A new approach to knee therapy/exercise

It is amazing when you think about the variances in knee exercise/rehabilitation protocols that are being utilized today. You can approach medical professionals from all over as to their preferred exercise/rehabilitation regime, and depending on such criteria as educational background, experience, available equipment, referring physician opinion/directives and even sometimes insurance reimbursement time pressures you will get great variances in their approach to functional rehabilitation/exercise for the same pathology. From straight leg raises to stretch band protocols, the expanse of exercises options is unreal, and now with the introduction of a patented exercise device from Quantum Fitness Corporation the controversy to the best approach to knee rehabilitation will really explode. Do you prescribe the, “old standard” and sometimes referred to as, “non functional” open kinetic chain knee extension/flexion because it has been the way things have been done for the last 50 years, or do you advance and use a new patented closed kinetic chain exercise system that isolates the quadriceps better than a leg extension and is more comfortable to the patient. Old school verses new technology, non-functional verses a functional way to load the quadriceps; the choice is going to stir controversy in the medical community. With this Power Quad, there will be no more debates such as is a self adjusting shin pad better than and adjustable, or how to align the joint axis of rotation. The Power Quad with its closed chain loading eliminates all of that while still allowing you to control the active range of motion. No matter if you want to do terminal extensions or full range of motion, it is all done in a closed kinetic environment.

With the advent of this “Power Quad” machine, it reminds me of when Isokinetic systems were first introduced, and how it took three years for these systems to enter the mainstream of rehabilitation because of the skeptics. I remember attending an AAOS meeting the first year of introduction and being told over and over again, the only way to rehabilitate a knee or any joint was with weights using the proven method of three sets of 8-10 repetitions. There was no need for accommodating resistance at different speeds of movement. It looks like the same acceptance problem might be starting all over with this new and exciting exercise concept. Hopefully it will not take as long to get recognized since most of the rehabilitation professionals I have been in contact with over the years have been gearing their rehabilitation programs to more and more closed kinetic chain exercises. For the most part, I feel the majority of rehabilitation professionals agree that closed chain exercise is more functional and thus better for their patients, therefore, it will not take as long to utilize and take advantage of the this new exercise device. It would be a shame if those most in need of knee rehabilitation/exercise would miss out on a more functional way to restore their quadriceps strength for any extended period of time. Whether it is an athlete (elite or weekend) or total knee patient they will all benefit from exercising on the Power Quad. What is even more exciting is how this unit would benefit our exploding older population in exercising their legs for functional activities of daily living.