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I am a C5-C6 injury and have been injuried for 3 years. The past 2 years I have been
flying out to California to attend Project Walk for 2 weeks at a time. The benefits and
regain from my workouts there are amazing. The trainers will get you out of your chair
and will focus on areas you have little or no movement, unlike any other therapy
places you attend.
Project Walk is a true blessing. From the first minute I was injuried I knew I would
never give up on my goal to walk again, despite what every doctor has told me.
Project Walk believes in all their clients and their dream to better their lives. God has
granted me this opportunity and now has blessed me with a closer location in Central
Florida at Step It Up Recovery Center.
Dustin working out at Project Walk in California
flying out to California to attend Project Walk for 2 weeks at a time. The benefits and
regain from my workouts there are amazing. The trainers will get you out of your chair
and will focus on areas you have little or no movement, unlike any other therapy
places you attend.
Project Walk is a true blessing. From the first minute I was injuried I knew I would
never give up on my goal to walk again, despite what every doctor has told me.
Project Walk believes in all their clients and their dream to better their lives. God has
granted me this opportunity and now has blessed me with a closer location in Central
Florida at Step It Up Recovery Center.
Dustin working out at Project Walk in California
On August 19th 2001, I was in a car accident that left me a C5 quadriplegic. My first taste of therapy included
relearning to swallow food. Once I was cleared to leave the hospital I began therapy in Atlanta at the Shepherd's
Center. I was initially placed in a power chair due to the weakness in my arms especially my left arm. I stayed in
this power chair for five years.
After I spent 4 years rehabbing at home, outpatient therapy in Daytona Beach, and many repeat visits to the
Shepherd's Center I realized I was ready for something else, something more aggressive and progressive. I
searched on the Internet for aggressive spinal cord injury therapy and I came across Project Walk. I began
reading the information concerning their approach and outlook on spinal cord injuries and I was given a second
wind of hope. Since it is such an ordeal to raise the necessary funds to travel from Florida to California I wanted
to make certain that this was the next step for me.
For weeks I watched the videos and read the stories' of clients that had or were attending Project Walk with
similar injuries to mine. To say the least, I was sold and I began planning and looking forward to the day I could
attend Project Walk. The summer of 2006 was my first visit to Project Walk. I was still in a power chair and I had
minimal control of my body. After I spent a month there I was convinced that this place was great. I had a new
hope and a positive outlook on my recovery.
After returning home I began building a modified gym with some equipment that I used at Project Walk and put
into practice what I learned there during my visit. When I returned in the summer of 2007 I was using a manual
chair with power assist wheels, this was also the visit in which I took my first steps with the assistance of the
specialists and a walker. Before my most recent visit I had my baclofen pump removed. I had the pump in for 5
years, but by exercising and gaining control of my nervous system using Project Walk's techniques I was able to
remove it. During the summer of 2008 we focused on exercises while standing and trying to turn off my spasms
and have nice controlled leg movement.
All in all Project Walk has changed my life for the better and it has made many of my hopes become a reality. This
being said, I cannot begin to express how thankful I am that there is a certified facility now open in Central Florida
called Step It Up. Here I can continue working towards my goals in a supportive and enthusiastic place.
relearning to swallow food. Once I was cleared to leave the hospital I began therapy in Atlanta at the Shepherd's
Center. I was initially placed in a power chair due to the weakness in my arms especially my left arm. I stayed in
this power chair for five years.
After I spent 4 years rehabbing at home, outpatient therapy in Daytona Beach, and many repeat visits to the
Shepherd's Center I realized I was ready for something else, something more aggressive and progressive. I
searched on the Internet for aggressive spinal cord injury therapy and I came across Project Walk. I began
reading the information concerning their approach and outlook on spinal cord injuries and I was given a second
wind of hope. Since it is such an ordeal to raise the necessary funds to travel from Florida to California I wanted
to make certain that this was the next step for me.
For weeks I watched the videos and read the stories' of clients that had or were attending Project Walk with
similar injuries to mine. To say the least, I was sold and I began planning and looking forward to the day I could
attend Project Walk. The summer of 2006 was my first visit to Project Walk. I was still in a power chair and I had
minimal control of my body. After I spent a month there I was convinced that this place was great. I had a new
hope and a positive outlook on my recovery.
After returning home I began building a modified gym with some equipment that I used at Project Walk and put
into practice what I learned there during my visit. When I returned in the summer of 2007 I was using a manual
chair with power assist wheels, this was also the visit in which I took my first steps with the assistance of the
specialists and a walker. Before my most recent visit I had my baclofen pump removed. I had the pump in for 5
years, but by exercising and gaining control of my nervous system using Project Walk's techniques I was able to
remove it. During the summer of 2008 we focused on exercises while standing and trying to turn off my spasms
and have nice controlled leg movement.
All in all Project Walk has changed my life for the better and it has made many of my hopes become a reality. This
being said, I cannot begin to express how thankful I am that there is a certified facility now open in Central Florida
called Step It Up. Here I can continue working towards my goals in a supportive and enthusiastic place.
Dustin Anderson
Saint Cloud, Florida
Saint Cloud, Florida
Robert Mudge
Ormond Beach, FL
Ormond Beach, FL
Robert working out at Project Walk in California
Dana G.
Longwood, FL
Longwood, FL
Incomplete, 9 yrs. Post
I decided to begin a workout program from home over a year ago to get my
body in better shape and to combat a scoliosis diagnosis. I did what I could
on my own and gained some upper body strength while also losing weight.
However, I knew there was more out there; I was ignoring an entire part of
my body- my legs! So, in a random internet search I discovered that a Project
Walk approved facility was opening in my home state. After a trial visit to
California to see what the program was about, I knew Step It Up was where I
needed to be to get total body recovery.
I started at SIU in June and have been making strides ever since. The
trainers will have you out of your chair the entire session working not only
your body, but also your mind. The mental aspect of recovery is just as
important as the physical and finding that connection and awareness has
been integral to my personal recovery.
Personally, I have seen the biggest improvements in my core strength and
balance, which in the real world translates to better transfers and more
strength and confidence in maneuvering my wheelchair. I also have seen
improvements in feeling and body awareness. This is all in only six months!
I have done things that I never thought were possible and that doctors told
me I would never do. I am excited to see where I will be after another six
months at Step It Up.
We are like a little family here and we are all pulling for each other in the
recovery process. I am grateful that I finally have a place like Step It Up that
not only has the training and professionalism to help me accomplish my
goals, but also a dedicated staff that fully believes in me and is just as
committed as I am to my recovery.
I decided to begin a workout program from home over a year ago to get my
body in better shape and to combat a scoliosis diagnosis. I did what I could
on my own and gained some upper body strength while also losing weight.
However, I knew there was more out there; I was ignoring an entire part of
my body- my legs! So, in a random internet search I discovered that a Project
Walk approved facility was opening in my home state. After a trial visit to
California to see what the program was about, I knew Step It Up was where I
needed to be to get total body recovery.
I started at SIU in June and have been making strides ever since. The
trainers will have you out of your chair the entire session working not only
your body, but also your mind. The mental aspect of recovery is just as
important as the physical and finding that connection and awareness has
been integral to my personal recovery.
Personally, I have seen the biggest improvements in my core strength and
balance, which in the real world translates to better transfers and more
strength and confidence in maneuvering my wheelchair. I also have seen
improvements in feeling and body awareness. This is all in only six months!
I have done things that I never thought were possible and that doctors told
me I would never do. I am excited to see where I will be after another six
months at Step It Up.
We are like a little family here and we are all pulling for each other in the
recovery process. I am grateful that I finally have a place like Step It Up that
not only has the training and professionalism to help me accomplish my
goals, but also a dedicated staff that fully believes in me and is just as
committed as I am to my recovery.
