The discussion makes him passionate.
Pedro Forte believes too many people are sitting around idle instead of taking personal responsibility to become ambulatory, exercise and participate in rehabilitation in order to live independently. He also suggests that family members must not leave their relatives “to meander through life helplessly” but are a critical part of their recovery by pooling together resources for caretaking and assisting loved ones who are unwell and need to recover.
Forte, an ISSA (International Sports Sciences Association) Specialist in Exercise Therapy who focuses on Holistic Physical Rehabilitation and is also a Certified personal Trainer says that people can live much longer lives if only they would take measures to prevent illness (through exercise and diet) and if illness or injury occurs, that rehabilitation should be the next step once medical clearance is given.
“We have been told by our Chief Medical Officer here and cardiologist Tony Harris that there are 49 strokes a month, 11 heart attacks a month and in between there we have amputations from diabetes, chronic NCDs, hypertension out of control and a number of injuries from broken ankles and other bones to Multiple Sclerosis, ALS and other illnesses. People must be educated to the fact that after a hospital stay or medical treatment, those in the allied health care services step in to bring back your strength, endurance and functionality as best as is medically and otherwise possible,“ he told Caribbean Medical News.
Forte’s clinic, which is also mobile, treats anyone who has had a stroke, COPD, asthma, cardiac events, dementia, acquired brain injury and any number of neurological illnesses as well as a plethora of other illnesses, injuries and disabilities.
“It is critical that the Ministry, the family, medical professions and people like me …all play a part in returning people to as close as possible to being able to perform functions of daily living. I have seen young people who have suffered stroke who have not been tended to by family or loved ones who perceive this as an end-of-life event that cannot be reversed”, he said.
He appealed to Barbadians to not “look the other way” and to enrol the recovering in programmes (with medical clearance) working alongside their health care provider to restore health and balance to the affected individual’s life.
“Young people have been struck by lightning, suffer immensely and have to take baby steps to return to some semblance of normalcy. They have done it in and I have seen remarkable recovery in my patients from sports players who have been injured…I have seen them get back in their game over time. And this is so for everyone including those who have suffered some other illness. The same applies to the elderly who suffer strokes or any other illness. There is life after a stroke, after acquired brain injury, after a broken hip, after frozen shoulder and I can go on. Strokes can leave one disabled but depending on the type of stroke, rehabilitation, ambulation, exercise therapy, love and care can certainly return someone to a level of well-being once we get help immediately after discharge from hospital”. He implored Barbadians to adopt a more preventative approach by exercising, eating a balanced meal, avoiding food allergy and getting regular check-ups at their GPs offices.
Forte works closely with general practitioners and doctors who specialize in various medical disciplines as well as with individual sports enthusiasts who have been injured.
“Especially in those who are competitive sports enthusiasts, they just want to be able to play again. My job is to get them there and this is why I also operate a fully equipped gym, so we can prevent illness through exercise and menu and diet planning and periodized training as well as rehabilitate people through the same methodology but now adding exercise and other therapies”, he added.
Forte will soon be offering other services and currently also does in-home visits for those who are unable to leave home.
