Functional Electrical Stimulation
What is FES ?
Functional electrical stimulation (FES) applies small electrical pulses to paralyzed or weak muscles in order to help restore or improve their function. FES Cycling systems allow individuals with partial or complete paralysis of the legs or arms to pedal a stationary cycle or arm cycle respectively (using a motorized ergometer) with their own muscle power – despite their paralysis.
The ability to power the bike oneself using the electrical stim is much more beneficial than simply using a motorized bike to move the legs or arms. This results in effectively reversing many of the detrimental effects on an individual’s fitness level that has suffered a neurological injury or illness.
Transcutaneous Spinal Cord Stimulation
What is TSCS?
Transcutaneous spinal cord stimulation (TSCS) delivers gentle, targeted electrical stimulation to the spinal cord through electrodes placed on the skin over the spine. No surgery or implant is involved.
Paired with intensive, task-specific practice such as grasping, reaching, standing and walking, TSCS helps the signals that still get through after a spinal cord injury produce stronger movement. TRYAbility offers three stimulation systems and takes part in active clinical research.
PoNS® Therapy
What is PoNS?
PoNS is an innovative, noninvasive neuromodulation device that delivers gentle electrical stimulation to the tongue while patients participate in targeted physical rehabilitation, supporting the brain’s ability to adapt and form new connections.
At TRYAbility, PoNS therapy is delivered by specially trained and certified clinicians as part of individualized programs to support walking, balance, coordination and functional mobility.
Universal Cage/Spider Cage Therapy
What is Universal Cage Therapy?
Universal Cage Therapy or Spider Cage Therapy is a partial or full suspension in the middle of the cage unit with support maintained through elastic cords. This type of suspension is extremely dynamic and provides just the right amount of support needed. This allows the patient to support any movement or functional skill virtually in an “independent” fashion! The type of exercises performed in full or partial weight bearing allows the patient to develop a full sense of security.
When using a suspension cage, patients can practice proper gait patterns while isolating and balancing the right muscle groups in each stage.
Dry needling
What is dry needling?
Dry Needling is a technique physical therapists use (where allowed by state law) for the treatment of pain and movement impairments. The technique uses a “dry”needle, one without medication or injection, inserted through the skin into areas of the muscle.
Other terms commonly used to describe dry needling, include trigger point dry needling, and intramuscular manual therapy.
Dry needling is not acupuncture, a practice based on traditional Chinese medicine and performed by acupuncturists. Dry needling is a part of modern Western medicine principles, and supported by research.
Whole Body Vibration
What is Whole Body Vibration?
Vibration therapy is a type of neuro-muscular re-education, a treatment technique or exercise performed by an individual with the purpose of improving, via the nervous system, the level of communication between the body and the brain.
Because side-alternating vibration training and vibration therapy exercises rely on the involuntary stretch reflex, there is a significant amount of communication occurring between the brain and the contracting muscles with each individual exercise. The goal is to “jump start” the muscle contraction through the intense high-repetition rate called frequency, thereby enhancing the patient’s ability to efficiently recruit the muscle fibers, coordinate movement being performed by the joint and muscle tissue.
Virtual Reality
What is Virtual Reality Neuro Rehab?
Virtual reality (VR) is a powerful tool to motivate patients to participate actively in therapy, while providing augmented feedback to enhance motor learning and improve task performance.
VR does not replace the real environment, but is a tool for setting up automatic training schedules that closely mimic the real environment.
VR can be a good solution to train dangerous or difficult tasks such as fall recovery or fall prevention. It is being applied in neuro rehabilitation to enhance central nervous system plasticity and recover lost function after disease or accident.
Aquatic therapy
What is Aquatic therapy?
Aquatic therapy is physical therapy that takes place in a pool or other aquatic environment under the supervision of a trained physical therapist or physical therapy assistant.
There are several types of aquatic exercises that vary based on the goal and the format. The major difference between aquatic exercise and land based exercise is the buoyant support in the water. Buoyancy has a therapeutic effect of decreasing stress on weight bearing joints. Injury and pain risk in aquatic exercise is greatly minimized due to this support and decreased joint stress. Our doctors of physical therapy can apply a more optimal load through utilizing aquatic therapy and bridge to land based therapeutic exercises and modalities as needed.
Gait Training
What is Gait Training?
Gait is the ability to walk, so Gait training simply refers to training to walk. Such therapy is often necessary following a severe injury (Spinal Cord or Traumatic Brain Injury) or illness (Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s, Stroke, Transverse Myelitis, etc) because these conditions damage the nerve cells and can prevent signals from the brain to the muscles. They can also disrupt the signals that do reach the muscles, making the muscles “jump” on their own. Therefore, a patient can experience weakness and spasticity in the feet, legs, hips, and trunk, as well as in the hands and arms. Losing the ability to move freely is very difficult not only physically but also emotionally for people. Being told “you will never walk again” can be devastating not on the patient, their family members, friends and co-workers alike.
Upper Extremity
What is Upper Extremity Therapy?
Our hands are our toolbox. After a neurological injury, it’s common to experience weakness, paralysis, increased tone or spasticity in the arms and hands.
Through a combination of assistive devices, hands-on therapy, FES and robotics, our therapists evaluate each patient and build a plan to help you get back to doing the things you want and need to do.