The bellicon® has been on the market for several years in Germany and now also in France. This physiotherapist has made it his own and uses it regularly with his patients at his practice, including in group sessions, or gives them exercises to practise at home.
Kiné actualité: In what context do you use the bellicon®?
Peter Leonhard: The bellicon® offers so many possibilities that I can really use it in a very wide range of situations. For example, I use it very often with patients who have balance disorders, particularly older people at risk of falling.
Those with back problems can also benefit from it. During sessions, I take the opportunity to teach them how to make the best use of the bellicon® at home, while feeling completely safe. Practising on the bellicon® is particularly recommended for treating specific conditions such as lower back pain, leg-axis deviations, walking difficulties, as well as for patients with neurological conditions.
Have you developed protocols based on specific cases and goals?
Yes, absolutely. I even did a case study with a group of eighteen people, some of whom had severe lower back pain. The goal was to use questionnaires and stability tests to measure the benefits of the bellicon® after twelve weeks of use. The results were very positive, since all participants noticed an improvement in their condition and abilities in daily life (housework, hanging up laundry, etc.).
Do you use the bellicon® for prevention, or mainly for actual rehabilitation?
I use it more for prevention within group sessions. But in individual sessions, the bellicon® can also be relevant for genuine rehabilitation. All that’s needed is for the patient to be well guided in how to use it.
What results do you get? Can you give us some examples?
For example, I had a 54-year-old patient with spondylodesis, who could barely move at the start and complained of pain, whether doing everyday tasks, after sitting for long periods, or when falling asleep. Working on the bellicon® helped her a great deal to regain stability, better perceive her body, and above all improve her posture. In the end, she was even able to take up her passion again: snowboarding!
What do your patients think? Do they enjoy the sessions with the bellicon®?
At first, it takes them a little while to get on it and feel “safe”. But once trust is established, they find it hard to do without it! Patients quickly become “hooked” on the bellicon®. While working out, they experience a lot of fun and joy – and it reminds them of their childhood, even though the use is completely different!
Did the bellicon® easily find its place in your practice? Have you changed any of your methods since introducing it?
The bellicon® found its place in my practice very easily, and I use it with the majority of my patients. And most of the time, it brings a smile to their face!
PETER LEONHARD, PHYSIOTHERAPIST