Jonjo Bright© Photo Healy Racing
Irish Injured Jockeys have purchased an Exoskeleton suit to help with the rehabilitation of injured riders who have suffered lower extremity paralysis.
The suit is based in Co. Antrim at Neurokinex, a specialist rehabilitation centre that has more of a gym-like look and feel than a hospital which was important to the board of IIJ.
The first jockey to use this piece of equipment is Jonjo Bright, who suffered severe injuries from a fall in March 2013.
The suit enables Jonjo to stand in an upright position and to use his own body weight to walk in the machine with the guidance of a physio trained in Ekso Bionics also funded by the IIJ.
The suit has had major and immediate positive effects in terms of breathing and blood pressure whilst reducing muscle wastage, increasing bone density and like any form of exercise the endorphins it helps produce have superb psychological benefits also.
Bright said, "In a way we are exploring the unknown. It's massive that the Irish Injured jockeys have bought this piece of equipment, this is what I was dreaming of. It allows me to literally step into the unknown".
The cost for such a robotic therapy device is expensive, not to mention training the correct personnel in becoming highly proficient in operating the Exoskeleton suit and ensuring supervision of each individual session. For Irish Injured Jockeys and Jonjo Bright the benefits of such a device far out-weigh the cost involved.
Ruby Walsh, Chairman of Irish Injured Jockeys, said, "It is important that people know that Irish Injured Jockeys is 100% funded by public donations and fundraising events, without this support we simply could not support our injured jockeys efficiently.
"There are lots of ways to help through donation, volunteering, fundraising or buying online. For this information, and to see Jonjo walking in the exoskeleton suit, visit irishinjuredjockeys.com".
At Galway Races, Champion Flat Jockey and IIJ Director, Pat Smullen commented, "Enhancing the care and support given to jockeys is central to our purpose and the driving force behind everything IIJ does".
