The Many Ways Medical Peddler Helps People Get Better
Medical Peddler is used for physical therapy to help people get better. Moreover, described below, are examples of the ways a medical peddler is used.
Medical Peddler to Help Knee Replacement Surgery Patients
The first four days, after a knee replacement surgery, are spent recovering from the surgery. However, from day 5 to week 4, the medical pedal exerciser may be used to strengthen the knee. Because pedaling backward is easier on the knee start your recovery by pedaling backwards. And, pedal forward only after a comfortable cycling motion is achieved by pedaling backwards.
Also, as you become stronger (at about 4 to 6 weeks) slowly increase the tension on the medical peddler. Meanwhile, start using the medical peddler for 10 to 15 minutes twice a day. And gradually build up so that you are using the medical peddler for 20 to 30 minutes twice a day. Furthermore, use the medical peddler three or four times a week.
Medical Peddler to Help Those with Parkinson’s
Why the Disease Develops
First and foremost, neurons, in an area of the brain called substantia nigra are responsible for producing a neurotransmitter called dopamine. Regrettably, in some people, these neurons gradually die. As a result, dopamine levels fall. And, when dopamine levels fall, motor symptoms such as tremors and bradykinesia (or slow movement) start to appear.
Treatment
Above all, the current treatment for Parkinson’s disease is Levodopa. In fact, Levodopa increases dopamine levels in the brain. Regrettably, Levodopa can’t help the damaged neurons.
Exercise Increases Dopamine Levels
However, there is some evidence that exercise increases dopamine levels. In fact, Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scans of 17 Parkinson’s patients showed that habitual exercisers had higher dopamine levels in the dorsal striatum. By the way, the dorsal striatum also receives dopamine from the substantia nigra. And higher levels of dopamine in the dorsal striatum helps control movement.
Exercise Improves Motor Symptoms
In addition, exercise also helped Parkinson’s patients perform better on functional tests assessing motor symptoms such as the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) part 3.
Exercise Increases BDNF
Moreover, exercise may be even better than levodopa. In fact, exercise also increases brain-derived-neurotrophic-factor (BDNF). And BDNF promotes survival of neurons that make dopamine, namely the neurons in the substantia nigra.
In fact, studies show that BDNF levels in Parkinson’s patients were lower than in healthy people. Furthermore, studies show that patients who exercised for 8 to 12 weeks increased serum levels of BDNF. In addition, another study showed that consistent aerobic exercise increased BDNF serum levels in healthy people. On the other hand, strength training had no effect on BDNF levels.
High-Intensity Exercises Help UPDRS Scores
Yet, another study showed that newly diagnosed patients who did high-intensity treadmill exercises for 30 minutes four times a week, maintained their UPDRS scores.
Motorized Pedals Helps Parkinson’s Patients
Meanwhile, a 2009 study at the Cleveland Clinic, showed that a motorized cycle improved aerobic capacity as well as UPDRS part 3 scores. Especially relevant, a motorized cycle was better than those who cycled using only their own strength. Indeed, the motorized cycle made the riders keep pedaling, while those who cycled on their own effort, tended to slack off, thereby not getting all the benefits they could.
Motorized Pedals Improves Thalamo-Cortical Connectivity
Also, another study showed that forced (as by a motor) pedaling rate improved thalamo-cortical connectivity. In fact, thalamo-cortical connectivity plays an important role in cognition. Consequently, improving the thalamo-cortical connectivity improves cognition. Meanwhile, the faster the pedaling rate the greater the improvements in thalamo-cortical connectivity.
Exercise Delays Parkinson’s Motor Symptoms
Most noteworthy, exercise may help delay worsening of Parkinson’s motor symptoms. In fact, a study, involving more than 12,000 Parkinson’s patients, reported that exercising 2.5 hours a week slows the decline of motor symptoms. In addition, other similar studies recommend advising newly diagnosed Parkinson’s patients about the benefits of regular exercising.
Medical Peddler to Help Those with Cystic Fibrosis
What is Cystic Fibrosis
First and foremost, cystic fibrosis is a chronic disease that results in progressive obstructive lung disease, chronic malnutrition due to pancreatic insufficiency and ultimately a shortened lifespan. Above all, cystic fibrosis is a hereditary disease that affects the lungs and digestive system. In fact, the body produces a thick and sticky mucus that can clog the lungs and obstruct the pancreas. Most noteworthy, advances in treatment means that people with cystic fibrosis often live into their 30s, 40s, and beyond.
Regrettably, currently there is no cure for cystic fibrosis. Furthermore, some 30,000 people in the United States have cystic fibrosis. In addition, 1,000 new cases of cystic fibrosis develop each year.
Why the Disease Develops
First and foremost, cystic fibrosis is a genetic disease. In fact, the defective gene responsible for cystic fibrosis leads to the creation of mucus that is thicker and stickier than usual. Moreover, the mucus is difficult to cough out of the lungs. Consequently, breathing is difficult and leads to severe lung infections. In addition, the mucus interferes with pancreatic functions by preventing enzymes from properly breaking down food. Consequently, digestive problems result, which can lead to malnutrition.
Treatment
There is currently no cure for cystic fibrosis. Meanwhile, treatment only manages the symptoms of the disease. On the other hand, researchers are looking into how physical exercise can help clear airways and improve overall lung function.
Exercise as a Treatment
Especially relevant, a study theorized that physical exercise may serve to increase sputum expectoration secondary to vibratory effects and increased levels of ventilation. In addition, the study theorized that exercise may lead to strengthening of ventilation muscles as well as possibly altering conductance of sodium channels, leading to less sodium re-absorption and increased mucus hydration.
Also, the study measured nasal potential differences during exercise and showed that there did seem to be an alteration in sodium conductance during exercise and that this may be partly responsible for the benefits noted in cystic fibrosis patients who exercise.
Meanwhile, it has been found that exercise is associated with increased pulmonary function, fitness levels, everyday functioning and survival rates. And, there were both short term as well as long term benefits from an exercise program.
Aerobic Workouts Using a Medical Peddler
Patients who participated in an intensive aerobic workout using pedal exercisers or exercise cycles or a strength training session had a short-term increase in their Forced Expired Volume in one second (FEV1). In addition, patients who participated in exercise on a regular basis, not only had this short-term effect, but also had a long term benefit of decreased rate of decline in their Forced Vital Capacity (FVC).
Indeed, regular exercise, using pedal exercisers or exercise cycles, leads to increased aerobic capacity, activity levels, quality of life, weight gain, lung function, leg strength and a decrease in decline in lung function. Therefore, exercise likely led to increased airway clearance and possible improved ion channel function as well. In fact, the outcome of this study showed that if activity levels increased over time, the patient’s rate of decline in their FEV1 decreased.
Effectiveness of Aerobics on Survival Rates
Finally, a study followed cystic fibrosis patients over an 8-year period. Most of all, the study looked at their survival rates in relationship to their aerobic fitness, age, gender, BMI, FEV1, end tidal CO2. Also, the study measured their fitness in terms of oxygen consumption at peak exercise intensity (VO2 peak). And, the study found that:
First, those with the highest level of fitness (VO2 peak > 82%), had increased rates of survival, even when taking into consideration their other risk factors, and
And, those with the lowest level of fitness (VO2 peak < 58%), were 3 times more likely to die during the 8 years as those with the highest level of fitness.