Therapy Recommendations

Cerebral Palsy

Persons with cerebral palsy and spastic paralysis are able to loosen their muscles by using the MOTOmed.

The rotational movement of the foot-pedals in the ‘passive’ mode helps to reduce spasticity and result in an improvement of the physical and mental well-being of the patient.

The MOTOmed allows people with physical limitations to satisfy their natural desire to achieve a level of physical activity. Motor-assisted training using one’s own muscle strength will loosen muscles, reduce spasticity and stimulate the blood flow.

The therapy can prevent muscle deterioration reduce joint stiffeness and improve walking ability.

The special safety features ‘Spasm-Control’ and ‘Movement-Protector’ can detect and ease spasms. Regular MOTOmed training can increase a persons self confidence and a feeling of achievement.

Multiple Sclerosis

MOTOmed movement therapy provides exercise that does not overstrain MS patients. Train passively, with motor-assistance or actively with your own muscle strength. The MOTOmed can be used from the comfort of your chair or wheelchair. Special therapy programs are provides for a targeted training. The large color display provides feedback showing various performance parameters during the training session.

Active training helps to reduce tiredness, chronic fatigue.

Other benefits include

• reduced  spasticity
• strengthen your bowel and bladder function
• reduce stress
• improve blood circulation (in the legs)
• reduce fluid in the legs (oedema).

Link to medical studies relating to the application of movement therapy in MS Rehabilitation

Paraplegia

An important goal for many people with paraplegia is to actively participate in normal activities. Daily use of the MOTOmed will contribute to this aim by providing both passive and motor-assisted training for people with paralysis and limited mobility.

Effortless passive motion will help to inhibit muscle deterioration and counter joint stiffness. Blood circulation is improved, which is important in the prevention of thrombosis and other problems caused by immobility.

With ‘movement therapy’ muscles and joints become more flexible and muscle strength is improved.

Important features such as the ‘Movement Protector’ and ‘Spasm Control’ mean that the ‘movement therapy’ is safe and enjoyable.

In the case of incomplete paraplegia residual muscle strength can be maintained and improved by means of the ‘Servo-Cycling’ function

‘Active’ muscle training is possible, even though the users has complete paraplegia, by means of a MOTOmed equipped with a ‘functional electrical stimulation’ (FES) device.

This combination with FES allows patients with complete paraplegia to train ‘actively’ with the MOTOmed, with the proviso that the neuro-pathway to the muscle is intact. With FES the muscles are activated by the application of electrical impulses to the neuro-muscular junction by means of adhesive electrodes placed on the skin adjacent to the muscle that is to be activated. The muscle contractions thus achieved will result in force being applied to the pedals of the MOTOmed. Now the patient is cycling actively and doing real work and has a feeling of real physical achievement not possible otherwise.

Parkinson

Recent scientific research results (USA) shows that patients can benefit from using rapid rotation movement therapy (e.g. MOTOmed) and have a positive effects on the typical symptoms found in Parkinson’s. These would include

• rigor (muscle stiffness),
• tremor (shaking)
• Akinesia (poor mobility).

”Forced Exercise”

Patients with ‘Parkinson’s’ were evaluated following a tandem cycle ride whereby the pedal speed reached some 90 revolutions per minute. They reported that the Parkinson’s symptoms were to a large extent alleviated. A study of a number of patients showed a 35% reduction of symptoms associated with Parkinson’s. Subsequent to this development a new Parkinson’s therapy method called ”Forced Exercise” was implemented.

Subsequently the MOTOmed Viva-2 Parkinson was developed by the RECK Company in collaboration with US scientists (Dr. Ridgel and colleagues).

To optimise the therapy it is recommended that it be used at home on a daily basis.

The fast cycling movement with the MOTOmed iva2 Parkinson activates regions in the brain in the same way Parkinson’s medication stimulates them. This may be the reason why the positive effects are not only noticed locally in the legs and arms but affecting the whole body.

Stroke

Therapy methods based on a repeated and consistent ‘movement training’ play an important role in stroke rehabilitation. The brain has the ability to restructure itself after a damage and other areas of the brain can then take over functional control. Repetition of movement stimulates this process.

A controlled cycling motion with the MOTOmed provides this kind of repetitive movement training and helps to restore those lost functions.

Link to a newspaper article on the use of the Motomed for stroke rehabilitation

Link to medical studies relating to the application of movement therapy in Stroke Rehabilitation.