Train Your Brain and Align Your Spine

5 Ways You Didn’t Know GyroStim Therapy Could Be Used

Tuesday, 19 November 2019 14:08

GyroStim is a state-of-the-art, mutli-axis rotating chair used to provide vestibular stimulation. It spins you across multiple planes while you uses lasers to fire at targets placed throughout your field of vision. Controlled by a computer, participants can see strengths and weaknesses, reaction times, and proficiency with hand-eye coordination. While this technology slightly resembles an amusement park ride if you’re not familiar with its purpose, GyroStim therapy can be highly beneficial in the treatment of a wide variety of conditions.

GyroStim Therapy + Concussion Rehabilitation

GyroStim therapy is most commonly associated with concussion and traumatic brain injury rehabilitation. The intensity of the vestibular training done in the GyroStim machine can be modified depending on the needs of the patient. At lower levels, GyroStim offers visual-vestibular stimulation and sensorimotor exercises to help patients who’ve suffered a concussion or traumatic brain injury address persistent symptoms and restore lost function. GyroStim therapy can offer so much more than just concussion rehabilitation though.

Let us share with you some of the other scenarios in which we might employ GyroStim therapy at McWhorter CNR.

GyroStim Therapy + Sports Performance

As we mentioned earlier, GyroStim is beneficial for concussions and brain injuries at low levels of intensity. When the intensity increases, GyroStim therapy can have a marked impact on sports performance. Because this therapy option is so interactive (while also being low-impact), athletes can enhance a wide variety of cognitive elements, including situational awareness, spacial awareness, reaction times, mental and visual acuity, balance, coordination, and much more.

GyroStim Therapy + Cerebral Palsy

GyroStim has gained attention from the concussion rehabilitation capabilities, so many people don’t realize that the therapy actually originated as a treatment option for cerebral palsy. Inventor, Kevin Maher, had a daughter with severe spastic quadriplegia cerebral palsy. As she got older, doctors recommended vestibular therapy to help her develop better balance and coordination. This included a regimen of hundreds of rolls and spins every day, which was not very practical for a 4-year-old. This led to the design for the GyroStim chair, which offers that same vestibular stimulation with significantly less work.

GyroStim Therapy + Military Training

After launching the GyroStim chair, Maher gained attention from the Air Force Academy and other military organizations around the world. In fact, the United States Air Force Academy was the first institution to purchase a GyroStim chair. They began using the GyroStim chair to train their pilots and other professionals because it offers an unparalleled ability to develop cognitive and fine motor skills.

GyroStim Therapy + Parkinson’s Disease

The applications for GyroStim are growing rapidly as more and more research is done on the effectiveness of this therapy on various conditions. Parkinson’s disease is one of the disorders that benefits from GyroStim therapy. Patients in various studies have shown statistically significant improvements when GyroStim therapy is employed in conjunction with conventional physiotherapy.

GyroStim Therapy in Denver from McWhorter CNR

As you can see, the applications of GyroStim therapy are widely varied and we can only expect this list to grow as this innovative treatment option continues to show benefits in the physical and cognitive functioning of all types of individuals. Whether you’ve suffered an injury that’s compromising your cognitive function or you’re an athlete who wants to take their game to the next level, GyroStim therapy is worth considering.

Contact McWhorter CNR today to schedule your appointment for GyroStim therapy in Denver.