The Brain & Spinal Injury Charity (BASIC) looks set to revolutionise the recovery process of brain disorder sufferers, with the opening in Salford of the country's first Assisted-Exercise Therapy (AET) Centre.
For many of the UK's three million brain disorder patients, exercise is out of the question, making depression and obesity common side-effects.
The clinically-supervised facility, BodyBASIC, was officially opened by the Princess Royal on 15 March and has been custom-designed in conjunction with medical experts to make exercise both possible - and easy - for this group. Research has shown that exercise can be a key factor in their long-term recovery.
Patients undergo an initial assessment with a neuro-physiotherapist, who 'prescribes' an individual programme of Assisted Exercise Therapy suitable for their condition. A series of power-assisted machines will then do all the work for them, each being designed to exercise more than one part of the body at the same time, halving the time it takes to see results.
As well as being ideal for those who have suffered traumas such as stroke, brain injuries and spinal tumours, AET is also suitable for anyone who finds exercise a struggle, such as those who are overweight, depressed or suffering neck / back problems.
The equipment has been supplied by Yorkshire-based Shapemaster and includes the company's Enabler machine, a motorised chair which provides slow, gentle movement of the arms and legs.
Combining three exercise techniques in one - passive, resistance and cardiovascular - it allows the user to put as much or as little effort into the exercise as they feel comfortable with. By gradually building up strength as they progress, users can benefit from regular exercise in ways which would be impossible using conventional kit.
Other items in the company's selection of assisted exercise equipment include the Powertone Plus Pilates - a redevelopment of the toning table now combined with a range of Pilates-based exercise techniques and vibrotherapy - and the Easytone, a line of powered chairs designed to exercise the shoulders, arms, upper and lower back, legs, waist, abdominals, buttocks and the inner and outer thighs.
Also available is the Multimaster, which features all the major exercise functions of a full set of Powertone Pilates machines.
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