Are you in recovery from a neurological condition? Perhaps you recently had a stroke or a traumatic brain injury. At Beyond Physiotherapy, we understand that these ailments can be frightening, especially if you feel like you have no idea how to begin recovering.
Thankfully, treatment with a licensed Newton, Surrey, Fleetwood, and Langley physiotherapist can help. Your therapist can utilize a functional electrical stimulation (FES) bike to improve neural plasticity and help you recover from your neurological condition.
If you’re interested in learning more about this advanced method of treatment, contact our physiotherapy clinic today to request an appointment with one of our talented therapists.
What is an FES bike?
FES bikes enable people with little or no voluntary leg movement to pedal an ergometer, which is a stationary leg-cycle. Low-level electrical pulses generated by a computer are delivered to the leg muscles via surface electrodes.
Someone with a spinal cord injury may use an FES bike. When this type of injury occurs, your muscles are no longer able to receive the signals from the central nervous system to fire and create movement. FES uses a low-energy electrical impulse applied directly to the muscle to create a contraction. When you place electrodes on muscle, it causes the muscle to contract, enabling you to pedal!
The computer that is attached to the bike keeps track of your speed and can add resistance to the pedals if your doctor or physiotherapist agrees that your muscles can tolerate it.
What are the benefits of FES cycling?
Diagnoses that can benefit from FES cycling include:
- Spinal cord injury
- Traumatic brain injury
- Cerebral palsy
- Multiple sclerosis
- Transverse myelitis
- Stroke
FES cycling has five FDA-approved applications, listed below:
- Decreased muscle atrophy
- Improved circulation
- Improved range of motion
- Decreased muscle spasms
- Muscle reeducation
There are also numerous psychological advantages to riding an FES bike. Exercise raises endorphin levels, which help to alleviate depression. Being able to move independently again also helps to increase levels of self-worth.
Why wait to get started? Contact our Surrey, Newton, Fleetwood, and Langley Clinics today!
The symptoms of your neurological condition don’t have to dominate your life. Relief is possible in physiotherapy with our specialized FES bike exercise program. Contact Beyond Physiotherapy in Newton, Surrey, Fleetwood, and Langley today to unlock the relief you’ve been searching for.