Spinal and brain injury sufferers learning how to walk and talk at home
South Australians with spinal and brain injuries are learning how to walk and talk again - without leaving their homes.
The residents are getting rehabilitation via the internet and claim its as good as the real thing.
Trevor Shaw, from Highbury, east of Adelaide, had a stroke in February and now has regular sessions with a speech pathologist online.
The 80-year-old uses a program called Telerehab.
"His right leg won't move so I've got to help to shift it out of the car and help him stand to get out of the wheelchair," his wife Leonie said.
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Mr Shaw's speech pathologist Josie Kemp said the programs allows patients to incorporate things around them in to their therapy.
Telerehab is also available to those needing physiotherapy and psychology and treats about 100 patients a month.
"This has a particular benefit within our regional communities," Health Minister Peter Malinauskas said.
"The expansion of the Telerehab service for people who are a lot farther away from rehabilitation services means we can treat more people."
