Following his discharge from The National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville Hospital, Peter Carr quickly realised there was very little opportunity for people with a spinal cord injury to continue with a specific rehabilitation or exercise regime. A chance conversation led Peter to embark on a journey that would take him to Project Walk in California and ultimately to establish Standing Start in the UK.  Standing Start is a not for profit Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation Centre founded by Peter.

Peter writes

"Since the Rehabilitation Centre was initially set up in December 2008 we have seen significant improvements in our clients. We are positively changing the lives of those who have been affected by spinal cord injury and are restoring levels of function that would otherwise have remained unchallenged. Many of our clients are now performing exercises that they had previously been told they would never be able to carry out."

Aiming to maximise the potential of their clients through an exercise based rehabilitation programme, all the exercises are performed out of the wheelchair so that maximum exposure to gravity is achieved.  

After injury the nervous system needs stimulation in order to redevelop, if that stimulation is not introduced, improvements will be delayed or may even be lost forever.  Standing Start's goal is to stimulate the nervous system to reawaken it through active load bearing exercise using developmental patterns based upon the movements performed during the early stages of human development.  We also use the additional benefits of vibration plate platforms and a RehaMove Function Electrical Stimulation Cycle.

Standing Start has a fully equipped rehabilitation centre in Sawston, Cambridgeshire with many UK based clients.  They also have a number of international clients who visit us from Norway, Spain & Romania.  Our clients all have an individually designed exercise programme focused on their specific goals and levels of capability.  These are constantly reviewed as these levels of ability improve.

Through the encouragement, education and support Standing Start offers, a new self belief and a much enhanced quality of life can be achieved.

For more information, you can please visit their website at www.standingstart.org

or contact them at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 01223 839055

10 South Cambridgeshire Business Park
Babraham Rd
Sawston
Cambridge
CB22 3JH