We recently purchased a set of therapy and rehabilitation steps, all thanks to the support of our donors and fundraisers.

What are training steps?

Training steps are a piece of clinical furniture that are often used in physiotherapy. Typically this might include treatment of athletes, runners and other individuals recovering from injuries or requiring specific rehabilitation.

Many of the people that InFocus supports have physical disabilities that also mean that they need to practise using steps in a safe and controlled environment. These training steps provide anaerobic conditioning, whilst strengthening the heart, lungs and muscles, and allow the person using them to have an effective workout but using all muscle groups during treatment.

They can be used by all but the totally non-ambulant people we support. We are finding that they are especially useful for people who have stairs at home or struggle with using steps or stairs in the community.

Why are training steps important for InFocus?

A whole flight of stairs can be a daunting prospect, especially for young adults with a vision impairment. These corner steps only have a few steps up, followed by a turning area and then deeper steps on the other side. This means that the steps appear much more achievable. We can adjust the height of the handrails from 40cm to 90cm, and these rails have a high maximum weight bearing load which is perfect for a wide range of people.

Using training steps on a regular basis can expand the options for a persons future life after their time at InFocus. This can help make it possible for them to live more independently, like in a supported living setting.

What’s so important about training steps?

Walking up and down stairs is a basic activity in daily life for most people. Stair climbing request more energy and muscle strength in the lower limbs that flat-area walking. It combines horizontal movement and vertical ascent at the same time, all whilst keeping the body balanced.