Active Rehab speeds recovery for an active person
January 09, 2020

Robert Tatarek
is a man on the move. A general contractor who loves biking, snowboarding and
being outdoors, the 36-year-old works hard and plays hard. His active lifestyle
took an unexpected turn when he was hit by a car and ended up in acute care. Fortunately,
Runnymede Healthcare Centre’s Active Rehab program was there to put Robert on a
speedy path to recovery.
The accident
happened while Robert was riding his bike in Toronto. After being struck by a
car he was thrown from his bike and landed on a curb with a badly broken leg. Robert
was taken into surgery in a nearby acute care hospital where a pin was inserted
in his femur.
After the
surgery, he was confined to a wheelchair, something Robert wasn’t used to. “I’m
the kind of person who can’t sit still for five minutes,” he said. “This wasn’t
something I ever expected to happen to me.”
Robert couldn’t
resume his life in the community after his stay in acute care. He needed treatment
to build up his strength so he could safely return home, and the acute care
hospital referred him to Runnymede’s Active Rehab program.
Designed to
support patients who can tolerate fast and intensive therapy, typically after
injury or surgery, Active Rehab helps patients move out of acute care to
receive timely access to treatment. The program enables patients to regain
their abilities and provides them with the skills and understanding they need
to return to the community when ready.
When Robert
arrived at Runnymede, he experienced severe pain and couldn’t stand or move
independently. Although he was optimistic, he admitted to feeling anxious about
the recovery journey ahead of him.
“The main thing
I thought about was how long it would take before I could get better,” he said.
“Knowing there was a whole team here dedicated to getting me back to how I was
before my injury made me feel very welcome and supported.”
The most
important goal for Robert was to restore his strength and balance so he could
get out of his wheelchair. The exercises the physiotherapists guided him
through helped with this and increased the range of motion in his leg.
Robert also had
to learn to adapt to new limitations that accompanied his injury. Runnymede’s
occupational therapy team helped him modify his everyday tasks so he could
safely get out of bed, wash himself and get dressed on his own. The team also arranged
for some modifications at home so he could use his washroom independently.
“Every day I
could see progress, and as I got stronger and stronger I was inspired to push
myself even harder with the exercises the physiotherapists gave me,” Robert said.
“The occupational therapists helped me get ready to get back into my daily
routine back home.”
Within five
days of his admission, Robert met all of his treatment goals and was ready for
discharge. He no longer needed support from others to move, could stand on his
own two feet and was able to get around with the support of a walker.
What’s next for Robert? He’s excited to get home and start back at work, but he knows there’s still some work ahead of him. “After I leave Runnymede, it’s up to me to finish my recovery,” he said. “The team here has taught me a lot about how to maintain my strength and I’m very confident about going back home.”