When a person suffers a stroke, every second counts, because a lack of oxygen to the brain can cause sudden and irreversible damage. Following a CVA (cerebrovascular accident) or what is more formally known as a stroke, two out of three people suffer a severe loss of their motor skills. Acutely aware of this major health issue, Clinique Valmont has purchased a Lyra gait trainer developed by THERA-Trainer, an exercise machine developed specially to help patients regain their ability to walk.
Experts agree that one of the key factors in successful post-stroke therapy is rapid stimulation of the motor skills with the necessary intensity and repetition. The brain reacts strongly to repetition, which improves neuroplasticity, and when it is exposed to 500 to 1000 steps a day – rather like an infant learning to walk – it begins to understand the meaning of mobility again.
The Lyra trainer enables us to carry out a vital number of steps at an appropriate level of intensity, something that is virtually impossible using conventional therapy (generally speaking, about 20 times less effective). Thanks to this efficient, easy-to-use approach, patients are accompanied at every stage of their rehabilitation and able to re-establish mobility and stamina as part of their everyday lives.
It is important to mention that the machine is also beneficial when treating other illnesses and neurological conditions with similar symptoms. These include Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries, multiple sclerosis or craniocerebral traumas resulting from accidents.
In conclusion, the Lyra unit is the only one of its kind worldwide to incorporate connectivity functions that enable the electronic transmission of data to medical staff, who are then able to analyse them in real time.