Amputees taught new movements by paralympians and coaches at Ossur Mobility clinic in Adelaide

FRESH from captaining a team through an obstacle course and mastering some martial arts moves, six-year-old William White now wields a golf club and enthuses about the targets he’s hit.

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FRESH from captaining a team through an obstacle course and mastering some martial arts moves, six-year-old William White now wields a golf club and enthuses about the targets he’s hit.

The Belair boy, who lost a leg as a toddler after a freak accident where a tree branch fell on him, is in his element.

He’s among 30 amputees of all ages gathered for a national mobility clinic where Paralympians and world record holders are among the instructors.

While William, already a highly active boy, delights in meeting other amputees and picking up new skills, for others it’s a life-changing experience as they learn to run or move laterally for first time since their amputations. For some it’s the first time ever.

William White, 6, and Shauna-Lee Barlow, 25, at the Ossur Mobility Clinic at Westminster School.

The annual clinic run by global orthopaedic technology company Ossur is making its Adelaide debut, but it’s William’s second after he travelled to Melbourne for it last year.

“My favourite thing has been doing karate, and now I’m doing golf,” he declares, as mum Sally watches in awe of his progress.

“I never thought he’d be happy within himself and doing these things,” she says.

“His (school) teacher was concerned the other day because he was jumping off the play gym. He’s just learnt to ride his bike without trainer wheels. It makes me feel really proud of him because I can see that he’s dealt with what’s happened remarkably well.”

Amputee physiotherapist and clinic head coach Cathy Howells says too often rehabilitation stops once a person can walk and climb stairs.

William with his Superman-themed prosthetic leg in 2016. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

“You need to get back to recreation,” she says. “You need to lift your kids and grandkids. We have a lot of children who come too with limb loss and it’s wonderful for parents to learn about what life can be for their children.”

Instructor Dwayne Fernandes, 32, from Sydney, is a double amputee who has claimed multiple world records in skyscraper stair climbing and “retro running” (running backwards) in the 100m and 200m.

“You see people come in who have never run in their life, and you see them pushing themselves like they never have before,” he says.

Shauna-Lee Barlow, 25, of Flagstaff Hill, who lost a leg at 18 due to a blood clot, says taking part in the clinic complements her studies to be a life coach.

She wants to help amputees gain their “power back as individuals”.

Originally published as Amputees taught new movements by paralympians and coaches at Ossur Mobility clinic in Adelaide