Club learns of scuba gym therapy
The Rotary Club of Umina Beach heard about scuba gym therapy at its meeting on Wednesday, August 10.
Scuba gym therapy and adaptive scuba diving were designed for people with disabilities, special needs, PTSD and amputees, according to Woy Woy's Scuba Gym Australia founder Ms Lyndi Leggett.
Rotary club president Mr Wayne Dowdle said the club learnt that Scuba Gym was developed in the US by a keen scuba diver.
He saw the benefits of hyperbaric chambers in the recovery process, after his young son became a paraplegic as a result of an accident.
He started taking scuba diving in the local pool, breathing pure oxygen similar to a hyperbaric chamber.
Mr Dowdle said the end result was that he made a remarkable recovery over time, contrary to the medical prognosis.
"Lyndi spoke with conviction and passion about the positive benefits Scuba Gym has made in and to a number of people's lives."
With Ms Leggett was Ms Alisa Dehe, who was affected by multiple sclerosis.
"Alisa spoke to the personal benefits it has made to her life with the increase in mobility and limb strength," said Mr Dowdle.
He said Scuba Warrior was another program underway designed for veterans.
Mr Dowdle said Ms Leggett had also set up a business "to earn money for food for the table" called Hull of a Scrub which cleaned boat hulls of barnacles and marine growth.
SOURCE:
Newsletter, 10 Aug 2022
Wayne Dowdle, Rotary Umina Beach