A Collection of questions we think you might be interested in!
Frequently Asked Questions—If you can’t find the answer you’re looking for, please contact us, and we will endeavour to find it!
ABOUT MAKING STRIDES
Making Strides is a leading rehabilitation centre specialising in spinal cord injuries (SCI) and neurological conditions. You’ll find us at two specialised facilities on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, where we offer innovative exercise physiology, physiotherapy, hydrotherapy, and massage therapy services. Read about our services here.
As the official rehabilitation partner for the Scientific Spinal Injury Project at Griffith University, we stay at the forefront of cutting-edge research and innovation to cure paralysis.
We operate two advanced facilities on the sunny Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. Strides South can be found in Burleigh Heads (Shed 2, 7 Dover Drive, Burleigh Heads, QLD 4220), and Strides North is in Ormeau (214 Lahrs Road, Ormeau, QLD 4208).
Both facilities feature cutting-edge equipment, private treatment rooms, ample parking and fully accessible amenities. Check them out.
Making Strides offers a unique and specialised focus on neurological rehabilitation, particularly for spinal cord injuries. Our “Purple Family” community creates a supportive environment where clients and trainers alike connect and motivate each other every day.
Boasting a combined 150+ years of experience, our team offers a wealth of knowledge and lived experience in the SCI rehabilitation space. This has allowed us to design custom, cutting-edge rehabilitation equipment to meet specific client needs.
Beyond this, our team maintains strong educational and research partnerships with Griffith University and the SIP project. Welcoming clients from around the world, we thrive on tailoring training programs to meet the goals of every client.
Making strides are Neurological rehabilitation specialists, meaning we see clients with Spinal cord injuries (SCI), Traumatic or Acquired Brain Injuries (TBI/ABI), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Cerebral Palsy (CP), Stroke, Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), Frederichs Ataxia (FA) and many more. If you’re unsure if Making Strides can help you, contact our team today for a chat.
SERVICES
Making Strides offers a comprehensive range of rehabilitation services, including:
● Exercise Physiology with Activity-Based Therapy (ABT) approaches
● Physiotherapy for enhancing movement and function
● Hydrotherapy for water-based rehabilitation
● Remedial massage therapy specifically tailored for neurological conditions
● Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) therapy
● Intensive Rehabilitation Programs for visitors
● Customised Home Programs
We also boast an extensive network of tried and tested occupational therapists, Orthotists and Psychosexual therapists.
Visit the services page for more.
Activity-Based Therapy (ABT) is a rehabilitation approach that focuses on high-intensity, task-specific, repetitive movement patterns to restore and enhance physical function.
Delivered by specially-trained exercise physiologists (EPs) and physiotherapists, ABT is used across a range of conditions—neurological, musculoskeletal, and post-surgical—to target the neuromuscular system and improve strength, coordination, mobility, and independence. Unlike passive therapies, ABT requires active client participation and is designed to challenge the body in meaningful, goal-oriented ways that mirror real-life activities.
While ABT can benefit a broad range of clients, it plays a particularly powerful role in neurological rehabilitation. In this context, ABT is used to stimulate neuroplasticity, helping the brain and spinal cord form new connections or strengthen existing ones to recover function after injury or disease. For example, a person with a spinal cord injury may engage in weight-bearing treadmill training with body-weight support to retrain walking patterns and re-engage dormant neural pathways.
Functional Electrical Stimulation is a therapeutic technique that uses electrical currents to activate nerves and muscles affected by paralysis or weakness.
At Making Strides, our therapists are specially trained in using FES devices to support neurological rehabilitation, helping clients improve muscle strength, reduce spasticity, and enhance functional movements. We house multiple Restorative Therapies FES devices, which are the gold standard in delivering therapeutic electrical stimulation.
You betcha! We love visitors and are proud to offer intensive rehabilitation programs specifically designed for interstate and international guests.
These comprehensive programs provide condensed, high-impact rehabilitation services combining multiple therapy approaches, including ABT, physiotherapy, FES, and hydrotherapy for maximum benefit during your stay. We also have a comprehensive locals guide, packed with tried and tested recommendations from our Purple Family that are accessible and fun – cause what’s work without a little play?
GETTING STARTED
Starting with Making Strides is easy – simply fill out our new client form or pop in to either facility in person. From here, we’ll send you an application pack via email.
Once the paperwork is sorted, we’ll schedule you for an initial consultation and comprehensive evaluation. Based on this assessment, our experts will create a personalised rehabilitation plan tailored to your specific needs and goals.
No, you don’t need a referral to access our services. You can contact us directly and book through our website or by visiting one of our facilities. However, we do request medical clearance from your doctor or specialist before beginning rehabilitation programs, which ensures we can tailor the program to suit each individual.
Before your first appointment, please supply us with relevant medical records, previous assessment reports, and information about current medications. We’ll also need a copy of your NDIS plan details or insurance information if you have funding.
Make sure you bring comfortable clothing that allows movement and assessment, and bring any mobility aids or assistive devices.
All clients are required to provide an up-to-date bone mineral density scan before commencing sessions at Making Strides. We do not have a minimum cut off for BMD, and will use the scan results to thoughtfully plan individual sessions to ensure utmost safety for every client.
We do! While we primarily work with adults, we are more than happy to welcome children into the big purple shed on a case-by-case basis. If you think your child would benefit from our services, please contact our team.
Our services are priced in line with the NDIS fee schedule for eligible clients. We also offer self-pay options and can work with insurance bodies for coverage. For specific pricing information based on your circumstances, please refer to our current fee schedule or contact our team directly.
Our facilities are open 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Monday to Friday, and 7:00 am – 1:00 pm on Saturday. If these times do not align with your schedule, please reach out to our team, as we offer early and later weekday sessions on a case-by-case basis.
We have a cancellation policy (notice prior to 3 p.m. the business day before your session) for all sessions at Making Strides. If you cannot make your session, please give our team a call or send an email as soon as possible so we can accommodate any waitlists and reschedule your appointment. Appointments cancelled with late notice will be charged at the full rate. (extenuating circumstances considered on a case-by-case basis)
TREATMENT & FACILITIES
Our facilities feature state-of-the-art equipment, including two 20m over-ground gait training tracks, multiple body weight support systems, private treatment rooms with padded tables for pressure injury prevention, specialised Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) devices, wheelchair accessible weight machines, custom-designed adapted gym equipment and fully accessible amenities.
We’re also right next to some pretty decent cafes, so you can refuel and have a chat before or after your session.
Session lengths vary depending on individual needs and the type of therapy. As a rule of thumb, most sessions are two hours in length, with the option to shorten to a one-hour block if needed. Group sessions, massages, hydrotherapy and most physiotherapy consults run for 60 minutes.
During your initial consultation, we’ll discuss the recommended session duration and frequency based on your specific goals and current condition. At times, funding can also dictate the session frequency/duration, so we will work with you to find the best solution.
The frequency of sessions depends on your individual needs, goals, and circumstances. Some clients benefit from multiple sessions per week, while others may attend once weekly or fortnightly. Our team will create a personalised recommendation based on your assessment and ongoing progress. For intensive programs, daily sessions are typically scheduled.
Yes, Making Strides services can be accessed using NDIS funding. Our services are priced in line with the NDIS fee schedule. During your initial consultation, we can discuss how your NDIS plan can support your rehabilitation journey and help you understand how to best utilise your funding.
Outside of group sessions, all EP, physio, hydrotherapy and massage sessions are one-on-one. Your initial consult will be with your lead trainer, who will then recommend a small team of trainers based on your individual needs. This is for your benefit, as each practitioner will bring a unique skill set and lens to assist in working towards your individual goals.
Collaboration is at the core of our ethos and is one of the things that makes us so unique. We’ve seen how beneficial it is to have a range of perspectives, knowledge, experience and backgrounds working towards one common purpose – your success. While you will have one lead trainer overseeing your program, you’ll work with a team of trainers who are skilled in prioritising your specific goals.
In short, a lot! We start with several testing measures to get to know you, your goals, current condition and presentation. This may include exploring exercises and positions you’ve never tried – don’t worry, we promise you are in safe hands!
From here, we’ll discuss your program moving forward and determine what services, frequency and duration will best suit your lifestyle, funding and goals. Feel free to ask as many questions as possible so that everyone is on the same page about curating the best possible program for you.
Yes, we have plenty of disabled parking spots available at both our Burleigh and Ormeau facilities.
Our team is highly trained and compassionate, and we fully understand that things don’t always go to plan when you’ve got a spinal cord injury or neurological condition. If an accident occurs, we will help as much as possible to avoid making a fuss. We do have safe places to shower and change if this is your preference.
Likewise, we have strict protocols in place to follow should a medical emergency occur (e.g. autonomic dysreflexia, seizure, changes in blood pressure).
BENEFITS & OUTCOMES
Clients often report both immediate and long-term health benefits. Short-term improvements typically include reductions in pain, spasticity, and improved circulation after sessions.
Long-term benefits may include sustained reductions in nerve pain, stronger joints, improved active range of motion, maintained bone density, and better overall health markers. Many clients also report fewer hospital visits after consistent training.
Beyond the physical benefits, the vast majority of our clients notice genuine improvements in motivation and mental state as a result of being part of a community that understands what you’re going through.
Our rehabilitation programs focus on functional gains that translate to real-world independence. Clients often require less formal support after participating in our programs and report enhanced ability to perform daily activities. These improvements range from learning to roll over to reduce caregiver reliance, to regaining strength for more active parenting, or mastering transfers to drive again.
The Purple Family is the special sauce that makes Strides, Strides. Beyond being a state-of-the-art rehabilitation facility, Making Strides offers a supportive, light-hearted community environment that welcomes everyone with open arms.
Regardless of whether you’re a client, staff member, relative, friend or carer, once you enter the purple walls, you are welcomed into our family unit. Our family is far-reaching, with a deep-rooted understanding of what you’re going through both physically and emotionally. We don’t judge, and no question is off limits. Above all else, we are here to make you feel welcome, heard and valued beyond the scope of your disability or diagnosis.
Our community offers the type of invaluable knowledge that only comes with lived experience – think wheelchair modifications, transfer techniques, car adaptations, assistive technology, and home accessibility solutions. We strive to create a space that allows for meaningful social connections with others with similar experiences while providing access to a network of trusted medical and allied health professionals.
We take a comprehensive approach to addressing medical considerations specific to spinal cord injuries. These include:
● Fully air-conditioned facilities with large fans to help manage thermoregulation challenges.
● Staff trained in various nerve pain management techniques and autonomic dysreflexia management.
● Padded tables, soft equipment, and extra protection during body weight support to prevent pressure injuries.
● For clients at risk of fractures, we request medical clearance and bone mineral density scans, using body weight support systems and standing frames to safely manage weight-bearing activities.
If you have specific concerns around your medical considerations, please raise them with one of our trainers who can work to make you feel more comfortable.
We work with each client to curate a program that best serves your needs, ability and health goals. Please flag any other health concerns during your initial consultation, or as they arise, and we will do our best to provide support, adjust your training or refer you to specialised help if it falls out of our scope.
Our team of trainers are also well versed in common co-morbidities and complications, we keep open lines of communication with any relevant medical practitioners who may also be on your treating team.
Absolutely! It is never too late to invest in yourself and make small improvements that can have a huge impact on your life. We are constantly blown away by the changes we see in clients, despite being several years post-injury or initial diagnosis.
Everyone is different, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to exercise, especially for those living with a spinal cord injury.
Exercise and Sports Science Australia (ESSA) uses the following guidelines:
- 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise 5x per week, or 20 minutes of vigorous-intensity aerobic exercise 3x per week.
- Strength training exercises targeting major muscle groups at least 2x per week.
- Flexibility training for the shoulder internal and external rotators at least 2x per week.
We understand this isn’t always possible for everyone’s abilities, schedule and funding. With this in mind, our team will work to find the best balance of sessions to meet your fitness goals and funding availability. We all aspire to hit our weekly movement totals – for some, this may be at Strides and for others, it may be a combination of a home program, sports and mainstream gym attendance.
Everyone is different, and there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach to exercise, especially for those living with a spinal cord injResearch shows that 3 FES sessions a week are ideal for optimal benefits. Many of our clients may choose to incorporate FES before or after a session or massage to make the most of their time in our facilities.
Keen to give this a go? We offer discounted FES sessions to all clients training 3 or more days a week. Chat to our team for more info!
We love that you are motivated to keep up your rehab at home, and are very happy to help you explore what is best for your body and routine! Whether it’s a home exercise program, telehealth appointments, stretching, or participation in a sport, the opportunities are endless.
Everyone is different, and so are their goals. The best thing to do is chat with your lead trainer, and we will provide guidance on how to best support your progress from home.
This is a tricky question. While we have had some clients with very incomplete injuries progress to feeling confident enough to attend a mainstream gym without the guidance of our trainers, the harsh reality of neurological conditions means this isn’t often the case.
While research continues to find a cure for SCI, the best thing we can do is be there to support each and every one of our clients as they progress through life with their injury. Some clients may stop seeing us due to funding constraints, work and family commitments or desire to pursue sport competitively. Regardless, the Purple walls are always open and welcoming to any of our clients.
Everyone is different in their presentation, which means we can’t guarantee any specific results without having a better understanding of what you’re facing. With things in mind, we have seen a wide array of results from our current and past clients, including:
- Changes in ambulation (walking)
- Strength changes
- Learning to transfer in and out of cars to begin driving again
- Progressing out of the chair and using KAFO’s to walk
- Progressing from a power chair to a manual chair
- Improvements in bowel, bladder and sexual function
- Reduction in pain
- Improved mobility
- Higher levels of confidence and improved mental health
As you can see, we aren’t a one-stop shop, and there is heaps we can do to help you. It’s also important to note that it’s not always about increasing function – but rather about feeling stronger, reducing pain, increasing your mobility and having a higher quality of life as part of the Strides community.
HOME PROGRAMS & ONGOING SUPPORT
Yes, we create customised home exercise and therapy programs designed for clients to continue their rehabilitation journey between sessions or after completing an intensive program.
These programs include remote support through regular check-ins and guidance to ensure proper technique and progress. All home programs are designed to work with available resources and integrate effectively into daily life.
Due to the specialised nature of our programs, we do not currently offer training outside of our two facilities in Burleigh and Ormeau. If you are unable to attend a face-to-face session, please contact our team to discuss a custom home exercise program (see above). We do offer online sessions on a case-by-case basis. However, we would need to have seen you in-house for assessments and training prior to commencing online (virtual) sessions.
Please contact our team if you wish to bring your trainer to a session.
Carers and support workers are welcome to hang out and observe during your session. With this in mind, our trainers generally do not need any assistance from your carer and can complete the session without their assistance.
If you require your carer to be nearby to assist with communication, personal care needs, support or other special circumstances, please let our team know. Beyond this, we have dedicated tables and seating for carers in our facilities, as well as coffee shops next door if they wish to grab a snack while you train.
At Making Strides, we focus on functional outcomes that translate to real-world independence rather than arbitrary metrics.
We use a combination of functional assessments, goal achievement measures and regular reviews to track progress. During your initial consultation, we establish baseline measurements specific to your condition and goals. From here, we’ll conduct periodic reassessments to document improvements and adjust your rehabilitation program as needed.
Between formal rehabilitation sessions, clients have access to our Purple Family for peer support. Our therapists can also provide detailed home program instructions and are available to answer questions via email or phone.
For clients using our home programs, we offer scheduled check-ins to monitor progress and address any challenges. We also connect clients with appropriate resources and other healthcare professionals as needed.
We are more than happy to provide training for your carers to ensure you are flourishing at home. With this in mind, we must consider what is and is not within a carer’s scope to ensure everyone is kept safe. Chat to us in person if you have specific questions on what we can and cannot do with carers – we will aim to help as much as possible!
Rehabilitation is a highly individualised journey, and timeframes vary significantly based on your specific condition, goals, and commitment to the program.
Some clients see meaningful improvements within weeks, while others engage in ongoing rehabilitation as part of their long-term health maintenance. During your initial consultation, we can discuss realistic timeframes based on your situation, but remember that neurological rehabilitation often involves ongoing work rather than a fixed endpoint.
Service animals on leashes are welcome at any of our facilities. Any other furry friends will need to please stay home.
RESEARCH & EDUCATION
As the official rehabilitation partner for the Spinal Injury Project at Griffith University, we maintain direct connections to cutting-edge research in neurological rehabilitation. Our team regularly participates in professional development, attends conferences, and reviews the latest scientific literature. We also contribute to the field through our own clinical observations and by providing educational resources to other healthcare professionals.
Yes, we provide high-quality training resources, including manuals and international workshops for healthcare professionals. We also offer educational materials for clients and families to better understand neurological conditions and rehabilitation approaches. Check out our education hub, the “Making Strides School of Facts ‘n’ Stuff”
Our newsletter also contains valuable information and updates on rehabilitation techniques and research developments – sign up here to ensure you don’t miss out.
We thought you would never ask! Sign up here and prepare your brain for plenty of purple goodness.
Our newsletter provides updates on rehabilitation techniques, research developments, community events, and success stories from our Purple Family, plus some light-hearted entertainment—we like to think we are pretty funny.
You betcha! We love getting social at Strides, and will often host inclusive and accessible events to help bring the community together. Each year, we host a big birthday bash to bring the whole Purple Family together. Beyond this, we have also hosted boys’ poker nights, ladies’ drag bingo and craft nights, pub crawls, dinners and more.
If you’re after something a bit more active, some of our team members also volunteer with NSW Disabled Waterskiing, which holds accessible water skiing days through the summer months in Tweed Heads.
We also do intensive Exercise Therapy blocks at Sargood on Collaroy throughout the year – the team at Sargood host an amplitude of accessible events and activities that we love getting involved in during our time down south.
To stay in the loop and see what’s coming up, join our Facebook Group Making Strides Fam and Crew, sign up for our newsletter and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
We are lucky to work with, and recommend, the services of a wide range of allied health partners that specialise in SCI and neurological conditions. The following list is by no means extensive. If you’re after a specific support or service, please reach out and we can point you in the right direction. LINK TO WEBSITES/ADD CONTACT DETAILS FOR ALL THE BELOW
- Occupational Therapy: Daniel Wray from Live It OT. Specialises in neurological rehabilitation and management within acute settings and at home, including assistive technology scripting and product recommendations.
- Psychosexual Therapy: Bridie Allen at CareRehab. Bridie has experience working with adults who have a newly acquired catastrophic injury and long term mental health psychosocial difficulties. She is dedicated to supporting clients explore their sexuality and sexual needs with the goal of improving pleasure, wellbeing and quality of life.
- Neuromuscular Orthotics: James Harbidge. Working out of our Burleigh and Ormeau clinics, James brings a wealth of knowledge around fitting, manufacturing and prescribing specialist orthotics and custom-made bracing options for simple and complex presentations in both the upper and lower limbs.
- Medical consumables: Molmike Medical. Conveniently located right next to our Burleigh facility, Molmike provides high-quality, specialised medical consumables for diverse healthcare needs.
- Nursing services and wound care: Holistic Nursing Solutions (HNS). HNS provides professional nursing services, specialising in acquired and catastrophic injuries. They offer in-home support, and also have a clinic next to our Burleigh facility.
- Lymphatic Massage and Fluid Management: Sarah Paxford.
We love that you want to rep Strides out on the streets! We have shirts, jumpers, water bottles and hats available for purchase at our Burleigh and Ormeau facilities.
Keep your eyes peeled for our online store, which is coming soon.