5-30-03This is part of the Brejcha Personal and Disability Resource Site, and after reading this page there are links at the bottom for my menu and back to the intro page. But for now, Welcome to:
5-30-03
Standing has a wide range of benefits by itself, but it is a passive 'exercise' and will not do much for your leg muscles beyond helping keep them from getting contracted. No, to strengthen and tone them it's necessary to get them stretching and contracting – preferably actively, but if you can't move them yourself, there are a lot of benefits to be gained from getting them some good passive exercise - especially if you have some strength and can 'help' the machine some. I can't, but my wife who uses both walker and wheelchair, uses the machine described here on a daily basis and if she can't, misses it terribly.
Because I can't use my legs voluntarily anymore, my legs are losing tone and my spasticity is aggravated - even though I do use a standing frame described before. But standing – which I do not have time to do enough of – helps, but it's not enough and my leg spasms keep waking me up (another reason I'm embarking on another battle with my HMO - for a standing wheelchair). But I looked around and was impressed by the Ex 'N Flex machine – as was the physical therapist who agreed and, along with my doctor, wrote a letter of recommendation to my insurance.
Which turned it down, of course! Living and working are not "medically necessary".
So I approached my state Occupational and Vocational Rehabilitation office, and got a different response fortunately. OVR paid for the machine as my progressing problems were interfering with my sleeping (getting enough rest to work) and worse, with my driving! Important for working!
I need help from my wife getting situated with the machine, but as my muscles loosen it is helping me, too. And my wife uses it almost every day which is vital as she can walk some and the machine helps her there.
This particular unit – and most are a variation of this – sits on the floor in front of me and my feet are strapped onto foot plates with velcro straps that hold the feet firmly in place. Then I turn on the machine after selecting a forward or backward cycling direction and selecting a speed. NOTE: I do this in my power wheelchair rather than my manual one for the same reason as with the exercise machine described in the next chapter: because it stays put!
The machine then starts cycling my legs at the set speed. I can't use the "active" feature – though my wife can and does as she has some leg control and is partly ambulatory – but this also allows the user to 'help' the machine by actively cycling. A feedback scale lets you know how effectively you're pedaling. Depending on how long it has been since you've used your legs, you need to start slow and build up, but I noticed an immediate improvement in how my legs felt and how I slept afterwards. In addition to exercizing the legs, it also flexes the heel cord and ankle.
Another type of machine like this uses FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) which uses low voltage pulses to flex and extend your legs. I have listed two such units below in the resources section, but I was unable to obtain such a unit for myself. But whatever system you can obtain/use, the undeniable reality is that it helps the user prevent muscle atrophy and tendon contraction. Ideally, a combination of standing and pedaling should be combined, to best work your legs.
RESOURCES:
Leg Exercise machines (Under construction)
Electrologic of America, Inc., 3035 Dryden Road, Dayton, Ohio 45439 USA (800) 758-3460, (937) 299-7588 Fax (937) 299-7589 info@electrologic.com , Web Site: http://www.electrologic.com. Makers of the StimMaster, a powered leg exerciser with integrated seat and controls.
Ex N' Flex International, Box 6, 4983 Del Monte Avenue, Victoria, B.C., Canada V8Y 3A4, 888-298-9922 (North America), (250) 658-2303, Web Site: http://www.exnflex.com. Makers of the Ex 'N Flex floor standing passive/active leg exerciser.
Reck MOTOmed, Reckstrasse 1-4, 88422, Betzenweiler, Germany, 011-49-73-74-1885, e-mail: contact@motomed.com, Web Site: http://www.motomed.com. Makers of the Viva! movement trainer
Saratoga Access and Fitness, Now Rand Scot Inc., 401 Linden Center Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80524, 800-467-7967, 970-484-7967, e-mail: info@randscot.com, web site: http://www.randscot.com. Makers of excellent table-top cycles for strength and aerobic training as well as standers and lifts.
Sinties Scientific, Inc., See Saratoga above.
Therapeutic Alliances, Inc., 333 N. Broad Street, Fairborn, OH 45324, USA, 937-879-0734, FAX: 937-879-5211, Web Site: http://www.MusclePower.com. Makers of the Energys2, FES based cycling machine with integrated seat and controls
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© 1997
Information provided at this web site is of a general nature and is not intended to take the place of a physician's advice. It is vital that persons diagnosed with, or suspected of having, any disability or medical condition consult with their physician or with the appropriate division at a major teaching hospital, to assure proper evaluation, treatment, and interpretation of information contained on this site.
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