Mark’s Story: Walking Stronger, Together
Adaptive Recovery | TruAgility + TruSlide in Action
From Uncertainty to Understanding
When Mark Stephan first came to the gym fifteen years ago, he’d already faced more challenges than most of us could imagine.
A spinal cord injury had left him a quadriplegic, and his father brought him to sessions twice a week — each one a mix of courage, patience, and hope.
“I told him I’d never worked with anyone like him before,” recalls Shawn, his trainer. “I wasn’t sure what I was doing. And he just said, ‘Eh… we’ll figure it out.’”
That moment set the tone for everything that followed — curiosity, teamwork, and the belief that progress is built one step at a time.
Rebuilding Movement, One Step at a Time
At first, their work together was simple: Mark lay on a table, trying to contract muscles while Shawn guided each limb.
Even with limited sensation from the neck down, Mark learned to stand and take steps — always with Shawn by his side, a steady wingman ready to catch him if he fell.
Over the years, their partnership built strength, trust, and friendship — and eventually, innovation.
Turning Challenges Into Innovation
When Shawn began developing the first TruAbility prototypes — the TruSlide™ and TruAgility™ systems — Mark became one of the first to test them.
They became tools to safely strengthen his hips and rebuild balance, helping him walk with more power and control.
“A few years ago, I started making the TruSlide and TruAgility prototypes,” Shawn shares. “Mark would test them out so we could help him walk stronger — and now, he’s able to go out for hour-long walks.”
Stronger. Confident. Unstoppable.
The TruSlide™ and TruAgility™ didn’t create Mark’s strength — they helped him express it.
They became part of a bigger journey toward independence, confidence, and possibility.
“They’re not the reason he’s able to do what he does,” Shawn says. “But they definitely helped him get stronger — and more importantly, confident in his ability to live his best life.”
See Mark’s Journey⤵︎
Discover What’s Possible for You
Every journey looks different.
But the drive to move forward — that’s universal.
