At our clinic in Northlight Pendle, Nelson we have specialist equipment for gait training and stroke rehabilitation.
I thought that I would use our first blog to introduce the Biodex unweighing system and gait trainer, basically an overhead patient hoist and a treadmill with a difference.
What the body unweighing system and treadmill allows us to do with clients?
The unweighing system is an overhead hoist which allows us to remove a percentage of a person’s body weight making it easier for them to stand, step and walk with less effort, more security and confidence knowing that they cannot fall.
Clients both adults and children wear a harness which is clipped to the overhead hoist either over the treadmill or in free space.
Both the hoist and treadmill can be used independently of each other depending on the clients’ needs and ability.
Who can benefit from these pieces of equipment and why?
Anyone who is unable to weight bear without maximum support.
The unweighing system works well with clients with the following conditions/ diagnoses: –
Stroke, Acquired and Traumatic Brain Injuries (ABI/ TBI), Cerebral Palsy, Parkinson’s Disease, Alzheimer’s, Dementia and the elderly – basically anyone with standing and mobility problems. Those using FES (functional electrical stimulation devices) used for foot drop pathologies.
What happens when using the unweighing system and gait training?
Once the client is connected to the hoist the therapist will ask how much the client weighs and decide how much body weight needs to removed e.g. 10%, 20% or 30% depending on how easy they need it to be to practice standing and stepping.
The equipment can be used on manual start as though clients are walking around a circuit on the screen or users can see real-time bio feedback relating to their step length, speed and symmetry.
Music and audio metronome cueing (beeps) can be used to help clients initiate walking often difficult for clients with Parkinson’s Disease, dementia and Alzheimer’s.
How do I know if I am improving?
Client details are entered into the machine and we can track walking parameters such as step length, speed and symmetry. We can print out patient achievements there and then which can be compared to measure progress over time.
Is this treatment based on research?
Yes, body weigh support treadmill training (BWSTT) is well documented in stroke rehabilitation.
As is gait training in clients with cerebral palsy.
Music therapy with Parkinson’s disease and dementia.
Outcomes using this equipment can be measured and monitored objectively so clients can see their performance over time. Please contact a member of our team for further information.