ABLE: High Intensity Program

The ABLE program is designed to provide high intensity activity based exercise to maximize the benefits to YOU, our client.  Our program is customizable, but rest assured that our fitness specialists will create the program right for you. Our elite offering, the High Intensity Program involves and optimizes the use of each of the fitness elements below to maximize YOUR involvement and more importantly, YOUR outcomes.  

The ABLE staff is guided by the principle that your motivation, combined with motion from these cutting-edge offerings, will present you with outcomes of physical and mental well-being currently not available in traditional settings.

The High Intensity Program

The commitment: this offering calls for an investment of three to four hours a day, three days a week, for three months, and is based on the most current scientific research. Just as with any fitness regimen, it is our experience that your commitment delivers results. Here are just a few of the innovative offerings designed to meet the fitness and performance needs of people living with paralysis or neurological conditions.

TheraStride: Body-Weight Support System for Locomotor Training

TheraStride is a high-tech, body-weight supported treadmill that pushes innovation and progressive rehabilitation to you, the devoted fitness client. The system is designed to provide ABLE clients revolutionary locomotor training through support and mobility not offered in traditional rehab programs.

A team of dedicated fitness specialists will develop an individualized locomotor training program for you.

Intervention Unveiled

• Stretching prior to treadmill session
• 45 minutes on the treadmill with the assistance of fitness specialists
• Components include standing and stepping activities
• 30 minutes of over ground activities off of the treadmill. 

Functional results may include:

• Improved stepping and standing ability
• Improved trunk stability and posture
• Improved balance and strength

This intervention requires written approval from your physician and may only be appropriate for specific diagnoses.

Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) 

Another scientific and technologically enhanced element of the High Intensity Program is our delivery of FES. With your motivation, we will work together to bring forth the motion!  FES uses low voltage electrical simulation administered via electrode pads placed over specific muscle groups to fire the targeted muscle groups in the proper sequence to facilitate coordinated movements. 

FES is applied through FES Bikes – upper and lower extremities – and a variety of other technologies (see Guided Exercise). Our staff is trained in progressive therapy techniques that will push your fitness program into overdrive.

Intervention unveiled

• Lower Extremity: Electrodes are placed on the muscles of the legs
• Trunk: Electrodes are placed on the trunk muscles in conjunction with some select arm or leg muscles. This will be determined at time of the assessment.
• Upper Extremity: Electrodes are placed a specific muscles of the arms

Functional results may include:

• Enhanced strength and stability
• Increased cardiovascular function
• Improved circulation and range of motion
• Reduction or control of spasticity

Guided Exercise: (strengthening and/or cardiovascular exercise)

This intervention includes individual instruction and assistance from a Fitness Specialist.  Sessions address specific goals for each individual such as: core strengthening, coordination, balance, endurance and gait training.  A variety of specialized exercise equipment can be utilized during these sessions.  The equipment used may include but is not limited to: 

• WAVE ProElite
• GIGER MD System
• UpperTone
• Paramount
• VitaGlide
• SCI Fit
• Total Gym
• Bioness
• Stiwell e-stim

The ABLE program is designed to provide high intensity, activity-based exercise to maximize the benefits for our clients.  Contact us TODAY to create the program right for you: 763-520-0600 or able@couragecenter.org.