People with spinal injuries hoping for improvement at Regina centre

One of Canada's few spinal cord recovery centres is getting high marks from clients in Regina, some of whom would like to see the expensive treatment covered by more insurers.

Not all insurance companies will cover the $80-an-hour treatments at First Steps Wellness. The treatments involve massage, exercise and other techniques designed to encourage nerve growth.

First Steps executive director Owen Carlson said his program is focused on helping injured clients regain mobility, which is different, he says, from  the approach taken in physiotherapy.

"A lot of it [physiotherapy] is preparing someone for life in a wheelchair," he said. "So, a lot of it isn't even rehabilitation ... it's just kind of learning how to live in a wheelchair and how to do day-to-day activities in your wheelchair."

Liana Joksimovic, from Ontario, lost the use of her legs in a car crash two years ago, but has been making progress on a treadmill at the Regina First Steps centre.

"Ultimately, you come here to walk again," she told CBC News. "I always say I'm not going to stop until I walk out of these doors."

Joksimovic has coverage from her insurer, but many insurance companies don't cover the centre's services.

Steve Tysdal, who lost mobility in all four limbs in a 2010 bike crash, said he's not walking, but his mobility has improved with sessions at the centre.

His insurance does not cover the full cost of treatments and, with a family to support, he's had to cut back on his sessions.  

"For me, I just want mobility enough that I can move around, function well, and I don't want to slide backwards," he said.

According to First Steps, the Saskatchewan Health Ministry does not pay for its services.

And Saskatchewan Government Insurance, which can pay for therapy following car crash injuries, said First Steps Wellness does not fit its requirements.

Specifically, it doesn't have a physiotherapist on site.

Sharon Swanson, SGI's vice-president of claims services, also said SGI has concerns about the effectiveness of the service.

"Our information at this point is that results are mixed and somewhat inconclusive at this point," Swanson said.

First Steps Wellness said it's the only "Project Walk-certified" centre in Canada, which means they follow the California-based Project Walk program.

Project Walk claims a 71 per cent success rate of people regaining some mobility.