Parallel Bars
Parallel bars in therapy, unlike parallel bars in gymnastics, are designed to help retrain individuals in ambulation because of an injury or illness that has damaged the neurological or musculoskeletal systems of the body. Conditions for which training on parallel bars can include:
- Stroke
- Spinal cord injury
- Parkinson’s disease
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Lower extremity injury – fracture, surgery, amputation, etc.
The parallel bars provide a way for the individual to support themselves, or with gait belt assistance, while undergoing therapy to walk, improve on balance, and retrain the muscles in strength and coordination. The exercises that can be performed using the assistance of parallel bars include:
- Standing leg exercises – mini squats, hip flexion, straight leg raises, heel raises, hip abduction
- Triceps press exercises
The bars can be raised and lowered to accommodate different heights of patients and contains a non-skid surface for patient safety and security.
Parallel bars used in physical or occupational therapy are designed to assist individuals who have sustained neurological, spinal, or musculoskeletal injuries to walk again.