Hi
My name is Steve Pembroke, I am a Clinical Director in a Rehabilitation
Company specialising in complex disability, legal expert work, Industrial
Injury and Sports Medicine here in Gateshead, U.K.
I have had a long association in the use of Isokinetics since working with
the first U.K. system at The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore,
Middlesex, in 1983. I have lectured to the International Institute of Sports
Medicine in the use of Isokinetics and have taught the use of Isokinetics
for The Cybex Norm System, The A/P Kin- Com and the Biodex System 2 and
System 3 Pro Machines. As a Director for my company I was able to have the
luxury of obtaining machines from each of the manufacturers for an extended
period of loan. This enabled me to make an informed decision on the updates
of both the hardware and software of each of the machines and carry out
direct comparisons. I am independent of any of the companies and do not
receive any commission or other favours for recommendations made.
>From my period of loan a number of strengths and weakness for each of the
machines were identified, the ideal machine is not yet available! To further
complicate matters, Biodex bought out the Kin-Com just before I made my
purchasing decision. I choose to buy the Biodex System Pro 3 as it gave the
best compromise for the intended clinical usage. It has proved very useful
in terms of quantifying legal work and in arriving at a realistic assessment
of return to work times for injured employees. I use the closed-chain
attachments and work simulation tools on a daily basis, they have proved to
be reliable and robust in a clinic situation which is open for 10 hours per
day and 5 days per week. The equipment is also used on a weekly basis in the
treatment of elite sportsmen and women and has proved invaluable in
structuring realistic training programmes and periodisations for injured
athletes.
>From a financial viewpoint the equipment has enabled our company to
diversify into specialist fields involving research contracts with North
Eastern Universities and a number of Private and NHS Hospitals. The return
on the investment is approximately 3 times the monthly costs and still
growing and the machine is likely to be written off, from a financial
consideration within 5 years but is likely to have a useful life expectancy
of greater than 10 years.
I have a number of research papers and a good book list that can be shared
if you require and if you wish to correspond regarding the specific use of
the machine and its strength and weaknesses please send me your personal
e-mail address. I am at present using only the Biodex and Kin-Com systems on
a regular basis but I have a good knowledge of the Cybex Norm, The Lido and
Techno-gym equipment.
I hope this helps you.

Steve Pembroke MSc MCSP Dip RG&RT
Clinical Director
Ability for You Ltd
----- Original Message -----
From: Timothy Judge <[log in to unmask]>
To: 'Physiotherapy conversation' <[log in to unmask]>; 'Biomechanics
message' <[log in to unmask]>; 'Sportscience message'
<[log in to unmask]>; 'SportsMed message'
<[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Friday, October 08, 1999 3:09 AM
Subject: Isokinetic machine


> Hello
> I am looking for further information regarding Isokinetic machinery.
> We are interested in the Biodex system, either the Biodex system 3 Pro or
> the Biodex system 3 Quick Set Multi-Joint Testing and Rehabilitation
System.
> Of course these systems are not cheap! And we need to know that they are
> worth the investment.
> I have David Perrins book " Isokinetic Exercise and Assessment" and found
a
> couple of interesting articles
> * The Isokinetic Torque Curve of Shoulder Instability in High School
> Baseball Pitchers - JOSPT Vol. 26 number 3 September 1997
> * The effect of a 6 week program of Isolated Back Extension Strength
> Training on Lifting Capacity: Comparison of an Isokinetic v Isotonic
> Training Regimen Jeffrey Heintz at
> www.library.ctstateu.edu/ccsu_thesis/1492.html
> <http://www.library.ctstateu.edu/ccsu_thesis/1492.html>
> My main line of work is Industrial Rehabilitation; exercise testing and
> strengthening of workers.
> I am a physiotherapist and Sports Scientist. I am applying my past
knowledge
> of sports injury and rehab to the industrial work setting.
> Here is a summary of the reasons that we might need this equipment.
> "To identify, treat and document the physical impairments that has caused
> the functional limitation of the injured individual
> To perform a valid and reliable quantification of the individuals capacity
> to produce muscle force"
> The concept development of Isokinetic exercise began with James Perrine in
> the 1960's, then introduced to the scientific literature in 1967 and since
> been extensively researched. Isokinetic devices allow individuals to exert
> as much force and angular movement as they can at a predetermined
velocity.
> When the limbs angular rate of movement equals or exceeds the preset
> velocity limit, the dynamometer produces an equaling counter-force to
ensure
> a constant rate of movement.
> Advantages over other exercise modalities:
> A muscle group can be exercised to it's maximum potential throughout a
> joints entire range of movement.
> A safer alternative during rehabilitation as the dynamometers resistive
> mechanism disengages when pain or discomfort is experienced.
> Permits isolation of weak muscles.
> Isokinetic testing accurately quantifies muscle performance.
> Insurance companies and employers need to know specific measures of how
and
> when an employee will return to work. Today's injury rehab environment
> requires more specific assessment tools that are reliable and
reproducible.
> Our service of functional capacity and muscle performance analysis will
> benefit from such a tool:
> Accurate assessment of human muscle performance
> Comparison of various strength and conditioning programs
> Documenting efficacy of therapeutic exercise in helping clients recover
from
> injury to their musculo-skeletal system
> Injury prevention by identifying deficits in strength, both of bilateral
and
> reciprocal muscle groups.
> Anyone using Biodex?
> Is this system really required?
> Any alternatives?
> Any other references?
>
> Thank you
> Tim Judge at [log in to unmask]
> <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
> The Performance and Injury Rehabilitation Unit
> Healthlink South
> Christchurch
> New Zealand
>





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