Shelton Resident Honored as Healthcare Warrior

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, a nonprofit rehabilitation-focused healthcare organization headquartered in Wallingford, is pleased to announce that Shelton resident Kimberly Hopkins, PT, DPT, was recognized by the Hamden Regional Chamber of Commerce with a Healthcare Warrior Award.

Hopkins, a physical therapist in Gaylord Physical Therapy in Cheshire, was recognized for developing the Exercise4Life (EX4L) Program, a no-cost, high-intensity exercise class to improve the health, quality of life, and independent living skills of people with paralysis and other disabilities.

The program offers high-intensity circuit training, yoga, Pilates, and strength and conditioning workouts. The sessions also provide education on various discussion topics ranging from nutrition, exercising at home, and reintegration into community sports gyms and daily activities.

Hopkins was inspired to develop the EX4L program after noting a significant gap in the availability of exercise programs for people with paralysis in Connecticut.

“This has always been a passion of mine,” said Hopkins. “We are giving people an opportunity to exercise in an environment with like-minded individuals who can get support and help as they need it, with adaptive equipment many gyms don’t have.”

Hopkins successfully found and applied for more than $40,000 in grants from the Christopher and Dana Reeves Foundation and the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to help purchase specialized exercise equipment and make classes available at no cost for all participants.

“Kim is a relentless patient advocate who has a special passion for helping people with spinal cord injuries and disabilities live healthy, active, and independent lives,” said Phil Silverio, PT, DPT, Physical Therapy Supervisor.

To learn more about the free EX4L program at Gaylord Physical Therapy in Cheshire, contact (203) 679-3533.

About Gaylord Specialty Healthcare:

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a rehabilitation-focused, nonprofit health system headquartered in Wallingford, Connecticut, that provides inpatient and outpatient care for people at every point in their journey from illness or injury to maximum recovery.

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is anchored by Gaylord Hospital, a long-term acute care hospital, and includes Gaylord Outpatient Services and Gaylord Physical Therapy for patients who require diagnosis and treatment on an outpatient basis. Gaylord's Milne Institute for Healthcare Innovation is a hub for accelerating world-class rehabilitative research, technology development and innovation to improve the quality of life and function of people around the world. Together, these entities deliver a complete continuum of rehabilitative care driven by clinical experience, innovation and human compassion.

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