Intense Rehabilitation

The Omnicycle Elite system provides “powered assist” exercise therapy for post- hospital patients who may not typically be able to participate in therapeutic exercise due to lack of strength, coordination, paralysis and other conditions. The Omnicycle´s “smart-assist” technology provides help as needed. As one gets stronger, the amount of “powered assistance” is steadily decreased until the exerciser can power the Omnicycle on their own to build additional strength and endurance. The system offers upper and lower extremity exercise options, a game like display to keep the patients active and engaged, and a color display with interactive biofeedback for enhanced patient motivation and compliance.

The Omnicycle helps patients:

• Exercise Earlier In Their Recovery Process To Improve Function
• Accommodate Patients Who Have Difficulty With Movement, Mobility, Or Paralysis
• Helps Increase Range Of Motion, Strength, Endurance, And Muscle Control

The OmniVR is the first virtual reality augmented therapy system designed for patients with physical or cognitive limitations. Unlike off-the-shelf gaming systems that support “recreational activities,” the OmniVR is a professional, individually customized, rehabilitation system with skilled exercise programs that replicate established physical, occupational and speech therapy techniques. The OmniVR makes therapy and exercise more engaging for patients, increasing exercise motivation, repetitions and duration to support better outcomes. With 26 exercise programs and 3 Outcomes Measurement Tests, the OmniVR strengthens clinical outcomes and motivates the patients by providing constant results and progress. The OmniVR motivates patients to exercise harder and longer because it doesn´t feel like exercise, rather, an exciting, competitive, enjoyable, task.

Patients diagnosed with Dysphagia, defined as difficulty in swallowing, usually exhibit signs of penetration or aspiration (food or liquid getting into the lungs), muscle weakness and difficulty managing a normal diet. An impaired swallow often results in feeding restrictions, which in turn contribute to a decline in quality of life. VitalStim Therapy is designed to help swallowing through the use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES). Electrical stimulation is used to aid muscle strengthening to rehabilitate swallow. The sensory stimulation that is provided also helps muscle recruitment and swallowing function.

This computerized equipment can assess and treat balance challenges. Through a series of tests, this technology helps the therapist determine which of the three body systems responsible for balance control is contributing to the patient´s balance issues. The three body systems are: vestibular, visual and somatosensory. Once the system objectively determines what the contributing factors are to the impaired balance, the Biodex Balance machine translates this into treatment. With this equipment, treatment is done in a manner that is very engaging and fun, but is extremely effective. Progress reports of each treatment can be printed out so that the patient and family can track and compare specific progress from each treatment session.

The Biodex Gait Trainer is a computerized treadmill system that offers all of the benefits of a regular treadmill but takes it a huge step forward in assisting to retrain a patient´s proper gait pattern. This system motivates the patient by real-time visual and auditory feedback by using a screen that the patient views during the treatment regarding step length, step speed and step symmetry. The machine essentially corrects the patients gait pattern by giving cues on the screen. Biofeedback is a therapeutic approach that helps the patient stay “on target” in each phase of gait rehabilitation. Exercise Summary Reports track progress and document treatment outcomes. These reports are great for patients and families to follow the progress being made.

This gait training technology is built around the neuroplastic properties of the nervous system. When one has a stroke or spinal cord injury, the spinal pathways that allow for movement and/or sensation are disrupted. Because of the neuroplasticity of the nervous system, new motor pathways can be developed that allows for retraining of movement – in this case, walking. We are very excited to be one of the first sub acute facilities in the country to have this caliber of evidence-based equipment and therapeutic approaches that until recently have only been found in high-tech research hospitals. With the combination of this leading edge technology and specialty training of our staff, this really is a new day in regards to the treatment of all stroke patients.

Therastride is a bodyweight supported treadmill system that has built in side-seats for the therapist. The patient is harnessed to absorb whatever body weight the therapist feels is appropriate from completely weight-less to fully-weighted. The patient proceeds with normal gait speed on the treadmill with the therapist assisting the effected lower extremity in a “normal” step. This technique is the up-and-coming approach to treating stroke and other neurologically challenged patients.