State-first therapy device thrills patients: A new grip on life

By John Van Klaveren
IT’S DOING the little things Dennisse Luna misses the most.
But the Deakin University architecture student and stroke victim said an extraodinary piece of equipment had given her renewed hope.
The Victorian-first SaeboFlex custom-fitted orthotic device has also excited therapists at North Geelong’s McKellar Centre.
The Independent’s 2012 charity golf day for the centre helped buy the specialised equipment. The equipment was previously unavailable in Victoria, forcing McKellar staff to borrow it from facilities in New South Wales.
Dennisse suffered an aneurism “out of the blue” a year ago, leading to a stroke and robbing her of almost a year of life.
She spent four weeks in hospital, followed by months of intense rehabilitation and therapy.
Occupational therapist Debbie Verikios said the equipment was helping rehabilitate stroke, cerebral palsy and road trauma victims.
“In these situations it’s a brain injury that affects messages to the arm and hand,” Ms Verikios said.
“Sometimes the hand is too weak to function or muscles may be so contracted that people can’t open their hand up.
“The SaeboFlex allows greater arm and hand function. Even if it has been years since the injury, this equipment still improves function immediately.”
Dennisse said SaeboFlex helped her so much she was buying one with the help of Deakin University.
“It allows me to be independent and do my own therapy regularly at home.
“It also has emotional benefits because I feel better about the future, it gives me hope.”
Dennisse said she had been scared at the prospect of tackling an approaching study unit in model making.
“I was dreading trying to make models for my course and do the fine ruling my course needs without this equipment.
“After using it I can do things I couldn’t do before. I had improved function after just two weeks.
“It’s retraining the pathways to the brain. I can now pick up a drink bottle by myself.
“I don’t have any long-term goals. I just want to be able to do the little things that we otherwise take for granted.”