Equipment Used in Physical Therapy

The physical therapy room is filled with gadgets to help a person's atrophied muscles begin to reverse the loss of muscle tone. Accidents, aging, stroke or nerve damage can cause muscles to develop loss of muscle tone, known as atrophy. Physical therapists are professionals trained to use equipment to reverse the effects of atrophy. A therapist chooses equipment based on the person's age, disease or injury and expected outcome. Following are a few of the many items available to help a person regain use of limbs and return to a productive life.

Pedal Exerciser

• A pedal exerciser is used to strengthen leg and knee muscles, similar to riding a bicycle. A big advantage to using a pedal exerciser is that there is little stress on the joints. Pedal exercisers usually contain adjustable pedals, resistance controls and a solid metal base for floor stability. In addition to strengthening the legs, the pedal exerciser provides a good workout for a person's heart.

Exercise Balls

• An exercise ball looks like a giant beach ball, but it's made with nonslip vinyl to keep it from sliding on the floor. The patient sits on the ball to help improve balance and coordination. As the abdominal and chest muscles begin to regain strength, the person can do other exercises, such as sit-ups, with the ball to further improve his overall body strength. Exercise balls come in sizes from 18 inches to 34 inches, depending on the person's height, and can support up to 600 pounds.

Resistance Exercise Bands

• An exercise band is used to provide resistance to the muscles to be strengthened. The patient pulls the band, which is held by the physical therapist. The patient may also step on one end of the band while pulling the band with his hand. The effect of using resistance bands is comparable to using free weights. The bands come in loops or flat lengths and offer eight levels of resistance, signified by colors. Tan offers the least resistance and gold offers the most. The bands usually come in widths of 3 inches to 6 inches and can be obtained at many drugstores or online.

Nintendo Wii

• Computer games are becoming a normal sight in physical therapy. The Nintendo Wii is a good example of something created for recreation that is finding its usefulness in the therapy world. By choosing from a variety of games such as bowling or soccer, the patient has potential for improving her balance and coordination. The Wii can measure a person's balance and provide instant feedback for the therapist for strategic improvement therapies. The Nintendo Wii is available at most department stores.

Treadmill

• A treadmill is an easy way to walk daily, improving cardiovascular function as well as strengthening leg and thigh muscles in a low-impact way. Programmable treadmills help a person see his progress as his muscles gain strength.

Posture Mirror

• A posture or reflection mirror lets the patient check her stance. When she can see she is leaning or slouching, she can work to correct improper posture.