a New Neurofunctional Training Program for Cork

Headway in Cork have been involved in a new initiative which aims to promote physical activity for people living with neurological conditions. The Neurofunctional Training Programme (NFTP) began in October 2022. The programme was formed in collaboration with Headway Cork, Cork Sports Partnership, physiotherapists from Cork Kerry Community Healthcare and staff from Mayfield Sports Complex. 

The programme also aims to put in a transitional pathway from the physiotherapy clinic and to provide physical activity in the clients’ community. Cork Sports Partnership provided funding to kit out Mayfield Sports Complex with adapted equipment such as ergometers, a medical treadmill, Balance Analysis Machine and adapted hand straps. This additional equipment made it more accessible for our clients to participate in physical activity in their community.

Each client participating on the programme receives a tailored rehabilitation exercise program based on an assessment, implemented and supervised by Neurological Physiotherapists based in Cork Kerry Community Health Care.

Bob O’Brien, Community Rehabilitation Worker with Headway highlights the impact the service provides:

“Many of our clients attending this program would have had no access to physiotherapy for several years, nor would they have stepped into a gym for a long time due to expense of memberships, inaccessible machines, and untrained staff. Removing these barriers for our clients & creating pathways to physical activity and exercise in their community is one of the many goals of our community rehabilitation service in Headway. This wouldn’t have been possible without the fantastic support from Cork Sports Partnership & Karen Brosnan’s team, I can’t emphasise how grateful we are”. 

Bob O’Brien Community Rehabilitation Worker, Headway