Post-operative Patients are at serious risk of Deep Vein Thrombosis. 2 million Americans a year get DVT, of which 600,000 develop pulmonary embolism. Most of these are post surgery. This is again due to immobility and the Airogym™ Exerciser is ideal for patients to exercise and keep their blood circulation up when they are unable to walk unaided.
Professor Desmond Dall, Emeritus Professor of clinical orthopaedics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles. Professor Dall’s primary interests have been in adult reconstruction, total hip and knee replacement.
“Although the Airogym was primarily designed to prevent deep vein thrombosis in long-haul flights by promoting blood flow in the venous system of the lower limbs, there is every reason to believe that the device would also be beneficial to a large number of orthopaedic conditions and patients with general debilitative conditions.
The primary benefit of the Airogym is to activate the “muscle pump” in the lower limbs. This will have the effect of increasing blood flow as already shown in numerous studies, and also have the effect of increasing muscular activity, muscle tone and mobility. Through this action it is conceivable that it will also reduce the amount of pain that patients experience in a variety of situations.
I believe it would be extremely beneficial in rehabilitation in many post traumatic situations (eg: fractures of the tibia), postoperatively (e.g.: total joint replacement of the knee and hip), in patients with arthritis (e.g.: of the foot, ankle and knee), debilitation (neurological disease, malignant disease).”
It came to our attention that many Airogym™ exercisers were being bought by physiotherapists. Further investigation revealed they were using the Airogym™ to help their patients, either those recovering from illness, the elderly and immobile, and the disabled.
Mrs Wooldridge, a physiotherapist, has tested AIROGYM™ and now regularly employs the device during the treatment of elderly and less mobile patients.
“It has been proven in tests that exercising using the Airogym trebles the peak flow velocity measured in the femoral vein” comments Mrs Wooldridge. “Designed and developed by a senior long haul flight captain, the benefits of this simple, inflatable device are not exclusive to travellers. The potential of DVT problems in the elderly, the less mobile and the other ‘at risk’ patients has recently been highlighted. The AIROGYM™ is an ‘egg timer’ shaped sac, which is partially inflated and alternate pressure from the feet or hands offers resistance to movement. It is intended to be used in the seated position.“ Ann Wooldridge concludes; “this small, effective and reasonable priced product, is a useful tool in our armoury of preventive medicine.”
