Noodle Strainer Hybrid

As I mentioned several times in the past, the function of my hands and fingers equal those of a four-year old armed with gloves in winter.
Since half a sandwich roll, plain without anything on it, already feels like a 5 kg weight to me, daily exercise of the hands and fingers is a must.
I have already tried various hand training tools. The classic soft rubber ball has the disadvantage that because of Isaac Newton it constantly falls to the ground if you spread or stretch your fingers.
More than eight years later I discovered this ingenious hand trainer, also known as a “noodle strainer”. About the expert use of such a devise I shall report in a later blog .

You put your fingers somewhat narrow or wider apart in the fitting holes. Since the inside ring is made of rubber you can quite simply perform hand curls- and stretches. With a slight twist of your arm it is also suitable for upper arm and wrist strength training.
If you want to make sure that the hand trainer does not fall down, simply attach a key band to two holes.
The hand trainer has no aid number and is considered sports equipment which explains the price of currently €29.95 plus shipping. It is available in various strengths levels at Sport-Thieme under Art.-No. 2194224.
To the link: click here

For Tetras like me, who still have some finger functions and people who have severe osteoarthritis this hand trainer is highly recommended, especially because it can be used comfortably while watching TV – no thinking required.

Excessive consumption of pasta might have a positive impact on the aerodynamics of a Rolli, but not so much on its axle load.

To read all articles of the “Tips on Aid Series”, click here.
At the end of the page simply go to: “OLDER ENTRIES”

Translator BW

2 months have passed…

Nobody ever doubted that there’s something going on with my head (literally However, with the news that hit me out of nowhere in the middle of July about my brain situation – I certainly could have done without.

Meanwhile, I returned all of the newly acquired spare parts (gastric probe, tracheal needle, permanent catheter) and slowly begin to see the light again at the end of the tunnel – into the light I did not yet want to ride…

After intensive hospital hopping I have one piece of advice for all Paraplegics: no matter what illness or disease needs to be treated – your paraplegia must first be addressed; it has absolute priority! Instead of selecting an alleged special rehabilitation clinic, rather chose a hospital that you trust and make it your preference. Those specialty places might not be familiar with paraplegia and are easily overwhelmed. If you can’t make it out of bed on your own, maybe due to a decline of your overall condition, you have lost.

Fortunately, for one month now I’m back in the hospital of my trust, where even the guards know me by name. They will put me back on my wheels!

Here are a few impressions from my current “training camp”… physio-, ergo-, speech therapy, driving training, mud baths, etc. …

Translator BW

I’ve always been passionate about sport, in particular the Olympics of course, even though I’ve never been there at a live event. Summer or winter Olympics, makes no difference to me. In my previous life I was more of a winter sports enthusiast. For evidence click here.

When I was still in the hospital after my accident in 2008 the Paralympics Games in Beijing were shown on big screen TV during my physiotherapy.

I was particularly impressed with the incredibly fast racing wheelchairs, because at that time I was just able to move about 50 yards in less than six minutes in the hospital hallways without my oxygen tent, or without qualified pushes

Last week I met with the Tunisian racing wheelchair guy Ahmed Aouadi, who participated in the Olympics in 2008 in Beijing and in 2012 in London. He currently trains as a “lone warrior” for Rio de Janeiro 2016 at a sports club close to my home.

Racing wheeler Ahmed Aouadi

Ahmed Aouadi with a racing wheelchair vs.

Rollinator (Wheelynator) with a e-handbike

Even with my motorized hand bike under full engine assistance I didn’t stand a chance against Ahmed. If you look closely, you can see that at about 20 km/h (12.5 mph) every now and then he’s waiting for me.

His INVACARE -Racing wheelchair weighs a mere 6 kilograms (13.4 lbs), which equals the weight of one of the two batteries on my bike. Nevertheless, that is no excuse!

My highest respect for such athletic performance!

I’m not giving up that easily! I might be slow in a wheelchair, but I know how to tune engines

Since one year, I am going to the Frankfurt University twice a week, and I don’t mean the University medical center this time, which you may think in my age…

It’s quite impressive when I announce sitting in my wheelchair that I don’t have time because I have to go the sports university

… no, I am not training explicitly for the next Paralympics…

I am there in a project group for

Stochastic Resonance Therapy (STR-Therapy)

This therapy, co-developed by the institute of sports sciences in Frankfurt/Main, transmits low-frequency (6-12 Hz), randomized vibrations by two plates independent of each other. *

The effect is quite complex.
In simple words, the feet are fixed onto 2 aluminium plates, or as pedestrian you stand on the plates.

These plates move/rattle heavily and simulate walking to the body. The nerves are stimulated and suppose walking to the brain.

The success especially for people with walking disabilities is remarkable.

More information on Stochastic Resonance Therapy and experience reports and equipment (in German): click here and click here.

Except for the STR equipment there is normal workout equipment as well. A sports therapist is always available for us.

The training with other handicapped people is fun, and of course there is an intense exchange of experiences.

I wouldn’t have thought that I ever would visit a gym voluntarily. There are still places available in the project.

In the video you can see Jens Maspfuhl, reigning 6-times German champion in Wheelchair Golf. He is chairman of the private incorporated society “German accident and disaster relief”

DUK-Deutsche Unfall und Katastrophenhilfe e.V.

This society is sponsor of the project and is funding it by donations and sustaining memberships.

The society also supports successfully a vocational school for disabled people of the “Father Ray Foundation” in Thailand, many of them wheelchair users.

Because of the flooding the price for rice has increased dramatically, and therefore the Foundation needs support to feed more than 800 people per day.

Additionally, the fundless highly quadriplegic young Thai woman Nuch is supported.

There are still some donation receipts and sustaining memberships left. Donate quickly before everything is gone…

Every donation is well received in the projects, I am sustaining member myself and have donated several times!!!

Somewhere I can be seen with Jens on one of the cross-fading pictures on the DUK homepage, 16 pictures after the German minister of finance Schäuble

* Source C.Ebert

For questions as usual: rollinator@eigude.de

Translator BL