Revolutionary machine improves mobility for people with Parkinson’s.
A revolutionary new exercise machine which generates a full body workout in a low impact and pain-free way is now available for the first time in South Australia to improve mobility for people with Parkinson’s and other neuromuscular conditions.
The $20,000 Isodynamics Reviver has had remarkable physical and mental benefits in its pilot clinic in Sydney, and is now available for public use at Unley-based Brain X Body Fitness Studio run by Parkinson’s SA, a charity of The Hospital Research Foundation Group.
Parkinson’s SA Executive Director Olivia Nassaris said exercise was crucial for people living with Parkinson’s and other neuromuscular disorders to improve mobility, balance and sensory motor coordination.
“People living with these conditions are encouraged to exercise to manage their symptoms, but many can’t get the benefits of a full body workout because of their physical limitations,” Olivia said.
“The Reviver fixes this by moving the body in a gentle, circular motion at a specific angle to gravity, activating muscles across the body which in turn fires neural pathways within the brain that may have been dormant or unused for some time.
“The muscles involved with maintaining upright posture and balance have to work overtime while using the Reviver, plus it stimulates the vestibular system located in the inner ear which is crucial for sending information to our brain about our balance and spatial orientation.
“We are so excited to have the Reviver available here for our clients in Adelaide – the only facility outside of Sydney to provide public access to this technology.”
Created by Sydney-based company Isodynamics, the equipment was purchased thanks to fundraising by Parkinson’s SA champions Mark and Judith Collingwood who discovered its benefits on a visit to Isodynamics last year.
“I came to know about the Isodynamics Reviver through a friend who saw a TV segment about the machine,” Mark said, who has been living with the symptoms of Parkinson’s for nearly 10 years.
“My friend sourced the inventor and went to NSW to trial the machine, as I did in October last year. I was so impressed with the results over a five day period, it directly benefited my day-to-day functions including mobility, strength and speed.
“I felt that not only could I benefit from acquiring the machine for regular use, but so could many others as well. So we opened a fundraising page and I hope many people will see a positive change through their use of the Reviver.”
All Brain X Body Fitness Studio members can access the equipment, with users spending up to 12 minutes on the machine each day to reap the benefits.
If you wish to become a member, please contact the studio on 0499 088 725 or visit the website www.bbfs.com.au
Background: Research on the Reviver machine
The Isodynamics’ Reviver machine is currently being studied by Monash University in Melbourne to understand exactly how it improves mobility, balance and sensory motor coordination in Parkinson’s Disease.
The study is being overseen by Professor Terry O’Brien, a neurologist, and led by Dr Ben Sinclair, a brain imaging expert, in collaboration with the Alfred Hospital, to understand how it improves balance, mobility and sensory-motor coordination in people with moderate to advanced Parkinson’s disease and atypical Parkinsonism. It has been approved by the Commonwealth Department of Industry Innovation and Science and facilitated by the CSIRO.
Enrolled patients are split into two groups, based on their diagnoses. One group undertakes the Reviver exercise regime on top of their standard of care, and the second (a control group) continues with standard care and not using the Reviver.
The creators Isodynamics report early evidence that Reviver’s use can improve mobility and lessen Parkinson’s symptoms, with patients demonstrating a 22% increase in mobility, as seen by quicker “up and go” test times over an average of 26 days. This test measures the time it takes for a person to rise from a chair, walk three metres, turn around and return, then sit down again.
