The Universal Exercise Unit (UEU),
with its almost four hundred pounds of metal construction, is without a doubt the greatest contribution of European rehabilitation. The concept of using it to strengthen weakened muscles was developed more than sixty years ago by a Polish physician, Professor Dega, a world-renowed orthopedic surgeon.

The concept is quite simple: the weakened muscle is unable to perform against gravitational forces. Therefore, by fully suspending the exercised extremity and eliminating the weight of the extremity (leg or arm), the patient can initiate the movement. The journey starts from there. Providing low grade resistance and assistance to complete full range of motion allows the muscle group to improve strength and function. This is one way of utilizing the UEU. We will refer to it as a "pulley system."

The UEU was a part of our PT curriculum in Poland when we trained to be Physical Therapists. Even the smallest rehabilitation facility in Poland is equipped with the UEU.

It was hard to believe that we could not find it in the United States.

In 1999, we introduced the concept of the UEU as part of an intensive exercise program for children diagnosed with CP and other neurological disorders.

Not only is the UEU the most effective device for improving muscle strength, but it also allows for isolating the desired muscle group. What this means is that whenever a person with a neurological disorder is asked to perform a certain movement, due to muscle tone and lack of coordination, strength and balance, he/she will try to perform that movement with both extremities (upper or lower) at the same time. The Universal Exercise Unit, along with specific exercises performed in it, allows one to re-educate the patient's nervous system to isolate one extremity from the other and move it independently. This is how a normal gait becomes a reality.

While strengthening muscles and improving function, the system of exercises performed in the UEU contributes to gains in range of motion, both active and passive, and improved muscle flexibility and tone. This is the main reason why we promote it for the cerebral palsy population.

As the name "universal" suggests, our exercise unit is used in many other ways. Another way is called the "Spider".

Through the system of elastic bands and a wide belt worn around the waist, the UEU provides very dynamic vertical or horizontal suspension. The goals of the exercises performed in the "Spider" are to improve functional skills (sitting, crawling, standing, walking), balance, coordination, and sensory-motor integration. The biggest goal in mind would always be promoting independent movement.

Not only is it a lot of fun for the patient, but it also substitutes for the work of two additional people.

The UEU is also extremely helpful while working on specific goals like endurance for a certain skill. With the use of the tracking rail, the patient and therapist work on the proper coordination of the movement (for example: reciprocation), the quality of the movement and endurance. It is very helpful and often used in our center as a dynamic stander. Patients learn the concept of weight shifting and weight bearing along with the consequences of its lack in a safe way. Little ones love to "fly" and "spin."

Parallel bars installed inside the UEU allows one to combine any of the previously mentioned concepts with gait training, functional skills and transfers. It can be done either with the use of the "Spider," tracking rail or independently. Very often we replace the parallel bars with two suspended ropes, creating a version of a "suspended bridge."

There is no age limit to use the UEU. The weight limit is 350 pounds. The Universal Exercise Unit meets all the requirements and is FDA listed and registered.

Although the concept seems to be very simple, professional training is required to ensure the safety of the patient. To obtain skilled training, you can contact our Pediatric Fitness Center at 248-706-1026.

The Universal Exercise Unit is currently used in more than 70 clinics and hospitals in the United States. For more information about the Universal Exercise Unit and equipment catalog, please visit www.suittherapy.com or www.therasuit.com