The pedal exercise equipment is an innovative piece of machine that pedals the user’s limb and requires no full-body involvement in pedaling.
The user only has to move their limbs while the rest of the body is stationary.
They, however, have to maintain a sitting position when using the equipment.
Table of Contents
- Who Is It Meant For?
- Properties of Exercise Pedals
- Benefits of Exercise Pedals
- Parts of the Exercise Pedals
- How to Use Exercise Pedals
Who Is It Meant For?
The equipment was designed for the old, disabled, and people with a limited range of movement. It is the perfect exercise equipment to use when one is confined to a wheelchair.
It is, however, also used by healthy people who prefer gentle indoor exercise.
People with heart ailments or other health conditions that restrict them from overworking can also use them.
Related: How to Change a Wheelchair Tire Like a Pro
Properties of Exercise Pedals
- It is comfortable, secure, and can be easily purchased online
- It can be used with little to no effort and is designed to help patients of all severity ranges of disability to exercise
- Its lightweight features make it easy to carry around – within or outside the home
- It requires no expertise by the user; the parts are simple and easy to assemble and take apart
Benefits of Exercise Pedals
Musculoskeletal
People who are confined to a wheelchair or bed for a long time are usually advised to engage in simple but extensive exercise because of their muscles and bones.
This is especially true for the old and disabled. While physiotherapy is available in most nursing homes, having pedal exercise equipment is highly beneficial.
The patients have more access to regular exercise without the need for appointments or fees.
Exercising the muscles regularly prevents them from atrophying, which is a major concern for elderly persons in a wheelchair.
The muscles become weak and flaccid, and they are unable to properly move them. In extreme cases, people lose the function of their limbs entirely.
There is also the general feeling of wellness that comes with exercising your body; seniors in wheelchairs experience that as well. It improves their mood and gives them a better predisposition.
Cardiovascular
A lot of seniors in wheelchairs have weak hearts. Lack of vitality makes it difficult to exercise, as well as other contributing health factors common to their age group.
Using this exercise pedal helps their body move, which increases the rate of blood flow to and from the heart. This makes the heart work harder at pumping, strengthening the muscles, and keeping their hearts healthy.
The equipment is also well regulated and paced.
This extremely reduces the chances of overworking the heart and inducing acute medical conditions like a heart attack, which is a major concern with elderly persons who exercise vigorously.
Related: How to Transfer a Senior from Wheelchair to Bed Safely
Respiratory
When a person works out, their breathing becomes labored, their respiratory rate increases, and their lungs expand to take in more air to compensate for the air being lost while exercising.
This is a beautiful way to teach our lungs to breathe and breathe properly. This is especially important for seniors whose lungs tend to reduce in functionality as they age.
Exercising will make their lungs healthier, their body stronger, and as an effect, will lead to an overall increase in wellness.
Parts of the Exercise Pedals
- Pedal
- Buckles
- Remote
- Resistance knobs
- Body
How to Use Exercise Pedals
The equipment can be used to exercise both the lower and upper limbs. Below are the steps that show you how to use it for both limbs.
Related: How to Use Transfer Board from Wheelchair to Toilet
For Lower Limb Exercise (Automatic)
- Place the equipment in front of you on a flat and even surface at a comfortable distance on the floor
- Assemble the parts and keep them firmly in place
- Place one foot and then the other onto the pedal
- Secure the legs by strapping them tightly against the vertical part of the pedal against which the leg rests. The uppermost buckle should be used for this
- Ensure that the feet are well aligned on the pedal. The toes should be facing forward. Adjust the foot till this is attained
- Using the lower buckle, strap the feet tightly in place
- Repeat this for the other foot
- Take the last buckle and strap it against the ankle. It should be well-positioned between the two other straps
- Repeat this for the other ankle
- Switch on the equipment and pick up the remote
- Adjust the settings according to your preferred pace, intensity, and duration
- Sit back and press the start button
- You can increase the pace and intensity when the initial warm-up phase is over
- You can also switch the controls to make the pedals move backward. This way, your anterior and posterior muscles are properly exercised
For Lower Limb Exercise (Manual)
- Place the equipment in front of you on a flat and even surface at a comfortable distance on the floor
- Assemble the parts and key them firmly in place
- Adjust the resistance knobs to increase or reduce tension in the joints of the equipment (manual)
- Place one foot and then the other onto the pedal
- Secure both firmly by pushing your feet in the holding traps that are fixed to the pedal
- Sit back and start pedalling towards yourself
- Pace yourself and maintain the pedaling at a comfortable intensity
- Switch the direction and start pedalling away from your lower body. This way, you exercise both anterior and posterior muscles of your lower limb
For Upper Limb Exercise
- Place the equipment in front of you on a flat, sturdy, spacious, table
- The table’s height should be at a comfortable height to your arms
- Assemble the parts of the equipment and key them firmly in place
- Adjust the resistance knobs to increase or reduce tension in the joints of the equipment
- Place one palm and then the other onto the pedal
- Secure both firmly by grabbing the holding traps that are fixed to the pedal with your hands
- Sit up straight and start pedalling towards yourself
