Acupuncture Makes Strides in Treatment of Brain Injuries and PTSD. Military field physicians are using the practice of acupuncture to treat cases of mild traumatic brain injuries (mild TBI), including concussions, and cases of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Persons with disabilities find themselves surrounded by an array of conditions that they experience from their primary condition. If someone has Muscular Dystrophy, they may live with chronic muscle fatigue and pain because those are the symptoms of having Muscular Dystrophy. The Chanda Plan Foundation talks a lot about this paradigm because we believe it is commonly dismissed, especially when it comes to prevention. We educate and promote the utilization of integrative therapies as a resource to subside and control symptoms because as we all know, if we don’t do it that way, using medication to address the situation will only add more side-affects and potentially more medication to address those side-affects.
While this cycle is very disheartening to persons living with disabilities and The Chanda Plan Foundation is addressing it via our Quality of Life Program and Integrative Therapies Pilot Program, there is even more preventive measures that need to be considered.
The Executive Director of our organization was doing yoga in February of this year (2011) and broke her femur in the process. Making note of this to our community was difficult for Ms. Hinton Leichtle as she feared what contribution it might give to the concerns and stigma that exist around integrative therapies. However, when looking back on her entire journey, we knew there was education to be shared from the situation.
Ms. Hinton Leichtle broke her femur due to Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is yet another condition many individuals with disabilities face, especially if they use a wheelchair for mobility. And… if you are only consuming medications to address conditions, they too will affect your bone density. Where is our prevention for osteoporosis? In addition to movement, was the possibility and freedom to leave our wheelchairs completely forgotten?
Like integrative therapies, physicians need to provide all the resources for an individual to keep their bodies in shape post disability or diagnoses. Ms. Hinton Leichtle was 9 years old when injured and while a standing frame was utilized in rehab, having the ability to have it at home upon discharge was not.
Had I stood everyday, I probably would not have broken my femur. Due to all the adaptive technologies and equipment, persons with disabilities are out of their chairs. We rock climb, cycle, kayak and even do yoga. I don’t believe my physicians prepared me for that. The cost of my standing frame would have been far less for my insurance to cover vs. the cost of surgery and hospitalization resulting in my broken femur.
If you are newly injuried or diagnosed, demand a standing frame for your home and use it! For those of us whom have been injured for more than 5+ years, you can still make some changes. While your body may not be safe on a standing frame, there are certain teas, foods and supplements to support you. In addition to the resources below, please consider reading the SCI association’s article on Osteoporosis and prevention.
RESOURCES:
Mobility impairment can provide a significant barrier to daily activities, but also to out door activities that make such a huge difference in our lives, especially for those who had love for a particular out door activity prior to disability or diagnosis.
Chanda (founder of The Chanda Plan Foundation) has lived with paralysis for 20 year as of 2011. As a child, running, riding a bike, camping and climbing trees where some of her favorite things about being able to move the body. After regaining good health through integrative therapies, which is a barrier of itself, she found her body having the ability to move with more strength and ability. Returning to her childhood activities and love for the outdoors still felt untouchable. Until…
In the summer of 2009, she went to Shake-A-Leg Miami to participant in the No Barriers USA summit. No Barriers is a powerful community of modern day pioneers who use the experience of nature to promote innovation, education and assistive technologies that create transformation life experiences and inspire people with challenges to live full and active lives. She cycled and kayaked for the first time!!
She is now a No Barriers Summit advisory board member for this years 2011 No Barriers Summit in Winter Park, Colorado at the Nation Sports Center for the Disabled. Everyone should come take part in this empowering event this summer (June 30th - July 3). Chanda looks forward to scuba driving and rock climbing.
The Chanda Plan Foundation is excited about the documentary, 9000 needles.
9000 Needles is bringing acupuncture to the masses. The documentary—it follows Devin Dearth, a 40-year-old former bodybuilder, to China, where he is treated with acupuncture after suffering a massive stroke—made a splash at several of this year’s film festivals, including the Gotham Independent Film Awards, where it was a finalist alongside media darling and eventual winner Waiting for Superman. The film was directed by Devin’s brother, Doug Dearth, whose frustrations with the U.S. health insurance industry during his brother’s recovery inspired him to research international options. He spent three-and-a-half months filming in Tianjian, China, where Devin participated in an affordable, comprehensive stroke rehabilitation program that included frequent acupuncture treatments. 9000 Needles tells a unifying story of how Devin’s family and local community put aside preconceived notions about medicine to embrace the solution that offered their loved one the most benefit. Doug Dearth recently spoke with AcuTake about filming his brother’s journey—and how he hopes it’ll improve perceptions and accessibility of acupuncture in the U.S. - To read more visit ACUTAKE.
The story is sad, but true. We are leaving or country to receive proper care! With The Chanda Plan Foundation’s Integrative Medical Therapies Pilot Program, we are dedicated in fighting this unthinkable reality. Integrative therapies, which are preventative and proactive, MUST become more accessible through our health care system.
Learn more about the documentary 9000 Needles!
Chris Chappell, hired a few months ago by Craig Hospital after serving as a volunteer for ten years, holds the graduate relations position and rightfully so. As an alumni patient of Craig Hospital, Chappell has experienced first hand the value of Craig Hospital’s rehabilitation model and wonderful staff.
Chanda Hinton, ED and founder of The Chanda Plan Foundation did not have the pleasure of doing rehab at Craig after sustaining a spinal cord injury at age nine because of her age and insurance carrier. Despite this, Hinton has found a home at Craig. While volunteering at Craig as a mentor for patients with spinal cord injuries, Hinton also takes full advantage of their re-evaluation process and leading physicians.
I feel safe knowing that I have Craig Hospital in my community. I not only feel like I get quality care from them as an out patient, I have the honor of being connected to an amazing and successful community of friends and colleagues that share the same physical limits as I. ~ Chanda Hinton
Among that community of friend and colleagues, The Chanda Plan Foundation is excited about Chappell’s newest project. On his way to work one day, he was behind a car and noticed that the license plate in front of him represented the Susan G. Komen, breast cancer awareness organization. He then asked himself why Craig Hospital doesn’t have a similar support mechanism, which allows Colorado residents to voluntarily purchase a Craig Hospital license plate to support Craig Hospital’s patients, their families and the community at large.
Starting the process in early August, Chappell has been working with the State Of Colorado Dept Of Revenue, (Division of Motor Vehicles ~ DMV) members of the Craig Hospital staff and marketing committee, our state senator Nancy Spence and other state organizations who currently have a license plate program in place. The final push and goal is to obtain a required 3,000 signatures by December 31, 2010.
Signatures are needed! The signature pages for the petition will be available in each department at Craig Hospital, for all shifts. Chappell has also made arrangements to have the sign-up sheets available at the hospital entrances as well as in his office. Every legal resident of Colorado with a valid driver’s license is eligible to participate in this program, so ask for a petition sheet and tell your friends and family to sign up as well! To access a sheet, you can contact Chris Chappell at cchappell@craighospital.org.
A friend handed Crystal Hinton-Larson (co-founder of The Chanda Plan Foundation) a book. The title was “Waking” and it was written by Matthew Sanford. The friend encouraged Crystal to read it, stating that the author embodied both her and her sister, Chanda Hinton-Leichtle (founder of The Chanda Plan Foundation). Chanda and Crystal live at polar opposite ends of movement. Crystal is a yoga student. Bending, folding and expressing her body through poses. Chanda is a quadriplegic. Bending and folding her arm just enough to drink from her cup. Matthew is a yoga student and paraplegic. How is that possible? It is. Waking is a story of silence, mind, body, and movement. Chanda stole the book from Crystal. Reading the entire thing from front to back, Chanda found a deeper appreciation for her paralyzed body. Despite paralysis, movement is possible.
It’s been five years since Crystal was handed that book and what a perfect gift. In addition to being an author, Matthew is also the founder of Mind Body Solutions. The Chanda Plan Foundation and Mind Body Solutions collaborate on many different levels. Crystal is now an adaptive yoga teacher and Chanda does yoga every week!
“I’ve found movement and a friend for life” ~ Chanda Hinton
Matthew Sanford will be the keynote speaker for The Chanda Plan Foundation’s annual benefit gala known as People To Know. More details about People To Know coming soon!
The Chanda Plan Foundation had its first website in 2006. For the past 4 years, we have heard nothing but wonderful things from its viewers. The numerous compliments included praise about its creativity, uniqueness and liveliness. Similar to life, everything has its growth and that is exactly what occurred. Not only has our programs grown, our message and demand has as well and this we want to share.
Our new website hasn’t lost any of the qualities people have fallen in love with. It has only improved. We are a proactive organization that has news to share every day. Our new website allows personnel within the organization to make changes at any time. Language, messages, programs, testimonials, friends, news, videos and photos are always fresh and interactive.
We want to thank Nichez (www.nichez.com) for being the best design team a website could ever wish for.
The Chanda Plan Foundation’s new website is live and we’re so excited!!
