Notes On Exercise Therapy; General Observations; Uses; Correct Posture - MEDICA THERA-vital Gebrauchsanweisung

Notes on Exercise Therapy

General observations

The object of therapy depends on the medical
condition of the patient and may be aimed at
maintaining mobility (preventative therapy) or
at rehabilitation after an operation or injury,
i.e. at regaining mobility and strength.
We recommend that the THERA-live is used
as part of a planned exercise programme pre-
scribed by a doctor or therapist.
Begin exercise sessions slowly and then in-
crease the level of intensity gradually accord-
ing to the user's physical capabilities, being
particularly careful to avoid over-exertion.

Uses

The THERA-vital can be used as a leg exer-
ciser and as an upper torso trainer:
❑
Using the THERA-vital as a leg exerciser:
The patient sits on a chair or wheel chair.
The THERA-vital stands on the floor in
front of the patient. If possible the wheel-
chair footrests should be removed. The
feet are held in the foot rests 4 or the calf
rests 17 (optional feature), e.g. by means
of the foot fixings 21 (optional feature). The
exerciser is then started from the control
pad 1.
❑
Using the THERA-vital as an upper
torso trainer: The patient sits on a chair or
wheel chair. The THERA-vital stands on
the floor in front of the patient. The patient's
feet are placed on the floor or the wheel-
chair's footrests. The upper torso trainer is
adjusted to the correct height and reach.
The arms are strapped to the therapy
grips 14, wrist bands 23, fore arm rests 24
to 27 (optional feature) or tetra grips 28
(optional feature). The exerciser is then
started from the control pad 1 by an assist-
ant.
The THERA-vital is specifically recom-
mended for the following conditions:
❑
Impaired mobility and ability to walk
❑
General lack of mobility
❑
Multiple sclerosis
❑
Rheumatism
❑
Cardio-vascular problems
❑
Arthritis and osteoarthritis
❑
Parkinson's disease
❑
Paraplegia and tetraplegia
❑
Strokes and hemiplegia
❑
Dialysis patients
❑
Muscle wastage
❑
Persistent vegetative state/appallic syn-
drome

Correct posture

Always make sure that the patient's posture
when exercising with the THERA-vital is in
keeping with the purpose of the therapy.
The greater the distance between the
THERA-vital and the patient's chair/wheel-
chair, the more the knee and hip or elbow and
shoulder joints are stretched. Therefore, you
should start the exercise programme with the
exerciser positioned close to the patient's
40
chair/wheelchair. In that way you will avoid
overstretching the joints or damaging mus-
cles/tendons/ligaments.
It is also important to ensure that the patient's
sitting position in the chair/wheelchair is as
upright as possible.

Exercise programme planning

The frequency and duration of exercise ses-
sions on the THERA-vital should normally be
individually planned and prescribed by a doc-
tor or therapist. Therefore, only general guid-
ance on exercise programme planning can be
given at this point.
Regular exercising with the THERA-live is ex-
tremely important if improvements in mobility,
and particularly in strength and endurance,
are to be achieved. Short but frequent ses-
sions are better than long strenuous ones.
You should therefore start with sessions of no
more than 15 minutes of continuous exercise.
Always start with a period of gentle active-as-
sisted exercise and then progress to light, ac-
tive exercising with a low resistance setting.
The length of the session, the speed, the
amount of active exercising and the resist-
ance can be gradually increased a small
amount at a time.
You can also schedule several exercise ses-
sions a day – always providing that no nega-
tive symptoms of illness occur and that the
physical capabilities of the patient are not ex-
ceeded. The intensity of the therapy is correct
if strength, endurance and mobility gradually
improve and the patient feels well.