WHAT CAN A BERKELBIKE OFFER to people with An SCI?

An SCI is caused by damage to the nerves in the spinal cord. If the nerves are partially damaged the SCI is said to be incomplete and will lead to a weakening of the muscles and the slowing down of blood circulation in the lower body. These effects often result in diverse health problems. The BerkelBike enables people – in spite of an SCI – to actively train their legs on a daily basis in a comfortable and enjoyable manner and reduce the number of health problems.

LIZZIE TENCH – SCI L1 – BERKELBIKE PRO

Lizzie has always been sporty, but unfortunately she was involved in an accident where a car with trailer bumped into her. After her recovery, she wanted to keep exercising but with her first FES bike she could not bike outside or get a full body training. Instead, she decided to buy a BerkelBike, which allows her to bike whenever she feels like it. She bikes two to three times a week on the BerkelBike, alongside other activities.

THE BENEFITS OF A BERKELBIKE

• Easy to transport
• Activates paralyzed muscles
• Apt to use both indoors and outdoors
• Is powered through arm and leg movements
• Available with a fixed frame
• Attachable to a wheelchair

THE ADDED VALUE OF A BERKELBIKE

• Reduces the frequency of spasms
• Increases muscle mass and flexibility
• Improves bowel movement and blood flow
• Independent training as it doesn’t require a physical therapist
• More effective fitness and strength training than a normal handbike
• Improved mood due to a high release of endorphins

HOW DOES A BERKELBIKE FUNCTION?

The BerkelBike is designed to help people with a spinal cord injury train in an active and impactful way. People with an incomplete SCI have diminished strength in their legs and often don’t have the necessary strength to cycle on a normal bike.

The great advantage of the BerkelBike is that during cycling, the legs are supported by the arms in strength and coordination. The support mechanism enables the user to apply the strength that is left in their legs before the arms help out. This ensures sufficient training of the legs and results have shown it is even possible to regain functions in the legs with intense training.

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What is Functional Electrical Stimulation?

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) is an innovation in muscle stimulation; using FES technology we can induce movement into muscles that are completely paralyzed. When combined with the BerkelBike, it offers users the possibility to bike using their legs, in spite of their injury.

Health benefits of a berkelbike

The BerkelBike has been proven to be successful in supporting the rehabilitation process after an SCI. Besides rehabilitation, it offers a range of other benefits as well. For example, the BerkelBike minimizes the risk of developing pressure ulcers and prevents the loss of muscle tissue. Additionally, physical activity does not only have positive effects on the physical body, but also on the mindset. The release of endorphins after movement results in a good and healthy feeling throughout the day.

The most important feature of the BerkelBike is that the BerkelBike stimulates both the arms and the legs toward movement. The level of incomplete SCI determines the functioning and the restrictions of the body. We offer a range of accessories that can fulfill your personal needs in order to be able to bike. This is possible even for people with a high incomplete SCI, in which case the bike is often combined with the Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) technology.