Center offers novel treatment approach

SHELTON, Conn. (WTNH) -- A Shelton after care and special needs health center is offering a novel therapeutic approach for people with disabilities.    

Life Design Systems in Shelton looks like a typical gym, but it's designed for people who need more than traditional therapy, they need after therapy care.  

"The different approach really is patience, understanding people individual defects and building a program around those deficits so they can optimize their physical function, their emotional well being," said Tad Duni, the founder of Life Design Systems.

Duni is an applied physiologist who works with the young and old with disabilities and special needs, many who have already had prior therapy.

"A person may complain of a back problem which may contribute to a fall but they have weak knees, they may have weak shoulders, they can't extend their triceps out to prevent a fall so there is a lot to getting people functionally safe and independent of their home and in their communities," he explained.

He says easy access is the key to getting people functionally safe.   
 
"Al you're doing this so you can build strength in your soleus muscles which is the muscle that pushes you back of you were to trip forward," he said to a patient.

Clients can spend extensive hours at the center.    

"People have a stroke. They move slow. It may take one of my clients a half hour to get in and out of a wheelchair," Duni said. "They're not going to receive adequate therapy unless they receive two or three hours."  
Ed Hedrick had a stroke last December.

"I needed more therapy," he said. "One of the nurses there recommended this place."   

Now he no longer needs a walker.

"I don't use it anymore," he says. "I use it for a coat rack."

Al Lemanski also sought out after care therapy after he broke his left leg in two places.

"Now I can relate the exercises to the different locations and why they are giving me exercises, and that gives you so much courage," he said.

The health center is only closed five days during the year.
 
For more information, visit http://lifedesignfitness.com/