Sally helped with my recovery from a head injury after a bike accident over the past year. She has been very enthusiastic, which really helped as it was the opposite of myself with my symptoms at that time. She is very knowledgeable and detail oriented and helped a lot finding the right therapists to assist with the different symptoms I had at that time. Sally’s attention to detail and her motivation really helped improving my everyday life activities and finding back into a very demanding work environment! Thanks Sally!
Anna
I was put in touch with Sally de la Fontaine after an accident. I sustained a head injury which damaged my vestibular system, in particular the inner ear organs. This left me unable to read or use a computer screen, unable to drive and functioning at very low level.
From the beginning Sally was able to help me understand why I was experiencing symptoms of dizziness and extreme nausea, both when moving my body but also when I moved my eyes.
She was able to set a really low base line of physical exercise using a TRX which I could sling over the door, allowing me to exercise at home rather than having to go to a gym. She helped me strengthen my core and showed me how to engage other balance-sensors in my body to compensate for the damage done to my vestibular system. Gradually over the years we built up the level of exercises, and also incorporated day-to-day activities with the equivalent level of movement/stimulation as the exercises. This was magnificent because it took into account the practicalities of daily life such as bending to empty a dishwasher, or doing some work in the garden, and worked the physiotherapy around that.
Sally worked well with other professionals such as my vestibular consultant and behavioural optometrist. In particular the optometry therapist and physio coordinated over physical and visual exercises so I wasn’t overdoing things and flaring up the symptoms.
My experience of treatment from Sally and the other therapists she worked with has been life-changing. The original damage will always be there, but this team has been able to show me how to compensate for loss of balance function and regain as much normality as I can. I can now look at a screen for 20 minutes before having to have a break. I can drive short distances, and I can manage daily life with my family far better. I know that I need to continue to work hard to maintain the physical side of my recovery, and that this may be problematic as I age, but I am determined to continue reclaiming my life. I will always be grateful to Sally for her help.
Heather
“Just thought I would let you know that yesterday evening I jogged 1.5 miles in 22 minutes without stopping thanks to your work and the Turbomed FS3000”
Kevin (peripheral nerve injury client)
“When you start to try to put somebody back together after a tragic accident you suddenly realise that they forgot to include the instruction booklet! This was very much the way it was with Kerstin. Over the months it became clear that unless her movement, seating and positioning and physical comfort could be addressed, all the cognitive and creative therapies would be impossible. Kerstin was very lucky to come into contact with Sally de la Fontaine at a very early stage in her rehabilitation and it is true to say that Sally forms the central pillar around which all of Kerstin’s rehabilitation and therapy revolves. Sally enjoys the complete trust and affection not only of myself and Kerstin but also the respect and admiration of her colleagues in Kerstin’s team. Eight years ago not many people would have put money on Kerstin’s chances of leaving hospital. She now lives at home and has travelled to France, Switzerland and Germany. She goes to the cinema, the theatre, horse racing and actually goes carriage riding herself. We even have a project to get her into a “ski bob”. None of this would be possible if Kerstin were not handled, positioned and stretched properly. Sally has been the central figure in making all of this possible. There is not one member of Kerstin’s family or her rehab team who is unaware of Sally’s massive contribution to Kerstin’s quality of life.”
Best Wishes
Mark
“I felt I had to write to thank you for all your hard work, and your professional way you have healed Wendy ; since we asked for your help way back in the summer of 1999. When you first saw Wendy, she was a registered ‘Tetraplegic’, who could hardly use her hands. She lived in a wheelchair, could not stand let alone, walk, and had to be transferred from wheelchair to stair-lift, and a car seat on a sliding board. To stand, we had to put her into a ‘Standing Frame’ ( supplied by Stoke Mandeville Hospital), so her leg muscles would get some exercise ! Well Sally, you have done a lot of work over these past six years, and due to all this dedication, and perseverence by you ; Wendy is now able to stand, and walk with walking sticks on her own ! I also am sure that the time is not far off, for Wendy to walk completely unaided ?”
Yours affectionately
Graham Jessop
Sally will be the first to admit that neither she nor any other Physiotherapist can work miracles. Out of the many Physiotherapists that I have had, Sally has had the ability to improve on nearly anything. She cannot completely rehabilitate those who are unfortunate enough to be physically or mentally unable to do so, but she will get them as close as the circumstances dictate. Over the short period of time I have known Sally; through advice, encouragement and therapy she has turned a virtually wheel chair bound man into someone who is nearly completely walking with no external aid.
Philip Hinton (Currently Recovering from severe Head Injury)
I have been a patient of Sally de la Fontaine for 3 years following a stroke. During this time my range of movement has improved to such an extent that I have bought myself a tricycle and now enjoy long bike rides in the park with my wife – something I never thought I would do again! Sally’s positive, open-minded approach and lots of hard work has allowed me to believe and see that a good recovery is definitely possible.
Aynsley Doherty
Sally has through her professional expertise and ingenuity in exercise certainly helped in speeding my recovery from Guillian Barre syndrome.
David Gentry