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Arthritis limits mobility and often makes
many daily tasks too painful to continue.
Patients who have had hip, knee and
other orthopedic procedures are
anxious to know how they can best get
to back to their everyday lives.
Rehabilitational Gym
Features Latest Simulator
The rehabilitation gym at Syosset Hospital, which
features the latest car simulator, allows patients and their
families to practice how to get in and out of a vehicle so
they can more confidently leave the hospital and get back
to their prior activities.
The hospital's gym is equipped with the WT-960 TRAN-
SIT Car Transfer Simulator, which allows therapists to
make adjustments to better mimic a patient or family
member's car. The device allows rehabilitation patients to
practice everything from proper seat positioning to safely
entering and exiting the vehicle.
"Having a car simulator available here at Syosset
Hospital has greatly improved patients' and families'
confidence and readiness to return home," said
Ronald Nonaillada, OTR/L, administrative director of
rehabilitation services at Plainview and Syosset hospitals.
"It provides patients with the chance to simulate this
important activity of daily living."
For more information about Syosset Hospital's
rehabilitation program and gym, call 516-496-6554.
A Joint Effort
Instead of allowing arthritis to restrict exercise and
physical activity, use physical activity and exercise to
fight the pain. Here are three ways:
WEIGHT TRAINING
Lifting weights might seem like an exercise that could
aggravate arthritis, but that's not the case. One study
showed progressive resistance training reduced stiffness
and arthritis pain while increasing lean body mass and
eliminating fat. With its focus on muscle motion and
repetition, lifting weights provides high intensity, low-
impact exercise.
WATER WALKING
Water walking exercise utilizes our bodies' increased
buoyancy in water to reduce the impact of walking.
There are two main forms of water walking. One
involves walking along the pool floor in chest-deep
water. The second requires the use of flotation belts
or vests to swim in an upright position in deeper
water, moving legs as though walking without
actually touching the bottom of the pool.
TAI CHI
This form of low-impact exercise concentrates
on slow, deliberate motions coupled with deep
breathing. Originally developed as a martial art, tai
chi is practiced by many people around the world
today for its health benefits. One study showed
arthritis patients who practiced tai chi reduced their
fatigue, pain and stiffness, and improved their sense
of well-being.
SYOSSET HOSPITAL'S
for Health
