Empower people with physically disabling conditions to maintain and improve their health and wellness by ensuring access to therapeutic physical activity.
People with disabilities are the largest minority group in the U.S., making up 27.2% of the population of the United States (according to Census Bureau 2014 report on prevalence using Social Security data). People with “severe disability” make up 17.6%, and people with upper and lower extremity “functional limitations” make up 15.4%, of the population.
Each of us is only one car accident, one slip and fall, one faulty blood vessel, one diagnosis away from a chronic disabling condition.
People with disabling conditions, such as spinal cord injuries and strokes, are more susceptible to chronic secondary health conditions than the general population–including cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, the risks of which can be improved with physical activity and exercise.
Interactive Symposium on Physical Activity After Stroke and Spinal Cord Injury,
Saturday, April 4, 2020.
Healthcare Professional-oriented lectures: 8:30 Healthcare Professional Registration 9:00 Sandra Billinger, PT, Ph.D. physical activity after stroke and Q&A 10:00 Christopher West, Ph.D. physical activity after SCI and Q&A Community-oriented lectures: 11:00 Community Member Registration** 11:30 Sandra Billinger, PT, Ph.D., physical activity after stroke and Q&A 12:30 LUNCH provided free of charge 1:15 Christopher West, Ph.D., physical activity after SCI and Q&A 1:30-4:30 Adapted yoga classes and Interactive exercise demonstrations
**Community organizations that provide physical activities for people with disabling conditions will have information tables in the lobby.
This Event is made possible by a grant from the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute.
The project described is supported by Grant Number 90PRRC0001-01-00 from
the Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human
Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the Wellness
Edge staff and do not necessarily represent the official views of the
Administration for Community Living Or HHS
2019 Project: Access to Quality Exercise
Gathering Strength, Inc., is collaborating with Dr. Daniela Terson de Paleville of the University of Louisville’s Health and Sports Sciences department, and Frazier Rehab Institute’s Community Fitness and Wellness program on a project to develop effective exercise regimens for nonambulatory people with spinal cord injuries.
Gathering Strength is committed to raising the funds to implement exercise and stress reduction interventions for 20 participants with nonambulatory SCI over 20 weeks. Click on “Support the Mission” above to support this project.
If you are a person with a nonambulatory spinal cord injury and want to participate, click the button below to find information.
Gathering Strength Inc., helps people with disabling conditions, such as spinal cord injury and stroke, to engage in therapeutic physical activity. Gathering Strength collaborates with Frazier Rehab Institute’s Community Fitness and Wellness program in Louisville, Ky to provide a wide variety of accessible exercise opportunitites.
Click on a picture, or visit the “Get Inspired” page, to read more and see videos of people engaging in therapeutic exercise.
Resources below include some helpful advice, interesting research, and practical guidelines on how to maintain and improve fitness and wellness while living with a disabling condition, such as spinal cord injury or stroke. (We do not specifically endorse or affirm any third-party’s information; please use your own, best judgment in evaluating it.)
Our Mission
The mission of Gathering Strength, Inc. is to:
Empower people with physically disabling conditions to maintain and improve their health and wellness by ensuring access to therapeutic physical activity.
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Why it Matters
Interactive Symposium on Physical Activity After Stroke and Spinal Cord Injury,
Healthcare Professional-oriented lectures:
8:30 Healthcare Professional Registration
9:00 Sandra Billinger, PT, Ph.D. physical activity after stroke and Q&A
10:00 Christopher West, Ph.D. physical activity after SCI and Q&A
Community-oriented lectures:
11:00 Community Member Registration**
11:30 Sandra Billinger, PT, Ph.D., physical activity after stroke and Q&A
12:30 LUNCH provided free of charge
1:15 Christopher West, Ph.D., physical activity after SCI and Q&A
1:30-4:30 Adapted yoga classes and Interactive exercise demonstrations
**Community organizations that provide physical activities for people with disabling conditions will have information tables in the lobby.
This Event is made possible by a grant from the University of Kentucky’s Human Development Institute.
The project described is supported by Grant Number 90PRRC0001-01-00 from the Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the Wellness Edge staff and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Administration for Community Living Or HHS
2019 Project: Access to Quality Exercise
Gathering Strength, Inc., is collaborating with Dr. Daniela Terson de Paleville of the University of Louisville’s Health and Sports Sciences department, and Frazier Rehab Institute’s Community Fitness and Wellness program on a project to develop effective exercise regimens for nonambulatory people with spinal cord injuries.
Gathering Strength is committed to raising the funds to implement exercise and stress reduction interventions for 20 participants with nonambulatory SCI over 20 weeks. Click on “Support the Mission” above to support this project.
If you are a person with a nonambulatory spinal cord injury and want to participate, click the button below to find information.
Get Inspired
Gathering Strength Inc., helps people with disabling conditions, such as spinal cord injury and stroke, to engage in therapeutic physical activity. Gathering Strength collaborates with Frazier Rehab Institute’s Community Fitness and Wellness program in Louisville, Ky to provide a wide variety of accessible exercise opportunitites.
Click on a picture, or visit the “Get Inspired” page, to read more and see videos of people engaging in therapeutic exercise.
Tom, C4 incomplete SCI
Raymond, stroke
Liz, T7 spinal cord injury
Helpful Information
Resources below include some helpful advice, interesting research, and practical guidelines on how to maintain and improve fitness and wellness while living with a disabling condition, such as spinal cord injury or stroke. (We do not specifically endorse or affirm any third-party’s information; please use your own, best judgment in evaluating it.)
Therapeutic Exercise Facilities:
Nutrition, Stress Reduction, Etc.
Peer Support:
Caregiver support:
Exercise guidelines: