Parapodium dynamic, static, mobile: choice, application, price

Rehabilitation after neurological diseases and injuries leading to limited physical activity is a difficult and lengthy process. One of the most important conditions for the patient's early recovery is the verticalization of the body.

For this, in rehabilitation measures, the parapodium is actively used, which helps the patient to take a natural body position and perform gymnastic exercises.

What it is?

Parapodium is a stabilizing medical device that provides support for the limbs and trunk.

This brace is a vertical frame with joint braces, hinges and a corset.

Depending on the variety, it may have runners, thanks to which the disabled person can move independently.

The function of the parapodium, regardless of its type, is to verticalize the patient, whose activity is limited for neurophysiological reasons.

The device allows you to perform gymnastic exercises, which are necessarily included in the complex of recovery measures in order to stimulate the work of the nervous, muscular and skeletal systems.

Varieties

Depending on the characteristics of the therapy prescribed by a rehabilitation specialist, one or another type of parapodium is used:

1. Static - this verticalizer is used for patients whose lower or upper limbs have lost activity. A patient in such a device does not have the ability to move independently, but can perform exercises to restore hand activity, learn simple self-care skills.
2. Dynamic - suitable for active rehabilitation of patients whose hands have retained partial mobility. In this type of parapodium, you can move independently without the help of other aids, balancing your own body. This allows you to train your legs intensively. The patient can be in an upright position for a long time, exercise, and do simple daily activities.
3. Mobile the parapodium is very similar to the dynamic one - in it you can also move independently in any direction. The difference lies in the design of the device, from which runners and knee braces are excluded. Thanks to this, the patient, whose lower limbs have not completely lost their functionality, can bring the knees together, lean on the legs with all their weight. This device is safe like all the others - the rehabilitated one is securely fixed in a device protected from overturning.

More advanced designs are equipped with pneumatic or electric drives. These modifications allow you to independently change the position of the body from a seated to an upright position, so that you can train without assistance.

In what cases does it apply

Neurological diseases affecting the nervous system, as well as injuries to the head, neck or spine, are dangerous and often lead to impaired motor activity.

Parapodium is used by patients with impaired motor functions of the limbs, which are caused by neurological diseases or injuries.

Rehabilitologists recommend training the affected limbs with the help of a parapodium for recovery in case of such diseases and disorders:

• spinal cord injuries and injuries (including the cervical region);
• stroke;
• cerebral palsy;
• polio;
• multiple sclerosis;
• syringomyelia (violation of the structure of the substance of the spinal cord);
• post-traumatic brain diseases leading to a lack of physical activity;
• encephalopathy (focal vascular lesions of the brain);
• hemiparesis (disturbance in the work of the nervous system, leading to weakening or paralysis of the muscles);
• vegetative dystonia.

After the disease, the rehabilitation course is set for each patient individually and in most cases includes verticalization, exercises for the arms and legs.

Contraindications for use

The medical device has contraindications for use:

• severe mental retardation;
• condition transient ischemic failure, which is a harbinger of a stroke;
• preinfarction state;
• osteoporosis at a late stage, characterized by deformity of the lower extremities;
• risk of bone fracture or displacement.

A prerequisite for starting the rehabilitation of a patient using the parapodium is a consultation with the attending physician, whose duties include instructing the patient. A therapeutic program is also being drawn up, which will allow the body to quickly get used to the device.

Pros and cons of equipment

The parapodium allows the disabled person to take a natural body position, due to which the body systems function normally, and the patient himself can be able to independently move. The benefits of the device are obvious:

• blood pressure normalizes, blood circulation improves;
• the work of joints, muscles and tendons is stimulated;
• respiratory function improves;
• the reflex mechanism of the excretory system is preserved;
• it is possible to avoid the appearance of bedsores and joint contracture;
• the skeleton is strengthened.

Limitation of mobility is a serious illness that instills a feeling of helplessness. The ability to stand on your own feet is an important psychological moment in the rehabilitation of a disabled person, significantly increasing the quality of life, adding confidence in oneself.

The disadvantages of the parapodium include the difficulty in assembling and adjusting it - an incorrectly adjusted device can lead to deformation of the bones and spine. The price is also not an advantage, as the verticalizer is expensive.

Rehabilitation of neurological patients with parapodium

The verticalizer is an effective tool for the rehabilitation of disabled people. It allows you to perform therapeutic sessions not only in a hospital or a rehabilitation center, but also at home.

Preparatory stage

Setting up the parapodium is an important stage in preparing for a rehabilitation program, since the effectiveness of the exercises performed depends on it. The supports must be symmetrically positioned and all screws and nuts are securely tightened. The device, ready for operation, can be easily set in oscillatory motion.

Before placing the patient in an orthopedic device, adjustment is made to the physical parameters of the person being rehabilitated. For this, his height, width and depth of his hips, height from floor to knees and pelvis must be known. The patient should not stand in the verticalizer while adjusting it. To avoid problems with fixing the patient, you need to check the operation of the fasteners.

The process of assembling a dynamic parapodium in the video:

Rehabilitation program - an average version of the stage by stage

Parapodium manufacturers offer a rehabilitation program for adapting the body to a medical device, divided into several stages:

1. At the first stage, it will be enough learn to get up from the gurney behind the parapodium for a minute and return to the place with the help of an accompanying person. It is advisable to stand in the stand for one minute longer every day, up to 20 minutes.
2. In the second step, it is important learn to balance and move the center of gravitytilting the body from side to side. After a minute of exercise, a minute of rest is needed while standing. When the patient can perform this sequence of actions 10 times, you can move on to the next step.
3. A disabled person learns get up on your own behind the verticalizer with the help of an attendant. Standing in the device, in addition to balancing, you need to start developing core musclesby turning and tilting it. Also, active exercises for the hands are performed and the first attempts to move are made. The training time should be gradually brought to half an hour. Return to the stroller - with assistance.
4. At this stage it follows spend more time walkingand also try to return to the stroller yourself. In the future, increase the load and residence time in the device.

Workouts are recommended to be performed daily and no more than three repetitions, taking into account the physical capabilities of the patient. The accompanying person should monitor the well-being of the person being rehabilitated.

It is important to note that a consultation with a doctor is required before performing any exercise.

Tips for using the device

Before moving from the wheelchair to the parapodium, the brakes should be locked so that it does not roll back and cause the disabled person to fall. Taking an upright position, it is undesirable to use the back flap of the vest as a support, since the hinge or fastener of the flap can be damaged.

Walking with the help of the parapodium is carried out by balancing the body with the participation of the hands. A slight deviation from the vertical is enough to lift the runners off the floor.

Rehabilitation time

Nervous system is a complex network of nerve structures that includes the brain and spinal cord and controls all functions of the body. Restoring the work of such a complex system after injuries and illnesses takes a long time and depends on the complexity of the situation in each specific case.

Rehabilitation after a minor spinal injury will take from 1 to 8 months, while more severe spinal cord injury in the chest or lower back area will take more time - at least a year. Damage to the cervical spine is especially dangerous - recovery can take several years.

Treatment takes a long time after cerebral circulation disorders. It is important to start rehabilitation measures in the first 3 months after the peak of the disease. Depending on the severity of the disease, recovery may take at least 2 years.

Parapodium treatments activate the muscular and nervous systems and improve the patient's morale, which speeds up the rehabilitation process. However, a more accurate prognosis can only be given by the attending physician.

What the market offers

Most of the parapodiums on the market are manufactured in Poland. The lineup is represented by modifications:

1. PD - a dynamic parapodium, which, thanks to the many fixings, allows adjust the device for individual parameters. These models have a full set of supports, but there is no crotch support belt and table.
2. PST - static parapodium, for patients who have lost the motor activity of the arms and legs. Thanks to the castors in the base, it is easier for the caregiver to move it. The model is also equipped with a table.
3. PJM / PJMP - the mobile version does not have a chest support (if necessary, you can purchase it separately) and a knee support. Also, the foot braces are excluded from the model, which allows the legs to move freely. The patient's pelvis is supported by a special belt.
4. PJMC - allows you to enjoy the advantages that dynamic and static models offer, since the base structure is equipped with both casters and foot rests.

Prices for a new orthopedic device range from 140 to 200 thousand rubles, the cost of static parapodiums are lower than on other models - about 142 thousand, mobile options exceed this price insignificantly. Dynamic ones are somewhat more expensive - at least 170 thousand. The most expensive modification is PJMC - over 190 thousand rubles.