated

in the year 2004.Regional melas are organized by the regular partcipants of the mela for patients who are unable to participate due to various reasons.

Institution based Rehab is unable to cope up with the need and thus began the Vellore community based rehab in low resource settings in 2002 with support from WHO. 10 volunteers or local supervisors from the community were trained to identify people with disability and their needs. Training was done using the WHO manual and other resources. They were linked with the secondary and tertiary teams and they were taught to intervene in the community using locally available resources.They were also trained to refer appropriate problems and this has helped to develop a community as a whole and enable the disabled to integrate into the fabric of the community. School education programmes in the community helped to sensitise children about injury prevention and taught them life skills through role plays, games and competitions. College students are sensitized regarding safety on roads through the Project Helmet. Apart from these, there have been sessions to sensitise youth in the town, market load men, evangelists and there has been leadership training programmes for patients with disabilities.