Consistency and persistence are two major factors in our clients’ recovery. However, not all of our clients are able to attend Project Walk® on a regular basis. Still, the human nervous system needs proper stimulation to heal correctly and if that stimulation is stopped, recovery is hindered. Therefore, Project Walk®has developed an educational program, Train Your Therapist/Trainer, to teach therapists, certified personal trainers, and family members how to safely and effectively train our clients at their homes or gyms. This program allows our clients to stay at home while getting the proper stimulation to regain function. We supply you and your therapist, trainer, or even family member with the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively work your paralyzed body through your personalized home program.

Professional Track & Family Track

Due to the large increase of inquiries about becoming a Project Walk®Certified Trainer, we have modified the Train Your Therapist/Trainer program into two different tracks. The TYT Professional Track is designed for physical therapist, and certified exercise trainers that are interested in learning as much as possible about spinal cord injury (SCI) recovery in order to work with not only one specific SCI client but multiple clients in their area.

There are two different types of individuals who choose the TYT Professional Track. The first are certified exercise trainers who are looking to add the skill and knowledge of working with an SCI client to their current business model. There are many benefits to training SCI clients some of which include an increase in income and to provide a valuable service to the local SCI community. The second type of individual is a physical therapist who is looking to increase his/her knowledge of exercise-based SCI recovery. The increased knowledge from this program will help therapists and trainers improve their clients' recovery and stay informed on today’s rapidly changing methods of recovery.

Those who choose the TYT Professional Track will have the opportunity to become a Project Walk® Certified SCI Recovery Apprentice™ (CSRA™) at the end of their visit and begin their Certified SCI Recovery Trainer™ (CSRT™) Level I Certification. To find out more information about Project Walk's certification program please go the certification portion of this website. Once the therapist/trainer has completed their Apprenticeship Certification they will be posted on our website as a Certified Apprentice and begin their Level One Certification during the TYT visit.

The Train Your Therapist/Trainer Professional Track is a highly intensive one-week training course designed to introduce you and your physical therapist or trainer to The Dardzinski Method™ of spinal cord injury recovery. At the end of your visit your therapist/trainer will have had the opportunity to become a CSRA. You will also be provided with a home program exercise manual and DVD that will guide you through the exercises you need to do while at home.

During the week long visit to Project Walk, your therapist/trainer will be exposed to the following.

1. A minimum of six hours per day at the Project Walk®Institute.
   • A majority of this time will be spent receiving “hands-on” training.  
   • Must be there during all of your workout hours.
2. Review the basics of a spinal cord injury and the issues associated with it.
3. Classroom lecture and hands-on experience using The Dardzinski Method.
4. Hands on instruction of the Project Walk®safety guidelines for both C-Level and T-Level clients.
5. Hands on instruction of the basic modalities used at Project Walk.
6. Instruction and hands-on experience with Project Walk’s initial evaluation and Developmental Activity Scale™ (DAS™) assessment.   

Prior to coming to Project Walk, your therapist/trainer must meet the following criteria:

1. Currently hold a physical therapist license or a personal trainer certification through a national agency.
2. Read the SCI 101 study guide--a manual that covers the issues associated with SCI and how they are related to Project Walk® ideals.
3. Take and pass (with 80% proficiency) the SCI 101 exam.
4. Read and understand the Project Walk®Safety and Professionalism guidelines.
5. Read and understand the proper scoring techniques for the DAS and Initial Evaluation.
   • Be prepared to assist in these evaluations during the first hour of your visit and take a written test on the second day.

Program Objective
The objective of the week is to effectively educate you and your therapist/trainer about your personalized home program and prepare you to effectively conduct your home program workouts. At the end of the week your therapist/trainer should have successfully completed their CSRA and began their CSRT Level I.

First Day - You begin your visit with an orientation meeting that includes one member of the Certification Review Board and your supervising specialist. At this time, we will go over your required paperwork and answer any questions you may have about the program. We will also collect the completed SCI 101 exam from the therapist/trainer and discuss the agenda for the week.

Once the meeting is concluded we will begin the client evaluation and the DAS assessment in which your therapist/trainer will be assisting. At the conclusion of each day’s workout, your trainer will continue receiving hands-on experience and instruction with a Project Walk®Specialist. This instruction will help them gain a better understanding of the The Dardzinski Method and the basic modalities used at Project Walk.   

Day Two - Extension of day one where your therapist/trainer continues hands-on training while you workout. During day two, your therapist/trainer will take an exam on the DAS and initial evaluation procedure. He/she will continue preparing for the remaining tests during the week.

Day Three - Your supervising specialist and your therapist/trainer will review your individualized home program and discuss its goals, purpose, and safety issues. At this time, your therapist/trainer will begin the safety practical exam.

Day Four— The beginning of day four will begin with your therapist/trainer taking a written exam on The Dardzinski Method and continue the safety practical exam. You will continue to workout and your therapist/trainer will continue to review your home program and get hands on training and instruction from a Project Walk® Specialist.

Day Five— To start day five, your therapist/trainer will take the Final Exam for their CSRA certification and complete any part of the practical safety exam that has not been finished. By now you will have perfected your workout and your therapist/trainer will have completed the required hands-on training to successfully administer your home program exercises.

During the last 30 minutes of your final workout, you and your therapist/trainer will meet with a Lead Project Walk®Specialist along with your supervising specialist. During this meeting, we will review your home program, its goals and purpose, and the safety issues involved. You will be provided contact information and a long-term plan can be formulated at this time.

Your therapist/trainer will continue to receive training throughout the day. At the end of the day he/she will meet with a member of the Certification Review Board to discuss the progress made during the week and the educational options they have for further pursuing their CSRT Level I Certification.

Communication with your therapist/trainer and supervising specialist is extremely important. If you have any changes in function, you must let your specialist know. Remember, your program was designed to meet the needs of your nervous system displayed during your week visit. Changes of function must be followed up with an increase in stimulation and demand.

For more information on this program, please email Brian Malkinson at Brianm@projectwalk.org

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The second option is our Family Track Program. Over the years we have learned that some of our clients choose to work at home solely with members of their own family.  In cases such as this the family member will be trained by a Project Walk® Specialist on how to safely perform the exercises prescribed in the client’s home program. This will allow families to succeed in performing the necessary repetitions needed to improve.

The TYT Family Track is a one-week educational and training course designed to introduce you and your family member to The Dardzinski Method of SCI recovery. You and your trainer will be educated on SCI, the issues associated with it, and Project Walk®safety guidelines.

The program requires the family member who will be your trainer, to attend all of your workout sessions at Project Walk®during your week visit. During this time, you and your trainer will be introduced to The Dardzinski Method, your baseline evaluation, and the development of your individualized home program while under the supervision of a Project Walk®Certified SCI Recovery Specialist.

Prior to coming to Project Walk, your family trainer must meet the following criteria:

1. Read the SCI 101 study guide--a manual that covers the issues associated with SCI and how they are related to Project Walk®ideals
2. Take and pass (with 80% proficiency) the SCI 101 exam
3. Read and understand the Project Walk®Safety and Professionalism guidelines

Program Objective
The objective of the week is to effectively educate you and your trainer about your personalized home program and prepare you to effectively conduct your home program workouts.

First Day— You begin your visit with an orientation meeting with Ted Dardzinski or the Director of Education and your supervising specialist. At this time, we will go over your required paperwork and answer any questions you may have about the program. We will also collect the completed SCI 101 exam from the family member who will be training you and discuss the agenda for the week.

Once the meeting is concluded we will begin the client evaluation and workout with your trainer observing. At this time, your trainer begins safety training.

Day Two— Extension of day one where we prepare for your home program and your trainer continues safety training and observes while you workout.

Day Three— Your supervising specialist and your trainer will review your individualized home program and discuss its goals, purpose, and safety issues. At this time, your trainer may begin the safety practical exam and working hands-on with you.

Day Four— The beginning of day four will begin with your trainer taking the written Professionalism Exam and continue the safety practical exam. You will continue to workout and your trainer will continue to review your home program and get hands-on training.

Day Five— By now you will have perfected your workout and your trainer will have completed the required hands on training to successfully administer your home program exercises.

During the last 30 minutes of your final workout, you and your trainer will meet with the Director of Education along with your supervising specialist. During this meeting, we will review your home program, its goals and purpose, and the safety issues involved. You will be provided contact information and a long-term plan can be formulated at this time.

Communication with your trainer and supervising specialist is extremely important. If you have any changes in function, you must let your specialist know. Remember, your program was designed to meet the needs of your nervous system displayed during your week visit. Changes of function must be followed up with an increase in stimulation and demand.

For more information on this program please email Brian Malkinson at Brianm@projectwalk.org