Consider this: You are a 6′6″ 18 year old high school football and basketball star and everything is going your way.  Then, in a gymnastics accident you break your neck and suffer a debilitating spinal cord injury.

Some might crumble with disappointment, but others rise up and take charge of their life.  In 1993 this was Brian Sheridan’s reality.

Sheridan did not only continue competing in sports, he also went on to graduate from college, become a registered occupational therapist, and start a number of nonprofit and for-profit businesses that help people with disabilities.  Of spinal cord injuries  Sheridan says “There is no cure.  Recovery needs to be comprehensive – mind, body and spirit.”

Sheridan founded Michigan Sports Unlimited in 2001, a nonprofit whose volunteers offer clinics in basketball, handball, wheelchair rugby (Murderball) and more!

For over 2 years now Sheridan has been working with Detroit Medical Center’s Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan where he manages therapists who help people recover from spinal cord injuries like the one he suffered.

He is also a research coordinator at the Rehabilitation Institute and recently completed a case study with patients using Whole Body Vibration.  Because WBV stimulates underused or atrophied muscles, it is an ideal form of therapy to use for those who have suffered spinal cord injuries.

Of Whole Body Vibration Sheridan says, “We thought it would create a better workout for those with spinal cord injuries.  We found lots of positive results with our patients and feel this therapy has a lot of promise.”

(Read the original article here)