 Detailed Description for TherapyTrainer Cardio Package The TherapyTrainer Cardio PC Interface
has a built-in wireless Polar® heart rate receiver, and comes with a Polar®
wireless chest strap sensor. It connects to your PC through a USB port. Your
heart rate and exercise progress are automatically logged for you. It can also
be used to interact with driving and racing games on your PC. The faster you
pedal, the faster your character/vehicle goes in the game. Patients recovering
from cardiac problems are often asked to exercise and maintain a certain heart
rate while exercising. The “Heart Monitor and Chest Strap” comes with the TherapyTrainer
will allow the patient to do this accurately from home with the TherapyTrainer.
Cardiac patients who have access to the TherapyTrainer, even after recovery,
will only continue to get stronger. Cardiac patients often relapse and experience
set backs regularly due to depression and lack of exercise equipment that will
fit in to their smaller sized homes. The benefits from a cardiac patient having
access to continued physical exercise, with a log that a doctor could monitor
during annual visits, could be an “invaluable” tool in helping a doctor better
recognize future problems
The TherapyTrainer is the Ultimate tool in road
to recovery!
Physical Therapists/Physician using the TherapyTrainer
for upper and lower extremity injuries. Having better knowledge of what routine
the patient is following between visits--whether exercising under, over or right
on target. This allows the patient and the Therapist to reach their targeted
recovery the safest and quickest way possible. Reviewing the tracking log prior
to or during a visit, the Physical Therapist/Physician can evaluate the progress,
or lack there of, with the patient and use the information in the tracking log
to make adjustments for patients home therapy sessions. By providing the patient
this tool and the help of their Physical Therapist/Physician, it will keep their
motivation up and help to stop those set backs in their recovery. Set backs
can mean additional surgery, additional physical therapy, lost job time for
the patient, etc... All costing the insurance companies more money.
Shoulder injuries can be costly, known to have a long recovery
time as well as continued reoccurring problems. By setting the TherapyTrainer
on a sturdy table or counter, a patient can stand with their arm extended straight
out to the side of their body, grab the pedal and move their arm/shoulder in
a circular motion, making sure that they maintain flexibility throughout their
recovery and thereafter. An injured shoulder that is not exercised will become
stiff and unmovable and may even require additional surgery to allow movement
again.
Physical therapy for stroke or disabled patients will greatly
benefit from cycle therapy. With the right hand, they are able to pedal the
bike and their left arm will also be getting the physical exercise that it needs.
Amputees must keep up their upper body strength. The TherapyTrainer
has proved invaluable in helping in this area.
So many Military men and women are returning from Iraq
with injuries that require extended hospitalization. It has been widely documented
detailing the struggles they go through to become well enough to leave the hospital
and return to the families that love them. During physical therapy in the hospital
settings, they are there to encourage each other, compete with each other and
motivate each other to reach their goals and to not let each other give up.
The bonds they create are irreplaceable! Once they reach their goals they go
home to their families and they are no longer in contact with the ones who were
invaluable to their recovery. Many of these Veterans suffer depression and set
backs that require them to have to return to the hospital. Depression, violence
to family and attempted suicides along with the physical set back of just giving
up. Veterans with TherapyTrainer’s would be able to maintain that connection
with the buddies they went through therapy with. The TherapyTrainer can track
the workout while a user is on-line playing games, virtual reality worlds, etc.
Veterans who are no longer in the hospital together, but may live thousands
of miles away from each other, can meet up on-line everyday and work out together
just like they did in the hospital. Allowing them to keep intact the bonds that
helped them become well enough to leave the hospital in the first place. Voice
capability would allow them to converse with each other in the same way they
did in the hospital. By helping these injured Veterans maintain their bonds
with each other, we just may be helping them to not experience the debilitating
depression that so many are now suffering. No one understands what they went
through or what they are going through now more than their military buddies.
Comments from Physical Therapists that have been using the TherapyTrainer…
Elderly patients do not experience the stability and mobility
issues when they are able to use a TherapyTrainer vs. a stationary or recumbent
bike.
The Physical Therapists that have patients with a TherapyTrainer
in their homes are seeing a very exciting achievement in the reduction of pain
medication consumed by those patients. When a patient has access to the TherapyTrainer
in their home they are able to turn to the TherapyTrainer to help them in the
“locked or cramping sensations.” The result is large reduction in
the consumption of pain killers, Physical Therapists ecstatic!
Occupational Therapists are using the bike to aide their
patients in strengthening their grips. In the coming weeks we will be meeting
with several Occupational Therapists to discuss designing handles that will
replace the pedals in the shapes of wrenches, screw drivers, machine handles,
etc.
The first major step in Physical
Therapy is for patients to reach a mobility that allows them to begin the “pedal”
portion of their therapy. The patients with access to a TherapyTrainer are able
to start the “pedal” therapy much sooner because of the smaller
pedal radius of the TherapyTrainer. This not only speeds up the patient’s
recovery physically but is a big mental boost for them.
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