Physiotherapy Department by Gill Storey

The builders have now left us and the new extended NMC is completed. During the 9 months of building work patients, carers, physiotherapists and others have worked side by side, and not a single day of treatment has been lost which is quite remarkable.

The physio department has doubled in size and we now have a new specialised adapted gym and an extra treatment room. We have recently employed two new graduate physiotherapists in order to maximise the use of the new department and gym. This means that we will be able to provide more active exercise to a wider range of patients, increase the amount of first assessments we see and also the number of regular appointment slots.

The fundraising team have successfully sourced funding for new disability access equipment which includes:

• A wheelchair accessible rower
• 3 assisted arm and leg cycles
• 2 exercise bikes
• A seated crosstrainer (that you can be hoisted into)
• A standing crosstrainer
• Wii for balance and weight distribution
• Theraband resistance station
• Cable weight station

In the future we are planning to train a physiotherapist to do cardiopulmonary classes at the centre to be able to improve the heart and lung fitness of our patients. The training is accredited and approved by the British Heart Foundation.

Benefits ofRowing Machines by Karen Pritchard and Sanjay Vaja

The health and fitness benefits of rowing machines are much the same as those of water-based rowing, with a few bonus benefits that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Improves Cardiovascular Fitness 
Whenever you perform sustained exercise that increases your heart rate and breath volume, you’re working on your cardiovascular fitness. Rowing is great for the heart and lungs because it engages every major muscle group. That, in turn, requires your heart to pump more blood to your working muscle tissue delivering energy and nutrients to your cells while buffering away waste by-products, including carbon dioxide and lactic acid.

The body is incredibly efficient, and doesn’t like to exert itself, so when forced to work harder than it’s used to, it makes physiological adjustments so future exertion feels easier. When your heart pumps and you breathe harder, your body adapts so that the next time it feels a little easier. Just like that, you’ve improved your cardiovascular fitness.

Increases Total-Body Muscular Strength and Endurance 
Muscular strength and muscular endurance are two different things. In a nutshell, muscular strength is how much weight a particular muscle group is capable of lifting in a single effort – much like a single bench press. Muscular endurance, on the other hand, is how much weight a particular muscle group can lift repeatedly over time. For instance, how long you can ride a bike up a steep incline.

When rowing (as with swimming), you can increase both your muscular strength and muscular endurance because you’re repeatedly pushing and pulling against resistance for the entirety of your workout, spurring physiological adaptations that future exertion feels easier. That said, by increasing resistance over time, your muscles will grow and develop, becoming stronger.

What really makes rowing stand out is that it works your entire body. During the drive phase you’re engaging the major muscle groups of your legs first, then your core, and finally your upper body and back.

Low Impact 
As long as you maintain good form, rowing is easy on the joints. Because your feet remain in contact with the foot pads and your hands keep contact with the handles, there’s little to no impact being placed on the ankles, knees, hips, elbows or shoulders, all of which are prone to injury. This also makes it an appropriate form of exercise for those who are nursing an injury, or who feel physically uncomfortable during weight-bearing exercises.

A rowing machine is available to use here at the NeuroMuscular Centre, just speak to one of the physios and they will advise you and to ensure you’re using it properly. Rowing is an excellent form of exercise, but it’s not without risks. Poor form can result in injury, particularly to the lower back. And, as with any form of exercise, start slow    and work your way up.

Benefits of rowing here at the NMC
I enjoy using the rowing machine here at the centre. I first started to really get into it for Muscle Month. I feel much better in myself, uplifted and motivated, once I have completed my time on it. I started slowly and worked my way up on it. Rowing also helped me lose some weight which was a pleasant surprise!

Exercise in the NeuroMuscular Centre

Here at the NMC we encourage everyone to exercise to the best of their ability and are set up to accommodate all activity levels. Previously it was thought that doing exercise as somebody with a neuromuscular condition would ultimately do more damage than it would good. However now the research is beginning to show that exercising at the right level for the right amount of time can have huge benefits.  

Some of the benefits of exercise include;  
* Maintaining range of motion in muscles and around joints, as the body moves during the exercises it is stretching the muscles and lubricating the joints. Recent studies have shown that exercise can have a similar effect on the muscles as stretching in terms of maintaining elasticity.  
* Improved muscle strength. Regular exercise will cause any muscles used to change and adapt. Exercising regularly against resistance will cause the muscles to get stronger allowing them to cope with the resistance applied. 
* Improved cardiovascular fitness. As the body is put through exercise the heart and lungs have to work at an increased rate to supply the body with enough oxygen to function. Doing this for a prolonged time can have long term benefits of the heart and lungs being more efficient, reducing heart rate and blood pressure. 
* Weight loss. Regular exercise is a key factor in aiding weight loss and when coupled with a healthy and balanced diet can show fast, healthy results. 
* Anti-depressant. Chemicals in the brain called endorphins which create the feeling of pleasure are released during exercise. This can have an antidepressant effect for an individual. 

 
Here at the NMC, the Physiotherapy team will be able to guide you through appropriate exercises and gradually build up your activity level as your fitness increases. There is a large range of equipment available working all areas of the body.  

We have three sets of "pedals" available to use. These include both arm and leg pedals which can be adjusted to any ability using the different resistance or assistance settings giving the upper and lower limb muscle groups a great workout and challenging the cardiovascular system to provide for the body. Anybody is able to use them whether in a wheelchair or able to walk. 

The cross trainer is a very clever piece of equipment allowing users to stand upright fully supported around all the major joints. It requires a Nordic ski movement, similar to a walk but with no bend at the knees. This is a full body workout which will activate every muscle and work the cardiovascular system to a high level. 

The recumbent bike is similar to the leg pedals however is only available to non-wheelchair users and focuses on lower limb muscle groups and the cardiovascular system. 

The rower is a current favourite in the department. Fully adaptable to all service users it pushes the cardiovascular system more than other machines. The resistance can be changed to suit any level of activity giving the whole body a very beneficial challenge. 

The department is always getting new equipment and is soon to be getting an accessible gym full of machines and spaces to exercise safely under the supervision of the physiotherapy team. If you or anyone who uses the centre is interested in exercising regularly do not hesitate to ask the physio team for any help or advice. 

Bryn Edwards