Our Physical Therapist added a new rehab machine to help Kevin gain strength. He started weekly sessions on October 26. After his fourth therapy session with it I was able to see increased strength. Kevin's music therapist and I noticed a significant change in his rhythm and his stability was so much greater standing on one leg kicking the tambourine forwards, backwards, and side to side. So great! So proud! So thankful! A month later, Kevin's Occupational Therapist began using it on his left arm and hand. It is really cool to see his arm respond with an automatic reach...something he can't do on his own.
The new rehab machine is a FES - Functional Electrical Stimulation. It is used for people with restricted mobility and or neurological impairment. It uses active muscle contractions and patterned muscle activity. It even measures his distance and energy used. Kevin likes it because he gets to watch Disney music videos while pedaling. After two weeks of pedaling with the stimulation, Kevin's therapist began adding balance exercises while he was hooked up to the stimulation on his left leg, thigh, and gluts.
www.restorative-therapies.com
What is FES ?
FES is a well established rehabilitation technique that uses pulses of electrical current to stimulate peripheral nerves (the "lower motor neurons" that connect the spinal cord to muscles) generating muscle contractions and patterned muscle activity. FES is applied using adhesive pads placed over the muscle to be activated.
With Restorative Therapies' systems, FES creates patterned movement in the arms, legs and trunk. In people with weak or paralyzed muscles, FES enables muscles to work and perform activities. In addition, even if the individual may not be able to consciously participate, FES can facilitate muscle contractions and activity.
What is an ergometer?
An ergometer is a machine that allows an individual to perform a repetitive activity such as cycling or stepping. It guides the muscle activity evoked by FES into a useful pattern. Ergometers also measure the amount of work that muscles perform during an activity.
Why is active therapy important?
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During passive therapy, muscles don’t do any of the work. For example, arms and legs are moved mechanically, by a non-FES cycle.
Active therapy, on the other hand, allows muscles to do the work they are meant to do. This is achieved either by an individual moving their muscles on their own or when muscles are activated by FES. Either way, active therapy means muscles are working and becoming more conditioned to help you reach your goals.
Active therapy is required to reverse muscle atrophy because it is only in active therapy that your muscles actually perform work
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