The rehabilitation period is key to restoring mobility of the limbs and musculoskeletal system, strengthening muscles and joints. Modern manufacturers of medical simulators for rehabilitation are constantly upgrading their products in order to improve and speed up the recovery process.
Types of rehabilitation measures
The list of types of rehabilitation includes the following activities:
- Medical - the process of compensation and restoration of body functions.
- Medical and professional - adaptation and rehabilitation, taking into account the profession.
- Professional - measures that facilitate the social and professional integration of persons with disabilities.
- Labor - assistance in hiring people with disabilities.
- Social - improving the quality of life of people with disabilities.
Who needs exercise
The following categories of people need to restore their lost ability to move normally:
- Athletes in connection with injuries.
- People of advanced age or with poor health.
- Persons with weak muscle tone.
- People suffering from joint diseases and diseases of the musculoskeletal tissue.
- Patients who have had myocardial infarction, stroke.
- People with diseases of the cardiovascular system, complications in the work of the respiratory organs.
- Leading an immobilized or sedentary lifestyle.
Performing active or passive exercises on simulators for the rehabilitation of stroke, injuries, previous operations and diseases have a beneficial effect on the human body, returning partial or complete mobility to it.
Fitness equipment
In some cases, rehabilitation classes are carried out on conventional sports simulators. At the same time, they are adapted for use by people with disabilities. The equipment allows you to normalize the load, reduce the range of motion, provides access to those who move in wheelchairs and can not perform an independent transfer from a chair to a simulator.
Models of active rehabilitation simulators are equipped with height adjustment functions for comfortable use, sensors for monitoring the patient's condition during classes. Having an immediate stop button makes your workout safe. The simulators are equipped with levers and handrails for maximum comfort of the rehabilitated patient.
Bars, slides and stairs for teaching walking
The bars are usually used to resume motor activity after suffering injuries of the spine, with problems with legs, cerebral palsy and other diseases, as a result of which a person has to learn to walk again.
Simulators for the rehabilitation of the lower extremities are of several types:
- Single-tier.
- Two-tier.
- With obstacles.
- With a suspension.
Single-tier bars are used when the patient does not need additional support. Two-tier provide additional emphasis axillary hollows. Suspension is needed for people with limited mobility. The height and width of the equipment are individually regulated for each person. A more advanced rehabilitation course involves the installation of obstacles.
Slides and stairs are used as another type of physiotherapy exercises. Classes are recommended for people with respiratory problems, heart disease. The equipment makes it possible to learn to walk, climb and descend the stairs, strengthening muscles.
The design allows you to raise and lower the handrails, adjust the width of the ramp.
Verticalizers
People suffering from cerebral palsy, having suffered severe spinal cord injuries, of advanced age, are able to be in an upright position due to the verticalizer, parapodium or exoskeleton.
The verticalizer allows a person who is bedridden for a long time for various reasons to give the body a vertical position.
Verticalizer designs can be very different:
- A vertical frame with supports, inside which the patient is placed with outside help, and a person is fixed in a vertical position by means of belts and fasteners. If desired, the body can be tilted forward or backward, the support is installed front or rear.
- Models of the rear verticalizer allow you to smoothly raise the patient lying on the back to a vertical position, while the support will be behind the back, and at the front simulator - in front.
You can lift the structure using mechanical control or an electric drive. Such simulators are produced for adults and for children.
In addition, the devices can be as follows:
- Active. Allows the patient to stand and slowly move his arms and legs in place.
- Static. It holds upright thanks to the wheels at its base. An assistant can carry the structure.
- Dynamic. Equipped with manual or electric control. In this case, the patient has the ability to independently move indoors.
Parapodiums, exoskeletons
The parapodium is a vertical frame with stops for feet, clamps and handrails. Such simulators for rehabilitation of legs are divided into three types:
- Mobile. Designed for people with weak legs. The design is designed in such a way that the side racks serve as a support and allow the patient to move without fear of an accidental fall.
- Dynamic. Necessary for people with immobilized lower limbs. The legs are fixed on the supports for the feet. After this, the patient begins to swing the frame with his hands, setting the parapodium in motion, simulating walking.
- Static. Allows a person to take a vertical position, while the assistant moves the device.
Exoskeleton is the latest development. The simulator is a robotic mechanism that is worn on a person. Due to this, the work of the patient’s muscles is enhanced, if necessary, the suit takes on the motor function
Exoskeleton can be for the upper and lower extremities or for the whole body. They control it using signals from a computer device. In addition, he is able to increase movement thanks to a specially designed program. The suit is running on battery power. Currently, studies are underway that will allow in the future to control the costume with the power of thought.
Isokinetic equipment
Isokinetic simulators for the rehabilitation of the upper limbs and other parts of the body are devices connected to a computer that, during training, with the help of numerous sensors, reads information about muscle strength. The device issues the appropriate commands to the simulator to create the desired resistance level. In addition, the computer diagnoses the condition of the muscles of the patient.
Thanks to the signals from the sensors, favorable conditions are created for training the patient so as not to injure the weakened muscles.
In addition to the isokinetic simulators used in medical institutions, there are those that are used for sports and recreational purposes. They are not equipped with a computerized system.
Biofeedback Devices
The principle of operation of such simulators for rehabilitation is to transfer the external feedback circuit. They inform the system about the state of health of a specific part of the body, pulse, pressure and biorhythm of the brain.
Some devices are equipped so that the patient can see changes in the functioning of the organ, while others transmit information through an audio signal.
Biofeedback devices make it possible to sit, lie or stand during diagnosis. Stabilized platform is widely used for these purposes. A man stands in the center and holds onto the supports. At this time, sensors on the position of the body determine the ability to control and coordinate its movements.
Simulators Bubnovsky and Pilates
Bubnovsky simulators are developed taking into account the eponymous technique that allows you to restore joints and spine. While working on simulators, the body is in limbo. Thus, the pressure and load produced by the weight of a person are minimized, the muscles are relaxed. Rehabilitation according to the Bubnovsky method is shown:
- With osteochondrosis, various articular pathologies.
- With scoliosis.
- With arthritis.
- After a stroke, heart attack.
- After surgery on the spine.
Such simulators are also suitable for rehabilitation after a stroke.
Pilates simulators help strengthen the spine and all muscles. They come in four types: Cadillac, Reformer, Barrel, and Chair. Each of them is aimed at working out, strengthening and stretching all muscle groups. Rehabilitation with the help of Pilates simulators increases articular mobility, improves coordination of movements.
Water simulators, devices for active and passive mechanotherapy
Water simulators for rehabilitation are the same cardio or power equipment made from special materials for use in water. Such training has a more gentle effect on muscles and joints. At the same time, more energy is spent on the exercises due to fluid resistance. Classes help lose weight, improve metabolism, strengthen the muscles of the extremities, and promote better blood circulation.
Mechanotherapy is considered any kind of training that is performed independently. Such simulators for the rehabilitation of limbs involve active or passive exercises. Indications for the use of this type of therapy are paralysis, trauma or pathology of the spine, arthritis, stroke.
Trainer "Motomed"
The device restores muscle tone, is indicated for paralysis, for people with impaired motor ability, for injuries and pathologies of the spine, dysfunction of the musculoskeletal system. Classes allow you to almost completely return motor activity.
The Motomed rehabilitation simulator is equipped with an electric motor and allows for active or passive training. Using sensors, the device is able to adapt to the movement of the legs and give the appropriate load:
- For active passive activities.
- For pedaling, restoring muscle tone to an immobilized patient.
The simulator also allows you to set the program on the monitor for active training.
Recommendations of doctors for choosing a simulator
When choosing a simulator for rehabilitation, you must consider:
- Patient status.
- Muscle groups and body parts that need to be worked out.
- The ability to train independently under home control or with the mandatory presence of a coach.
Given these data, you should pay attention to such points:
- Build quality and simulator manufacturing.
- The ability to adjust the load, starting with the smallest, which is extremely important at the first stage of training.
- The simulator should have a wide range of actions.
- It is better if the equipment will combine sports and medical functions.
Based on the opinions of doctors and patients, it is possible to make the right choice of rehabilitation equipment.
Complexes of rehabilitation classes
Complexes of classes in various rehabilitation programs are aimed at the following:
- After a stroke. An improvement in the motor activity of the fingers is required, since without its restoration the patient will be deprived of the possibility of self-care. Exercise machines help to maintain the anatomically correct position of the fingers, and a set of exercises develops coordination, motility, trains grasping movements, strengthens muscles and develops endurance.
- After damage to the joints and muscle tissue. The training complexes are aimed at stretching and include exercises such as flexion and extension, pendulum-like and rotational movements.
- With myocardial infarction. A set of measures is aimed at restoring the heart muscle and general motor activity.
- In old age, with the help of exercises, muscle tone is restored, which improves the general condition.
Why do you need special exercises
For the rehabilitation of various organs and systems after a stroke and heart attack, as a result of diseases, after physical injuries, the doctor prescribes special exercises aimed at achieving a particular effect in a specific area.
In the process of performing special exercises, the following is achieved:
- Edema is eliminated.
- Fully or partially restored motor functions.
- The growth of growths, cones and other formations is prevented.
- The likelihood of atrophic and congestive symptoms is reduced.
- Vascular disorders are eliminated.
- Ligaments and tendons are restored.
- The pain syndrome is eliminated.
- Wound healing and tissue regeneration are accelerated.
- The functioning of organ functions returns.
- Blood circulation is restored.
- Muscle tone improves.
Special exercises can be combined into complexes to achieve greater efficiency.