A spinal cord injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that causes temporary or permanent changes in its function. Symptoms may include loss of muscle function, sensation, or autonomic function in the parts of the body served by the spinal cord below the level of the injury.
Improvement of locomotor function is one of the primary goals for people with a spinal cord injury. SCI treatments may focus on specific goals such as to restore walking or locomotion to an optimal level for the individual.
Recent literature suggests that 44% of the total hours spent on rehabilitation during the first year after spinal cord injury, occur after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation. Participants in this study received 56% of their total physical therapy hours and 52% of their total occupational therapy hours after discharge.
Most exercise training employs the use of arm crank ergometry and resistance training, wheelchair ergometry, and swimming. Physical therapists are able to provide a variety of exercise interventions, including, passive range of motion exercise upper body wheeling (arm crank ergometry).
Physical therapists can improve the quality of life of individuals with spinal cord injury by developing exercise programs that are tailored to meet individual patient needs.
A program of exercise/physiotherapy can be an important part of healthy living with spinal cord injuries (SCI). People living with SCI have found that therapy can improve quality of life issues that they might be experiencing, including:
- Reducing spasms
- Leg Muscle strengthening
- Cardiovascular exercising
- Range of motion
Many people choose to continue their exercises at home with a trainer, such as an APT Trainer.
- Start with five minutes of low-intensity cycling.
- Cycle for 30 minutes, at light-moderate intensity (11-14 on the Borg RPE**).
- Finish with five minutes of low-intensity cycling.
*Please consult your physician or physical therapist prior to training.
** www.physio-pedia.com/Borg_Rating_Of_Perceived_Exertion
The Active Passive Trainer (APT) is a family of unique exercise rehabilitation trainers for upper or lower limbs. The APT offers benefits that rehabilitation professionals expect from a medical device that is quality engineered and FDA and CE registered. The APT is commonly used in physiotherapy clinics in the USA and around the world and over the years multiple clinical studies have confirmed the benefits of the trainer.
The wide range of exercise options makes the APT suitable for use by the healthy and independent senior citizen for the maintenance of fitness and physical well-being, and also for the physically impaired of all ages, as part of a planned rehabilitation program and as a supplement to physiotherapy.
The Active Passive Trainer has been in use in physiotherapy and rehabilitation centers for over 25 years and is now available for home use so that you can continue your rehabilitation, without having to leave your home.
For less than the price of a coffee a day, you can own a personal medical trainer to be used in the comfort and safety of your own home, away from the crowds, and continue your rehabilitation at your own pace.
Download our brochure today and show it to your healthcare provider or physiotherapist. It has information that they will find useful in helping devise a rehabilitation or exercise program for you.
Alongside patients’ and their family’s reactions to the efficacy of the device, clinical studies have been conducted to prove that Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) patients using movement therapy can improve their lives. The APT Activity has been clinically proven as improving the condition of SCI. See some of the studies below, or refer to the Clinical Research page.
- Impact of Passive Leg Cycling in Persons with Spinal Cord Injury. A Systematic Review
- The effect of electrical passive cycling on spasticity in war veterans with spinal cord injury
- The effect of passive cycling movements on spasticity after spinal cord
- UPDATED-SA-Spinal-Cord-Injury-Service-SubAcute-Model-of-Care-30-Nov-2016
Contact us now to speak with a rehab/exercise specialist
I suffered a terrible accident while mountain biking, injuring my C2 and C3 vertebrae in my spinal cord. The APT-1 gives me an alternate form of therapy from the comfort of my own home. For that I am truly grateful to Tzora and their team.
WOW!!!! I am so pleased with my purchase of the APT-1. I had to go on here and thank the Tzora team and specifically Dan for helping me out! My name is Carla. I am 61, from Texas and have had back issues for almost 10 years now. I have tried everything and when I heard of this machine it came as a shock to me that it is sold to individuals. My trainer at the physical therapy center used the exact same one and told me you cannot find it anywhere! The customer service was simply perfect, and the product arrived so fast and has been in great use ever since. I highly recommend this product to anyone suffering from back issues and who wants an efficient and easy solution to work out from home.
Hello, a year ago I went through a spinal surgery and was told I had to do physical therapy three times a week due to my age (72) or else that surgery would be useless. I found the APT model by Tzora online and after asking specialists who highly recommended it, I ordered it right away. It is so easy to use, and I strongly believe my recovery is moving much faster thanks to it!
Hi my name is Sam; I am 57 years old and have been suffering from back pains as long as I can remember. I used to go to physical therapy every week and they recommended the APT machine by Tzora in order to avoid going to the clinic all the time. I have used this machine for a little over a year and am so satisfied. Feel improvement and so easy to use.
I had a spine injury after a car crash a few years back and my recovery has been very slow. I rarely see progress and was unsure if I would ever get my abilities back. After I started using the APT, I started seeing progress. Thank you Tzora for this amazing machine.
I have been going to physical therapy for the past two years following surgery on my spine. I wanted an efficient way to do it from home, and thanks to the APT I am continuing my recovery from home. This machine has changed my life and is completely hassle free unlike going out of the house… Thank you Tzora for this amazing technology!
My brother was in a car crash and hurt his spine very badly. The recovery was not going to be easy and thanks to the APT, he could do it from home. Thank you for your amazing service and allowing my brother to come closer to a recovery at his own pace.
I have my data sent over to my family doctor every week and he says the APT saved my back! Thank you Tzora for your kind, helpful and patient service!
I had a spinal surgery as a result of a car crash last year. Thanks to the APT, I am making a fast, easy and affordable recovery. Thank you Tzora!
My spinal cord injury started defining my life. It prevented me from doing many meaningful activities. I could barely walk, and I definitely could not afford constant physical therapy which was the only way to make things better. When I found out about Tzora from my friend, I was so excited to start the new treatment. I have had the APT for a year now and do not feel as restricted as I did before. Thank you Tzora for making this machine available and your amazing service.
Hello! Thank you Tzora for the amazing customer service and the quality of the APT. I have been using the APT for a year now and my spinal injury has improved so much! I am making recovery and enjoying the exercise
Hi, my name is Ben. I am 78 years old and four years ago I fell down the stairs of my home. Ordinarily, the damage would be minor, but at my age, sadly it is more complicated than that. Ever since then, I have had issues walking and doing my normal daily activities. I ordered the APT with hopes that it would help me, and it has done just that! With constant updates to my doctor and learning how to properly use the machine and its features, I feel much better! Thank you to the Tzora team for being so patient with me and offering such amazing customer service! I highly recommend this product to anyone doing or needing to do physical therapy.
My spine has suffered from numerous injuries due to my work as a construction worker and now that I have retired the endless effects on my body have started to show. I have gone to countless doctors and none of them are sure exactly what the solution is, but have told me to do constant physical therapy. One of my doctors recommended the APT and it has improved my situation so much! Thank you Tzora for providing the public with an affordable physical therapy solution from home. I highly recommend this product to anyone that needs to do physical therapy.
I can finally see progress! I had my spinal injury three years ago. After six months of using the APT, I can finally say that I see the light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you Tzora for your amazing product, fast shipping, amazing customer service and understanding of my situation.
I bought the APT-1 almost a year ago now and my doctors have been so impressed with my progress and how I am recovering from my spinal injury. Thank you to the team here at Tzora and to Dan for his amazing and patient service!
Hi my name is Samuel and I suffered from a bad work accident, which left me nearly disabled. My spinal cord was severely injured and regular physical therapy was necessary for the next few years. As I live in a small town near Austin Texas, there were no clinics near me, and I could not drive an hour every day to get to one. I found out about the APT-1 and it makes my life so much easier! Thank you Tzora!
I want to thank the Tzora team for providing me with the APT-1, as well as all the assistance they gave me after my spinal cord injury from a skiing accident. The recovery of my injury would have been much more difficult without the understanding and assistance of the Tzora team. Thank you for answering every phone call and even agreeing to arrange a video call with me in order to guide me on how to better use my APT-1.
Ever since I can remember, I loved to mountain climb. It has been a passion in mine for a long time. Unfortunately, a couple of months ago I had an accident that caused a spinal cord injury resulting in a smashed S1 and S2. There was a possibility I was going to be in a wheelchair the rest of my life. I asked my physiotherapist if there was anything I could do from home since I felt three times a week physio was not enough. This is when he put me in contact with Tzora, where I purchased my own APT-1. I exercise with it every day for at least an hour. I am gaining back balance and can almost stand up by myself.
A couple months ago I was in a car accident that left me with a bad spinal cord injury C2 and L4. I received a small amount of money from the insurance company which was enough to purchase the APT-1 from Tzora. I have to say that the progress is unbelievable. Not only does it help with my spinal cord injury, but also gets me to exercise! I am forever grateful to Tzora.
At home exercising with the APT enables me to do a complete body treatment in my own free time.
I use the APT at home every morning to reduce my spasms.
The APT gives me full body treatment; Passive mode for my paralyzed legs – reducing spasm, improving knee joint stiffness and blood flow. And Active mode, I can use my arms to improve my stamina and strengthen my upper body muscles.
I am a C4 Quadriplegic Complete. During my rehabilitation in the hospital, I used the APT Trainer to help me keep some muscular strength in my arms, shoulders and upper back. When I left the hospital, I purchased an APT for use at home.
I am recovering from a spinal cord injury and I use the APT nearly every day. In the beginning, I was so spastic that the device would stop rotation in Anti-Spasm mode and reverse the rotation direction to release the spasm. After using the APT for a few months, I had a lot less spasms and the rotation is smoother. I also experienced some leg muscle growth. As a supplement treatment I use the APT with the armrest in Active mode to improve my upper body muscle strength and my cardiovascular capabilities.
