Frazier Rehab gets grant for spinal-cord patients

The Frazier Rehab Institute in Louisville has received a $64,000 grant from the Craig H. Neilsen Foundation to expand its fitness and wellness services for people with spinal cord injuries.

According to a news release, the grant will let Frazier open a second gym for Community Fitness & Wellness on its ninth floor at 220 Abraham Flexner Way, more than doubling its capacity to serve up to 60 new members.

The grant also provides funds for scholarships for 35 people who might not be able to afford the gym’s fees.

Frazier’s gym provides people with disabilities life-long access to therapeutic exercise, including spinal cord rehabilitation techniques. Its Community Fitness & Wellness service began in November 2007 and now serves about 50 people with all types of physical disabilities.

Frazier Rehab Institute, a service of Jewish Hospital & St. Mary’s HealthCare Inc., has more than 20 locations in Kentucky and Southern Indiana, providing therapy in acute-care settings for inpatient and outpatient rehab needs.

Established in 2002, the Neilsen Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for spinal cord injury. It supports cutting edge biological and clinical research as well as innovative rehabilitation programs.