Paralysis is a medical condition where a person experiences loss of muscle function in the body and suffers from loss of any feeling in the affected part. It can either affect one side of the body, known as hemiplegia, or both sides of the body, known as diplegia. Paralysis can be caused due to various reasons, and the most common reasons are any form of injury to the spinal cord or head, stroke, and multiple sclerosis. While there is no proper treatment for paralysis, regular exercising with paralysis exercise equipment can help the patient cope better and also improve overall health.

Here are some types of exercise equipment that will be especially good for patients who have suffered a stroke and are experiencing loss of movement on one or both sides. Make sure you consult with a certified physiotherapist before performing any exercise.

Benefits Of Exercise For Paralysis

Exercise For Paralysis – Exercise Equipment For Paralysis

Even though a person suffering from paralysis experiences loss of movement in certain parts of the body, it is crucial to have some or other form of regular exercise. The biggest benefit of exercise is that it will help to maintain and improve blood circulation and also strengthen the affected muscles. It will also help the patient regain balance and improve and regain motor skills in the affected areas. Not just that, some amount of exercising on a regular basis will help the patient stay fit and healthy overall.

Regular exercise not only helps the paralysis patient in the short run but also has long term benefits. It can help to restore the functioning of the hand, wrist, and fingers in those patients who have some problems and in whose case the condition is not severe. It also has psychological effects on the patient and is good for overall health and mental wellness.

Types Of Exercise Equipment For Paralysis

Equipment exercising in case of paralysis exercise machine is especially helpful for patients who suffer from paralysis, as it will give them the support and additional boost they require to perform regular exercises. Most of the equipment is made keeping in mind the special needs of paralytic users, hence they are safe to use. Also, as these can be used independently or with the help of a caregiver, a patient can easily use these exercise equipment at home, as a means of rehab and healing.

1. Pedal Exerciser

Pedal Exerciser – Exercise Equipment For Paralysis

• A pedal exerciser is a very portable and lightweight exercise equipment that you can place on the table or on the floor to perform some basic exercises. It can be used on the table to perform hand based exercises, and you can keep it on the floor to perform leg based exercises.
• You can use the pedal exerciser for simple aerobic exercises. These will be low impact and will not stress the joints.
• Pedal exerciser which is one of the best paralysis exercise machine will help to exercise the muscles in your hips, calves, hamstrings and both the upper and lower body.

2. Hand Grips

Hand Grips – Paralysis Exercise Machine

• A handgrip is a very simple type of exercise equipment that will help to exercise the muscles of the wrist, fingers, and hand. It is very portable and can be carried and kept anywhere with ease.
• The handgrip will help to improve strength in the lower arms as well as improve overall endurance and flexibility in the arms and fingers.
• Most patients who suffer from paralysis lose their grip, and using the handgrip exercise equipment will help them regain their grip, as well as strengthen it. It also helps the patient to improve strength and dexterity in the fingers.

3. Strengthening Bands

Strengthening Bands – Paralysis Equipment

• Strengthening bands come in different intensity levels, and you can choose the one that is good for you based on the level of paralysis the patient is suffering from.
• Such bands are good to improve the overall strength in both the upper as well as the lower body. The patient can use it while standing, sitting and even lying down.
• Exercising with strengthening bands will help to improve the muscle strength in the upper arms, lower arms, chest, back, shoulder, thighs, lower legs, calves, ankles, heels, and even the wrists and fingers.
• The patient can use it independently or with the help of a caregiver.

Additional Items That Can Be Used To Improve Motor Skills

There is various exercise equipment available that can help a paralysis patient towards rehab and recovery. However, you can also make use of simple items that you have at home and use them to improve the motor skills in the patient. Here are a few items that can be used as simple exercise equipment.

• The patient can use a simple softball and flex the fingers. It is also a good exercise to improve grip as well as flex the fingers and add strength to the finger and wrist muscles.
• Use a heavier ball to help the patient roll it on the floor. If possible, the patient can also pick it up in one hand and transfer it to the other. A caregiver can help the patient do more exercises using the ball, such as throwing, catching, kicking the ball and so on.
• Make use of simple household items such as small pins, nuts, and bolts, or even lentils that the patient has to pick up one by one. This is great for those patients who have suffered paralysis in the upper body and are not able to make the most of their arms and fingers. These simple exercises are a great way to help the patient with fine motor skills.

Our team of trained and experienced physiotherapists at Care24 can help you create a customized exercise plan that will work best for your needs. You can book an appointment to know more.