Jim Webber writing for LostLettermen.com reports that most people would have given up on the idea of walking again if it had been nearly two decades since they had done it.
But almost 20 years since he was paralyzed on an NFL football field, it appears as if the resolve of former Detroit Lions offensive lineman Mike Utley hardens each day in pursuit of his dream: Walking off the field at the Lions’ stadium, Ford Field.
That’s because on Nov. 17, 1991 — a date that is forever etched in Utley’s memory — a freak injury resulted in him breaking his neck and being carted off the field at the Pontiac Silverdome while he flashed a “thumbs up” sign to lets fans and teammates know he would be OK.
And so Utley, now 45, remains determined to walk off an NFL field one more time because, as he put it, “A man walks on the field of battle and he walks off the field of battle.”
That’s why today you will find Utley waking up each day at 5 a.m. about three hours east of Seattle in Wenatchee, Wash., and working out vigorously. He lifts four times a week and does physical therapy twice a week while running the Mike Utley Foundation with his wife, Dani, in hopes he will one day help find a cure for spinal cord injuries.
Because as much as Utley tries to will himself to walk again, even he admits, “I need science.”
It’s amazing that Utley has come this far after initially being unable to move his arms after the injury. Now he’s not only able to use his shoulders, arms and hands, Utley can function on his own, is regularly involved in action sports and even has partial movement in his legs.”I can walk with ankle braces, I can walk with crutches or a walker,” Utley said. “The problem is, it’s not really functional, as in to be independent, to be able to go to the grocery store. It’s still more feasible and — safety-wise — it’s more productive for me to be able to transfer into my chair and go to the mall, go shopping, get groceries, clean up around the house.”
It’s clear from talking to Utley that he’s not satisfied with any moral victories like these and will stop at nothing short of walking off Ford Field under his own power. He’s an engaging man who has a penchant for speaking in the third person, and his optimism and enthusiasm permeate his every word.
It’s impossible to set a timeline for when he will walk again since it will require a breakthrough in science, but that doesn’t stop Utley from being eternally optimistic.
“Mike Utley will walk off Ford Field, his game plan is today,” he said. “If it’s not today, it will be tomorrow.”
As such, Utley has turned his foundation into his legacy, raising money not only to further spinal cord injury research, but also to aid spinal cord injury rehabilitation and education.
The LegTutor™ system has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the lower extremity in spinal cord injuries. The system consists of an ergonomic wearable leg brace and dedicated rehabilitation software. The LegTutor™ system allows for a range of biomechanical evaluation including speed, passive and active range of motion and motion analysis of the lower extremity. Quantitative biomechanical data allow for objective evaluation and rehabilitation treatment follow up. The LegTutor™ rehabilitation concept is based on performing controlled exercise rehabilitation practice at a patient customized level with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance. The exercises are designed in the form of challenging games that are suitable for a wide variety of neurological and orthopedic injury and disease. Those sportsman like Mark Utley can use the Tutor system to bring more movement back to their injured joints.
The LegTutor™ allows for isolated and a combination of knee and three directional hip treatment. The system provides detailed exercise performance instructions and precise feedback on the patients exercise performance. Controlled exercise of multi joints within the normal movement pattern prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement and ensures better performance of functional tasks.The LegTutor™ system, which includes the HandTuor, ArmTutor and 3DTutor is used by many leading rehabilitation centers worldwide and has full FDA and CE certification.
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