:: Getting a Grip after SCI

There are some defining moments in life where you know things aren't ever going to be the same. And, for 20 year old student Rob Smith, an accident which left him with a high-level spinal cord injury meant everything had to change.

After nine months in hospital and a long rehabilitation, Rob was able to stand and to walk short distances using crutches. Desperate to regain his independence, he was frustrated by the limitations caused by his poor hand function and the lack of suitable equipment available, so he began to design aids to help him get back to doing the things he once enjoyed. With help from his family, he put together a range of aids which enabled him to firmly hold and use everyday items.

About This Image: Playing wii with active hands gripping device The results were remarkable. Rob's gripping aids brought him the added independence he needed, helping him carry out tasks he thought he might never do again, from DIY to skiing, riding a hand-bike to working out at the gym, so his family began to make the aids available to others.

The Active Hands Company is now one of the world's leading manufacturers of gripping aids for the disabled, enabling many people, both adults and children, to use their hands more freely and live more independently. Over the years they've helped thousands of people take part in activities they never thought possible, from gardening to rowing, and from rehabilitation after a stroke to fun with the Nintendo Wii.

For more information on how Active Hands can help you get the most out of life go to www.activehands.co.uk