The Beyond Therapy Program at Shepherd Center is a rigorous, activity-based therapy program designed to help people with neurological disorders, including spinal cord injury, improve their lifelong health, minimize secondary complications and get the most out of any new neural links to their muscles.

True to its name, the Beyond Therapy Program goes beyond the therapy a person receives as an inpatient or even an outpatient, where the focus is on adapting to a new set of capabilities. Those programs are designed to get patients as independent as possible and trained on how to take care of themselves after discharge.

In contrast, Beyond Therapy focuses on promoting lifelong wellness and maximizing muscle and neural return, especially weaker muscles and nerve connections that may have been ignored in the initial phases of recovery. Optimizing recovery, toning up seldom-used muscles and decreasing secondary complications that typically occur among people with neurological disorders are central objectives of the program.

The Beyond Therapy Program staff consists of therapists who specialize in exercise physiology, therapeutic recreation, physical and occupational therapy. Staff members integrate the neural development and strength goals of each client into an individualized program, incorporating the use of innovative treatments that may result in some level of recovery. Beyond Therapy engages the concepts of athletic training and neuroplasticity, which is the belief that the spinal cord can adjust itself functionally by reorganizing neural maps and allowing some recovery of lost abilities.

The Beyond Therapy Program has three main components

Clients select a therapy track based on their current state of health, personal short-term and long-term goals and budget. The three components of Beyond Therapy are:

The Wellness Program
This reconditioning program offers a holistic, individualized approach to lifestyle changes. After obtaining medical clearance from your personal physician, an exercise specialist will design an individualized exercise program based on your goals and abilities. The advantages of joining the Wellness Program are that the services are coordinated through Shepherd Center. Although the fees for services are applied separately, they are significantly discounted for Wellness Program members. Clients enrolled receive membership to Promotion Fitness Center, Shepherd Center's accessible gym and pool, and access to personal trainers. The following list is an example of services that could be included in your wellness plan.

The Physical Enhancement Program
The Physical Enhancement Program is a rigorous "boot camp" program that combines the expertise of an individualized training team to assist clients in attaining the highest level of functioning. The program offers the greatest potential for improvement by acknowledging the concept of neuroplasticity, which is the belief that the spinal cord can adjust itself functionally by reorganizing neural maps and allowing some recovery of lost abilities. After receiving medical clearance, each client will be evaluated by a physical therapist to determine the plan of care and design the physical enhancement program.  The program is intense, at least nine hours per week, and requires a significant time and financial commitment on the part of the client. The program offers training and support for clients and caregivers in implementing a long-term, intense, activity-based program.

Four specific components of the program include:

The Beyond Therapy program incorporates the use of state-of-the-art rehabilitation equipment and may include the following interventions:

The Experimental Protocols Program
Experimental Protocols is the third component of the Beyond Therapy Program. It is designed to assist clients with navigating through the experimental procedures offered at Shepherd Center or elsewhere. This component is appropriate for people who are anxious to pursue innovative procedures, but require information about these procedures and the necessary training to prepare.