21 Jun 2017

Rehab under the bonnet

From Nights, 8:10 pm on 21 June 2017

Tinkering with cars is helping people overcome disabilities incurred through stroke. 

A project at the Manfeild Raceway, near Feilding is dismantling car engines and sorting parts as a form of rehabilitation for stroke survivors under the age of 65.

Members of the Four Stroke Engine Club at Manfeild, with Dr Sara Joice (fifth from left)

Members of the Four Stroke Engine Club at Manfeild, with Dr Sara Joice (fifth from left) Photo: Supplied

The Four Stroke Engine Club club started several months ago when Massey University health psychologist Dr Sara Joice saw an opportunity for stroke survivors she works with, many of whom don't respond well to traditional rehab settings which are designed mainly for geriatric patients.

There are an estimated 60,000 stroke survivors in New Zealand and many struggle with depression and an associated lack of motivation, that can hamper their rehabilitation.

Getting ‘blokes with strokes’ (and women) aged in their 20s to 60s together under the bonnet of an impounded car is proving a success.

The parts they remove are sent to wreckers’ yards for spares, and the car bodies converted for stock car racing. Club members get free passes to the race meetings.

It all started when one of her clients David – and a founding member of the club – said he loved cars and car racing, she made inquiries. With support from Manfeild contacts as well as local stroke support unit, the Stewart Centre, the club came to life this April.

David was offered woodwork by the Stewart Centre, but he wasn't interested, cars were his thing. And since getting involved with the club, he's a "new man:" Dr Joice says.

"Stroke is associated with depression, depression is associated with lack of motivation ... with the age group we're working with, we're giving them meaningful activities, giving them things that they can do rather than focussing on things that they can't do," she says.

And it can be effective therapy, she says. 

"The apparatus is there within the brain, if we can build up the neural pathways there is a chance people will be able to regain some function or adapt to loss of function so they can be independent."

Now the club hopes to build a car and possibly race it in the future.