Tag: omnicycle

The Role of Advanced Technology in Cardiac Rehab

The Role of Advanced Technology in Cardiac Rehab 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease in the US. It is caused by plaque build-up in the coronary arteries, which slows blood flow. The most common symptom of CAD is chest pain. However, many people don’t have symptoms and only find out they have CAD after suffering a heart attack. 

With February being American Heart Month, it’s an opportune time to highlight the importance of cardiac rehab (CR) in supporting heart health and managing CAD. CR helps prevent future heart attacks, improves physical function, and enhances quality of life. A comprehensive CR program includes physical activity, education, and counseling. Advanced rehab technology can play a role in cardiac management, improving breathing and physical activity for individuals with CAD. 

OmniFlow® Breathing Therapy Biofeedback System

In patients with stable angina, an 8-week inspiratory muscle training program improved respiratory and peripheral muscle strength, functional exercise capacity, and health-related quality of life.1 The OmniFlow Breathing Therapy Biofeedback System incorporates interactive, customizable, breathing exercises that help guide patients and their therapists. 

Forced Inhalation

Forced Exhalation

Rhythmic Breathing

Controlled Expiration

ACBT/Huff Technique

OmniVR® Virtual Rehabilitation System

A Cochrane Review of exercise-based CR in people with coronary heart disease found that exercise-based CR reduced the risk of heart attack, all-cause hospitalization, and cardiovascular mortality.2 Additionally, CR utilizing interactive virtual reality (VR) resulted in less pain, improved walking, higher energy levels, increased physical activity, and improved motivation and adherence.3  The OmniVR Virtual Reality Rehabilitation System combines gamified exercise with VR through interactive, customizable, seated and standing activities. 

  • Seated: Knee AROM, leg strength (Picnic) 
  • Sit-to-Stand: Trunk control, leg strength (Bingo) 
  • Balance and Gait: Dynamic balance, multidirectional gait (Mole, Flower Garden) 
  • Gait: Ankle/hip/stepping strategies (Walking the Dog) 
  • Upper Extremity: Sitting/standing balance, timed UE motion, functional reach (Carnival) 

OmniCycle™ Advanced Active-Assist Cycle

The 2020 American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) clinical practice guideline for patients with heart failure specifically recommends cycling as a mode for aerobic and high intensity interval training.4 ACP’s OmniCycle Connect Advanced Active-Assist Cycle has innovative motor-assist technology and customizable exercises for patients with upper- and lower-extremity challenges. Paired with the OmniTour Virtual Exercise Experience, patients can enjoy an immersive VR cycling experience that motivates them to train more often and with greater effort. 

Upgrade Your Cardiac Rehab

Interested in learning more about how ACP’s advanced rehab technologies can enhance your cardiac rehab program?

GET IN TOUCH

  1. Huzmeli, I., Ozer, A. Y., Akkus, O., & Yalcin, F. (2022). The results of inspiratory muscle training on cardiac, respiratory, musculoskeletal, and psychological status in patients with stable angina: A randomized controlled trial. Disability and Rehabilitation, 
    1–12. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2146767 ↩︎
  2. Dibben, G., Faulkner, J., Oldridge, N., Rees, K., Thompson, D. R., Zwisler, A. D., & Taylor, R. S. (2021). Exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation for coronary heart disease. The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 11(11), CD001800. 
    https://doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD001800.pub4 ↩︎
  3. García-Bravo, S., Cuesta-Gómez, A., Campuzano-Ruiz, R., López-Navas, M. J., Domínguez-Paniagua, J., Araújo-Narváez, A., Barreñada-Copete, E., García-Bravo, C., Flórez-García, M. T., Botas-Rodríguez, J., & Cano-de-la-Cuerda, R. (2021). 
    Virtual reality and video games in cardiac rehabilitation programs. A systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 43(4), 448–457. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2019.1631892  ↩︎
  4. Shoemaker, M. J., Dias, K. J., Lefebvre, K. M., Heick, J. D., & Collins, S. M. (2020). Physical Therapist Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Individuals With Heart Failure. Physical therapy, 100(1), 14–43. https://doi.org/10.1093/ptj/pzz127  ↩︎

MRK-BLOG-019

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common type of heart disease in the US. It is caused by plaque build-up in the coronary arteries, which slows blood flow. The most common symptom of CAD is chest pain. However, many people don’t have symptoms and only find out they have CAD after suffering a heart attack. With February being American Heart Month, it’s an opportune time to highlight the importance of cardiac rehab (CR) in supporting heart health and managing CAD.

Moving Beyond Aerobics: The Benefits of Cycling in Rehabilitation

Moving Beyond Aerobics: The Benefits of Cycling in Rehabilitation  

While it’s been proven that cycling is an effective rehab tool for building aerobic capacity and improving strength1, its benefits extend far beyond—from improving gait and core stability to boosting mental health and cognitive function. Keep reading to learn why cycling is a key component of many of our evidence-based clinical programs and how to incorporate it into your rehab program to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life. 

1. Preparing for Gait Training  

Cycling is an excellent pre-gait activity that helps patients improve their motor control and reciprocal patterning for leg movement and arm swing. It also helps improve gait characteristics like limb symmetry, step length, speed, and distance. Cycling can also reduce patients’ risk and fear of falling, setting them up for more successful gait training.  

2. Improving Task Performance Ahead of ADL Training  

Cycling can significantly improve task performance by enhancing muscle activation and timing, which is crucial for self-care activities. For patients with conditions like Parkinson’s disease, cycling can help reduce upper extremity tremors and improve movement and balance.  

3. Boosting Core Strength & Power 

Cycling effectively engages core stability muscles, including the abdominals, back muscles, pelvic floor, and diaphragm. By activating spinal stabilizers, it can promote upright posture and balance, which are essential for daily activities and reducing fall risk.  

4. Reducing Pain & Physiological Stress 

Cycling aids autonomic nervous system (ANS) modulation and can be a helpful pain management tool for patients experiencing hip and knee pain. It can also significantly decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure.  

5. Decreasing Anxiety & Elevating Mood 

Cycling can have a profound impact on mental health and cognitive function. It decreases anxiety and increases happiness by boosting endorphins, which help elevate mood and sleep quality. By increasing blood flow to the brain, it can also improve cognitive function, including coordination, planning, and memory.   

6. Reducing Abnormal Muscle Tone & Stiffness 

Active and motorized active-assisted rhythmical cycling facilitates the body’s relaxation response, which can decrease abnormal muscle tone and improve patients’ range and quality of movement.  

Supercharge Outcomes with Biofeedback & Virtual Reality

Moving Beyond Aerobics: The Benefits of Cycling in Rehabilitation  

The OmniCycle Connect can improve patient outcomes by using biofeedback to help patients execute upper and lower cycling exercises. Paired with OmniTour, our immersive virtual cycling technology, patients stay engaged and motivated, ensuring they get the most out of each training session.

Explore OmniCycle Connect

Transform therapeutic exercise with the OmniCycle Connect Active-Assist Cycle by Accelerated Care Plus.

LEARN MORE

  1. Kardan, M., Akter, T., Iqbal, M., Tcymbal, A., Messing, S., Gelius, P., & Abu-Omar, K. (2023). Cycling in older adults: A scoping review. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, 5, 1157503. https://doi.org/10.3389/fspor.2023.1157503 ↩︎

MRK-BLOG-016

While it’s been proven that cycling is an effective rehab tool for building aerobic capacity and improving strength, its benefits extend far beyond—from improving gait and core stability to boosting mental health and cognitive function. Keep reading to learn why cycling is a key component of many of our evidence-based clinical programs and how to incorporate it into your rehab program to enhance patient outcomes and quality of life.