Jaiden’s Journey
When Jaiden first came to Cortex Physiotherapy, his mum, Janine, was searching for answers, and a way forward.
Jaiden, who is autistic and epileptic, had been struggling for years with severe fatigue that affected almost every part of his life. Even activities he loved, like drama classes, swimming, or badminton, often left him completely drained, sometimes requiring days of rest in bed just to recover. Janine wanted to know if there was anything that could help him build endurance, manage his fatigue, and strengthen his body so he could enjoy life to the fullest.
“I wanted to find out if there was anything we could do to help my son,” Janine explained. “He has experienced fatigue and fluctuating mobility issues throughout his life, and this has been very disruptive. I wanted to know if there was anything we could do that might improve the situation for him.”
From his very first session, Jaiden showed the same determination that now defines his journey. We began by focusing on posture, gentle strengthening, and fatigue management, helping his body relearn how to move efficiently without expending unnecessary energy. His commitment and enthusiasm were incredible, and it wasn’t long before he started to notice real progress.
“In a very short space of time, there was an improvement in his fatigue levels,” Janine said. “His capacity for coping with sensory input, that in the past would have been tiring, has increased.”
As Jaiden grew stronger, we advanced to higher-level exercises focused on endurance, resistance training, and balance work, although the latter isn’t exactly his favourite part of the sessions! Even so, Jaiden always gives his all and keeps pushing himself, smiling through each challenge and achieving more than he realises every time he walks through our doors.
His hard work has transformed his day-to-day life. Recently, Jaiden has been able to enjoy camping trips, family walks, and even music festivals, dancing, exploring, and staying active for days at a time without exhaustion.
“We’ve had camping trips where he’s walked long distances each day without becoming exhausted,” Janine shared. “At a recent music festival, he danced, walked, and mingled for four days without getting too tired. He even dismantled the whole camp himself while I carried things to the car. In the past, that wouldn’t have been possible.”
The improvements haven’t stopped there. Jaiden is now more active during the day and sleeping better at night, with a renewed sense of independence and confidence. He’s helping more around the house, spending less time on screens, and even taking on new challenges like skiing, snowboarding, and bike riding, things that once felt out of reach.
“It’s hard to explain,” Janine said, “but it feels as if things have just knitted themselves back together properly. Day-to-day tasks aren’t as difficult to do, and that’s given him more time and energy to try other things that he might enjoy. We’ve gone from me needing to support him throughout the day to me struggling to keep up at times, and that is really lovely.”
Jaiden’s journey is a reminder that recovery isn’t always about overcoming a single condition, it’s about improving quality of life, finding confidence, and rediscovering the joy of doing the things you love. His story is one of perseverance, positivity, and proof that progress is possible with the right guidance and determination.
“I was hoping we might just see a small improvement for Jaiden,” Janine reflected, “but it really has turned his life in a whole different direction.”
We couldn’t be prouder of everything Jaiden has achieved, and we can’t wait to see what adventures he tackles next.