|
Articles Home Page
|
|
News in Details
|
|
|
Back
|
|
|
Physical Therapy Breakthrough Stationary Wheelchair Patients Can Now Strength Train Multiple Muscle
|
|
(05/08/07) Many physical therapy patients are confined to a wheelchair, which previously impaired their ability to strength train their body so that they may develop more independence. However, there has been a recent breakthrough in wheelchair strength training, introduced by Vortex Fitness Equipment, the makers of a one-station, total-body functional training system. The wheelchair patient can now stay at one station, and with the multiple angles provided by Vortex, exercise multiple body parts. One cerebral palsy patient enjoys newfound freedom for both himself and his caregiver.
|
|
|
Press Release:
JMay 8, 2007 Wilmington DE -- Any family with a member having cerebral palsy knows there are challenges with simple every day independent living. However, increased independence can be gained through muscular development at physical therapy centers. But, when a patient is confined to a wheelchair as Steve Slotkin of Newark, Delaware is , there are not a lot of easy options for strength training, that is until Vortex.
When Jenifer Pugliese bought a Vortex Pro-Trainer for her therapy center, she knew exactly what to do to advance Slotkin's condition. Previously, Pugliese had been treating Slotkin for over a year, using traditional modalities, but with slow progress. |
 |
"The Vortex's greatest application for me as a therapist is that I can do traditional strengthening and endurance programs, using straight plane movements, or I can do multiplaner programs, which help improve overall functional strength. …"
 |
Steve Slotkin (above) receiving guidance from his physical therapist, Jenifer Pugliese. The Vortex machine gave him newfound strength for simple everyday movements and more freedom.
|
Slotkin had recently been released from a long-term care facility to the at-home care of his sister. Without the benefit of staff members and special lifting equipment, every day care for Slotkin became an immense challenge for both he and his sister. The goal was for him to increase his strength so that his sister wouldn't have to lift his entire body weight.
Living at Home With Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy is a neurological disorder that affects the motor control center of the brain. There is no known cure for it. Medical intervention is limited to the treatment and prevention of complications but not the central disease. The lack of patience muscular strength puts the burden of lifting and moving the patient totally at a onto the caregiver.
Slotkin's sister remarked, "When Steve moved out of his long term care community, and into my home, it was an adjustment. I became responsible for much of the daily care that had previously been performed by nursing assistants. We were hoping for a solution that would help Steve become more independent." |
Slotkin began a Vortex training therapy tailored by Pugliese with the goal of assisting daily tasks such as getting out of bed, transferring to a shower chair, and simply getting dressed. His sister reflected, "Once his Vortex routine started, I saw an improvement in the length of time he could stand, as well as in his overall endurance for activities."
Physical Therapy For Wheelchair Patients
Therapy has been a big part of Slotkin's life. Before treatment with Pugliese, he was very well versed in the traditional exercises, having participated in strengthening, balance, and endurance programs over the years. He participated in exercises using therabands, cuff weights, and physioballs, and manual strengthening.
The introduction of Vortex into his program opened a new realm of possibilities. Slotkin found the new exercises a refreshing change from the traditional exercises that he'd been doing all of his life, and he found that they challenged him in a whole new way.
"He had to work with resistance through the whole range, and from a variety of angles. It was an added benefit to me, as a therapist, because I could increase the weight far past what I could manage manually, and I could challenge him towards further strengthening," said Pugliese.
All Movements at Just One Station
The Vortex Pro-Trainer was specifically designed to adapt more easily to the size, strength, and physical makeup of a diverse set of users -- including those confined to wheelchairs. The 360º ground-based training environment is designed for ease of use and short durations and needs virtually no adjusting .
The resistance is created by a combination of bands and weight stacks. However, the power is that there are numerous connection points to provide resistance and virtually any direction, horizontally or vertically. Appealing to physical therapy studios, it is compact with a footprint that takes up only 43 ft.² offering limitless exercise possibilities in a very small space.
The Vortex is also convenient because all of the custom attachments store right on the unit, and the therapist and the client fit easily within the confines of the unit. The session moves along quickly, because therapists don't have to move the patient between equipment, find different cuff weights, or transfer him or her to a higher or lower mat table.
"The Vortex's greatest application for me, as a therapist, is that I can do traditional strengthening and endurance programs, using straight plane movements, or I can do multiplaner programs, which help improve overall functional strength. It gives the therapist a lot of creativity to develop individualized programs, which really improves client satisfaction and compliance, " concluded Pugliese.
About Vortex Fitness
Go to Vortex contact info page.
Source: Vortex Fitness Equipment
More Like This…
Newest Asian Gym Franchise Synergizes Contemporary Functional Fitness with 300-Year-Old Kettlebells
What's your opinion?
Tell us what you think by writing a review. Please click on the "Write a Review" link at the very bottom of this page.  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Back
|
|
|