What can EasyLegs mean after a stroke (CVA)?
A cerebrovascular accident (CVA) is a general term for a common condition in which brain cells die due to a lack of oxygen when blood flow to the brain is reduced. This can be caused by a blockage of a blood vessel leading to the brain.
A CVA is also known as a stroke. The symptoms of a CVA depend on the area of the brain affected. The most common symptom is weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, with partial or complete loss of movement and sensation. After a stroke, people often continue to experience limitations such as one-sided paralysis, vision loss, balance problems, and coordination difficulties.
The benefits of EasyLegs
- Easy to transport (in a car)
- Suitable for both indoor and outdoor use
- Compatible with electric assistance
- Available as a fixed-frame model
- One-handed operation on one side of the bike
- Available as a model that can be attached to your own wheelchair
The added value of EasyLegs
- Cycling in the fresh air
- The sportiness of a bicycle
- The convenience of a mobility scooter
- Training for stronger and more flexible legs
- 1000 leg extensions and bends in 20 minutes
- Cycling the way you used to before your paralysis
Meet our latest BerkelBike products:
Mieke van de Louw – Hemiplegia (one-sided paralysis)
“I am Mieke van de Louw. At the age of 70, I had a stroke. Three years ago – in the beautiful month of May – what no one hopes for happened: a cerebral infarction with left-sided paralysis, which suddenly left me unable to walk. During my rehabilitation, it quickly became clear that I would not recover fully. I was then faced with a choice: a mobility scooter or a tricycle.
My husband encouraged me to choose a tricycle: the EasyLegs. Because of this, I am able to live very independently. I can do my own shopping and go to my therapy sessions. I feel wonderfully free and, above all, not dependent when I am cycling. I would not want to be without it for anything in the world.”
How does EasyLegs work?
With EasyLegs, you can train your body through leg-powered propulsion. This is especially beneficial when there are coordination problems, for example on one side of the body. By using EasyLegs, the unaffected side of the body can support the affected side, while the strength in the affected side can also be used and improved.
If you have no strength left in your leg at all, it can move passively while you propel yourself forward with pedal assistance. This passive movement is better than no movement. Thanks to its three wheels and wide seating surface, EasyLegs provides a high level of stability in case of balance problems. In this way, EasyLegs is very suitable for rehabilitation after, for example, a CVA (stroke).
What health benefits does EasyLegs offer?
When people start cycling with EasyLegs after a CVA (stroke), they become fitter. Fitness is an important indicator of overall health. Training the legs with EasyLegs provides significant health benefits, which are especially important after having experienced a stroke.
The risk of a CVA increases due to inactivity, obesity, and having had a previous stroke. This risk can be reduced by maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle and preventing obesity. This also lowers the risk of a second stroke. Physical activity helps people feel fitter and less fatigued.
In addition, EasyLegs gives you the opportunity to exercise together with people around you. Cycling with a partner stimulates your social life.