 HyperMED - Welcome
‘HyperMED NeuroRecovery is committed to expanding the therapeutic window
promoting worthwhile functional outcomes - gone are days of simply
living and coping with disability!' Dr Mal Hooper _ HyperMED
NeuroRecovery Australia
'An Australian initiative working to help others'
Welcome
At HyperMED NeuroRecovery we are dedicated to improving the quality
of life of individuals suffering neurodegenerative disorders.
HyperMED provides intensive activity
based rehabilitation programs with unique protocols incorporating
Australia's first Adult and Pediatric Lokomat
modules (Robotic Gait Assisted Walking), Hyperbaric Oxygenation, Median Nerve
Stimulation, Neuro-acupuncture, Whole Body Vibration and other assertive
therapies aimed at functional improvements of the patients with different
sorts of neurological diseases and post operative events.
The HyperMED
NeuroRecovery Centre has been the first and currently is the only centre in
Australia, which has and uses the Robotically Assisted Lokomat combined with
cutting edge strategies focused on outcomes; this lack of availability has
meant that most patients attending HyperMED attend from
interstate and many from overseas for this specific therapy combination.
HyperMED is a private therapeutic centre,
which is totally funded by the patient and sponsored private sector.
Patients attend in a private pay capacity; patients do not receive
Government funding or funding under Third Party Insurance including
Transport Accident Commission or WorkCover. Self-funded rehabilitation
facilities such as HyperMED NeuroRecovery Centre, by using the Lokomat can
play an important role in reducing the financial burden of neurological
diseases on the government and communities’ shoulders.
HyperMED provides financial subsidy for all
patients attending. This economic burden has been tackled by the directors
in the interest of providing modalities including Lokomat Gait Training for
patients with neurologic disorders. However we need your help!
HyperMED is seeking partners and volunteers – those with
corporate financial skills to assist in gaining Medicare and Third Party
funding. Many patients attend from interstate and we are endeavoring to
establish HyperMED centers in each and every state. Medicare funding is
crucial to this objective. Establishment costs exceed AUD $1.5 million for
each centre simply to provide a minimum of 2-Hyperbaric Chambers and
1-Lokomat (adult and pediatric) notwithstanding additional infrastructure
expenses including staff and leasing requirements. We need practical support
and every supportive idea is most welcome. In addition we seek volunteer
support – there are many in the community that have appropriate skills that
may elect to support HyperMED in a practical ‘down to earth’ manner – if you
would like to discuss further your thoughts and ideas – please do not
hesitate to contact Dr Mal Hooper direct on T: +61 3
9650 3136 or E:
info@hypermed.com.au
An empathetic smile can go a long way however individuals
with disability need treatment regimes that make a difference NOW! Can you
help?
What is Hyperbaric Oxygenation (HBOT) and how does it work?
HBOT safely delivers 100% Oxygen to the brain and spinal cord structures
while inside a pressurized chamber. Hyperbaric Oxygenation for
neurodegenerative brain and spinal cord patients differs from the
'traditional applications' using lower pressures but longer time period of
exposure. HBOT designed for delayed wounds, gangrene, osteomyelitis requires
higher pressures at shorter intervals ie 2.8 ATA or greater which is not
considered appropriate for neurological patients.
Hyperbaric works by increasing the saturative effect of dissolved oxygen
into the blood and surrounding tissue structures that have been deprived of
vital oxygen (hypoxic tissue). The pressure inside the chamber causes the
Oxygen breathed to be dissolved at greater levels in the blood. Recent
studies have reported that HBOT results in about a 15-20 fold increase in
oxygen saturation. This is about a 2,000% increase of dissolved oxygen into
the brain and spinal cord structures!
Approximately 20-30% of the body's consumption of Oxygen occurs within 3-5%
of the body mass - the brain and spinal cord. These structures are extremely
sensitive to Oxygen deficiency, and can have the most dramatic results with
the use of HBOT.
Hyperbaric Oxygenation mobilizes and elevates the patients own circulating
CD34+ progenitor Stem Cells. [American Journal Physiology - Heart and
Circulatory Physiology (Nov 2005)] reports a single 2-hour exposure to HBOT
at @ 2 ATA doubles circulating CD34+ progenitor stem cells and at
approximately 40-hours of HBOT; circulating CD34+ cells increases eight fold
(800%)! Complex neurological disorders require greater impact for
appropriate immune responses. This increased tissue Oxygenation
significantly accelerates the rate of healing, stabilization and repair. And
so the
healing begins …
HyperMED
UPDATE Chloe
Bloch (Near Drowning)
Lokomat Robotic Gait Assisted Walking
Lokomat NeuroRecovery is based on the principle of neuroplasticity (the
ability of the neurons in the nervous system to develop new connections and
‘learn’ new functions). Normal function is a learned response; neuro-rehabilitation
requires accurate functional repetitions to 're-learn' function.
HBOT is the fuel and acts as a catalyst to the central issue (hypoxia);
Lokomat and other forms of intensive and innovative physical therapy
validate; retrain and reconnects function. This combined approach ‘awakens’
dormant neural pathways and Lokomat provides accurate functional
neurological repetition enhancing and validating neural connections and
pathways in the brain and spinal cord. Patients have the ability to regain
walking ability or learn to walk!
Background - how did we get
involved in Hyperbaric Therapy? What was the connection?
'Kate and I
have six children ranging from 19 down to 8 years - the family is full on
and the challenges of life are simply that - part of life! During 1993
one of our six children at 18-months of age; fell into a fire and suffered
extensive burns to her arms, hands, stomach and knees. The ordeal was
overwhelming; extensive donor skin grafts were recommended being cautioned
that without grafts Rachael would end up with a permanent disability because
the burns region was ischemic and that extensive scarring would lead to
significant contractures and deformity.
I was
compelled as both father and practitioner to provide the best possible
outcome for our daughter; we used a range of immune stimulating supports
including low level laser and together with continuing prayer – thank God;
she did not require grafts. Rachael has emerged as a very determined and
focused young lady with a magnificent drive that has excelled her in
sporting achievements competing at both state and national levels.
Subsequent to
this ordeal - the search began for applications to promote blood supply and
reduce scar formation; incidentally a colleague had mentioned hyperbaric for
sporting injuries. As I looked more closely into the field of hyperbaric it
became evident how little I actually knew! I was aware that Hyperbaric was
the treatment of choice for diving related illness but I was amazed by the
enormity of publications and trials being conducted world-wide ranging from
brain injury, delayed wounds, chronic immunosuppressive disease to cancers!
In fact the
application of Hyperbaric Oxygenation for burns victims are an international
standard in most countries and has been for the past 20-30 years. This is
not the situation in Australia. Burns and a multitude of other conditions
are not covered; in fact only 6-conditions attract a Medicare rebate.
During this
period the emphasis of Spinal Rehabilitation Group was a multi disciplinary
medicolegal specialty. It was common place for us to refer our patients
for advanced diagnostic procedures and clinical investigations including MRI to
determine the exact nature of the underlying spinal condition. The fact that
back and related problems get worse as a direct result of diminishing blood
supply (ischemia) regardless of the surgical approach, drug, magic potion or
rub; lead to the hypothesis that perhaps Hyperbaric Oxygenation may impact
some of these spinal disorders. Clinical publications had already confirmed
that Hyperbaric corrects and alters tissue hypoxia which is responsible for
chronic edema and swelling; then perhaps HBOT may impact the long term
effects of chronic spinal pain syndromes and other degenerative neurological
conditions.
Our first
chamber was commissioned during 1995 and our pioneering work began. Our
initial focus and emphasis were directed to patients with complex spinal
disorders including chronic pain syndromes associated with single and
multi-level disc protrusion, canal stenosis, failed back surgery etc.
Since
commencing Hyperbaric Oxygenation (HBOT) in excess of 250,000 separate
chamber sessions have been performed without incident and with virtually all
conditions NOT covered under the Medicare and or Third Party Insurers.
However the service provision continues to grow with in excess of 75% of
patients attending from interstate and overseas.
Currently we
have 4-state of the art monoplace chambers and 1-Lokomat in operation.
Unlike hospital based hyperbaric chambers; each patient is treated as an
individual – you are NOT pressurized with another patient. Hospital based
chambers usually have a number of patients all in a large multi-place
chamber with every occupant going to the same depth. If one of the occupants
has an ear problem or cannot pressurize then the entire procedure is
aborted!
In addition;
Medicare approved conditions are typically highly infective disorders and
require the patient to receive HBOT at pressures greater than 2.8 ATA and
beyond. This is NOT appropriate for chronic neurological disorders and in
fact can provide considerable risk to the neurovascular patient. Our
protocol uses lower pressures which are tailored to the patient’s individual
requirements; based on MRI and clinical investigations. HBOT provided is
safe, non-invasive and provides no risk to degenerative neurological
patients. Each chamber has its own TV/DVD which provides a great opportunity
to relax, enjoy the time whilst receiving treatment specific to your needs!'
Regards,
Mal Hooper
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