Intensive rehabilitation with Combi Bike Plus

Following hospitalization for conditions including strokes and fractures, rehabilitation with Combi Bike Plus helps patients return sooner to their own homes.

Mette Kjær Christensen, a physiotherapist, works in a rehab center in Denmark, which is where people who have suffered a hip fracture, an infection, or a stroke are often admitted. The residents have suffered such severe functional loss that the hospital is unable to release them to live in their own homes.

– Then we look into whether they can return to their original functional level and live at home after receiving new training. And if not, we assist them in moving into a more manageable residence, such as an elderly care facility or nursing home, says Mette Kjær Christensen.

Used throughout the day

Physical therapy is provided in the department and through group exercise in the gym, both of which have mobility exercisers from Lemco Mobility.

– The Combi Bike Plus is in use both in the morning and in the afternoon, and the residents like using it for exercise. They learn that they are capable of changing their circumstances on their own, she says.

The mobility exerciser, in the opinion of Mette Kjær Christensen, offers a “fantastic” opportunity to gently exercise both arms and legs from a chair or wheelchair, and you have the choice of choosing the resistance on a scale from 0-9.

Excellent progress after four weeks

– I just finished a training course with a man in his 60s who has right side hemiparesis due to a stroke. He used the mobility exerciser and he made an excellent recovery, says Mette Kjær Christensen.

The resident has been exercising from a wheelchair with a Combi Bike Plus in the gym twice a week and at least once a day at the ward for approximately four weeks.

– He’s just been transferred out of my department because he’s gotten too good for me, says a pleased physiotherapist. The hemiparesis on the right side has lessened to the point that he can move his arm and grab objects again, and he can stand on one leg – but not yet walk, she says.

Training offered safety

Mette Kjær Christensen also describes an elderly slightly demented woman who had fallen at home and had been lying down for a few days before arriving to the hospital. Because she was afraid of falling again, she moved with an erratic gait.

– It has been challenging to get the woman to exercise. But now that she’s found her stride, the Combi Bike Plus is a nice choice for her. She pedals in the morning and the afternoon, which has helped her feel like she can move her body again without risk.

– Not because the bike hasn’t done its job, but rather since she also has some cognitive difficulties, she now needs to live in a nursing home, says Mette Kjær Christensen. She thinks Combi Bike Plus can help a lot of people with dementia.

– Many residents like being able to move in a style that mimics cycling properly since they have done it frequently in their life, says Mette Kjær Christensen.

Motivation is crucial

– A resident of the centre normally uses the Combi Bike Plus for 10-15 minutes at a time, but you are welcome to use it for longer if you have the endurance, she says. Mette Kjær Christensen also records how far and with how much resistance a resident has cycled.

-This is done to motivate them. If we know that you rode for 10 minutes and covered two kilometres yesterday, then you must pedal at least that distance today, she says. Mette Kjær Christensen also emphasises the importance of pedalling with some resistance to raise the heart rate and increase endurance.

Continued use is advised

The day always comes when the citizen will have to relocate, and Mette Kjær Christensen hopes that the citizen will be able to continue their exercise throughout time, whether in their current home or a new one. And keep up the training to prevent future admissions.

– I anticipate that they will accept another training opportunity once they go on to their own home. Additionally, I am aware of many elderly care facilities that have Combi Bike Plus. I believe that after they have enjoyed using the mobility exerciser with us, they should continue exercise with Combi Bike Plus if they have the chance, she says.