Z-Lift Corporation is proud to announce the delivery
of the prototype Z-Lift Bilateral BWS System for locomotive
rehabilitation applications to Southwestern Medical College in
Dallas, Texas. Installed in February 2000 for evaluation by Dr.
Patricia Winchester and others at the Motion Studies Lab, the new
Z-Lift Bilateral Unit is designed to lift the patient to a standing
position from a wheelchair, weigh the patient, provide different
levels of support on the left and right sides of the patient if
desired, and is adjustable for the width of the patient's shoulders
from 12" to 24".
Using Z-Lift's patented and patent-pending
technology, the new machine provides motion-compensated bodyweight
support up to 160 pounds per side (320 pounds total) in 1 pound
increments. In addition, the separate hoisting mechanism can raise a
patient weighing up to 400 pounds out of a wheelchair to a standing
position for therapy. As the patient is raised his/her weight is
directly displayed on a 5-1/2" dial guage next to the hoisting
mechanism. Once the patient is upright and attached to the
bodyweight support system, the hoisting mechanism becomes a safety
catch/dead weight support system.
The new device has a
footprint only 2 feet longer than the Woodway treadmill used with
this production model. There are no side supports to interfere with
the physician's and therapist's access to the patient. Deflection is
very minimal. An optional voice-activated control system allows
hands-free operation of both bodyweight support and treadmill speed.
A manual safety override switch is provided to completely vent the
system in case of a power outage. As with our other systems, the
quality of components in this model is uncompromised.
We will post more information on this model in the near future.
This new system is designed to "go one step beyond" the
capabilities of our other body-weight support systems with these
types of patients. In clinical trials, our other incremental
weight-bearing equipment has demonstrated:
- A reduction in post-ACL reconstruction recovery time by more
than 40 percent.
- A relief of patient back pain in 7 visits or less.
- Successful resolution of chronic back pain resulting in
discharge in 6 weeks.
- An identification of pain threshold in patients with lower
back pain, a prognostic indicator for recovery.
- Successful treatment programs for degenerative joint disease
(knees, hips, etc.)
- Rapid recovery from lateral ankle sprains.
- Shorter rehabilitation cycles.
- Enhanced athletic performance.
The benefits of Body-Weight Support are expanding in scope far
beyond what was envisioned when Gustav Zander designed his first
"mechanotherapy" systems in the 1880's.
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