Patients at St. Marien Hospital Lünen cycle around the world: virtual training

Interactive tour
Screen

Warsaw, Lisbon or Lake Garda: Patients at the St. Marien Hospital in Lünen cycle around the world. Virtual training brings holiday flair to the therapy room.

2 mins reading time

2023-05-20 13:00:00

Many patients in the geriatric or day clinic of the St. Marien Hospital are hardly mobile anymore. It’s different in the therapy room of the Lüner hospital: Here they pedal. Even very old people cycle through popular vacation spots or on new routes through the neighboring city of Dortmund.

Even when it’s raining outside, they’re out and about in bright sunshine. This is made possible by a special bike with a screen and special software. It brings the whole world to the clinic. A workout with a fun factor.

The bike computer has saved 600 routes. To use them, the patient does not even have to sit on the saddle. He can start his cardio training from the wheelchair or get more strength in his legs and arms.

“The patients are distracted by the monitor and don’t even realize that they are making an effort,” reports Oliver Hallmann, head of the therapeutic department. That increases motivation. The wheel is one of four training devices in geriatrics, but the only one with a screen. That makes it popular. “So far there has only been positive feedback,” reports Hallmann.

Financed by the association

Marie-Luise Erdmann (76) got a new knee. Due to Corona, she had to break off rehab. She trains to regain mobility. She is actually a keen cyclist, but not really fit at the moment.

The woman from Lüner starts a tour on the Bike Labyrinth, as the bike is officially called. She chooses Lake Garda and cycles past the many Italian ice cream parlors. She has also driven virtually through Dortmund. “I think it’s great,” is her conclusion.

The special bike is one of the projects financed by the “Förderverein Catholic Klinikum Lünen/Werne”. The software and computer alone cost 6,000 euros, and the bike would cost another 4,000 euros. That was already there. The clinic was able to test the bike for two weeks before the association approved the application for the purchase. “A test is good because it often only becomes apparent in practice whether something makes sense or not,” explains Hallmann.

The association, which has 132 members and is chaired by Matthias Beckmann, has supported many projects that cannot be financed from the hospital budget. This includes, for example, a new resuscitation doll. It is equipped with special technology. In this way, resuscitation can be trained realistically. Special wooden calendars for people with dementia were also purchased. In addition, the popular annual calendar, for which employees submitted photos, was reissued.