# Spinal & brain injury rehabilitation

Soviet circus acrobat, Valentin Dikul, performing his power juggling act in 1985. The sphere balls weighed 88 lbs (40 kg) each. At age 14, Dikul was seriously injured during a gymnastic performance when a steel support cross beam broke, causing him to fall 43 ft (13 meters) and fracture his spine and suffer a traumatic brain injury. As part of his recovery process, Dikul began to train 5 to 6 hours a day stretching rubber bands, lifting heavy objects and doing push-ups. However, he was unable to even move his legs. Doctors told him that there was no hope that he would be able to walk again, but Dikul persisted by continuing to workout everyday until he would pass out from exhaustion. As he began to develop more muscles on his chest, body and arms, Dikul would incrementally increase the weights. Once he regained his upper body strength, he began to tie ropes to his feet and move them using a pulley system. At first he would move them just by pulling the ropes with his hands, then he began using counterweight loads. After 8 months, Dikul was discharged from the hospital. His story was told in the media and he became bombarded with letters asking for help. Dikul spent 3 to 4 hours a day responding to people and would send them instructions on his method of rehabilitation. In 1988, Dikul opened up a rehabilitation center to help people with spinal injuries. He is still heading it to this day and is alive and well.