Strength Unlimited Helps Bridge the Gap Between Outpatient Therapy and Lifelong Health

A community-based wellness and recovery program for children and adults, TIRR Memorial Hermann’s Strength Unlimited provides an enriched environment for people of all levels of ability to optimize their recovery and create a path for lifelong health and wellbeing. The program is available at four TIRR Memorial Hermann Outpatient Rehabilitation locations across the city: Kirby Glen, Memorial City, Sugar Land and The Woodlands.

“Strength Unlimited provides something for almost everyone,” says Tiffany Bollmeyer, coordinator of the program. “Many of our clients come to us during the gap between outpatient therapy sessions so that they don’t lose the skills they’ve worked so hard to gain. If they have a plan of care from formal therapy, we’ll meet with them to discuss their rehabilitation goals and then consult with their therapy team to map out a strategy for progress toward those goals. Others use Strength Unlimited programs as an addition to traditional therapy sessions or as a continuation of therapy for long-term health benefits.”

Programs available through Strength Unlimited include:

Open Gym. Members have access to a fully adapted fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, including treadmills, upper-extremity ergometers, recumbent and stationary bikes, elliptical trainers, stair-steppers, resistive cable systems, total gym, standing equipment, exercise balls, weights and more. Membership fees for the open gym are $35 a month or $90 for a three-month period.

Personal Training. Clients receive one-on-one personal training with specially trained staff who create customized exercise programs that include monitoring and education. One-on-one personal training sessions are available for $40 for each hour-long session or $375 for 10 sessions.

Aquatics. Individuals who can’t participate in land-based exercises – or who prefer aquatics – can gain the same strength and endurance in the water, with less stress on joints.

Cancer Wellness Program. As part of TIRR Memorial Hermann’s cancer survivorship care plan, the Cancer Wellness Program is available to cancer survivors of all abilities, from diagnosis and beyond.

Recovery of Arm Movement Program. This modified constraint-induced movement therapy program helps individuals with upper-extremity weakness regain strength in their arms. Evidence-based protocols help facilitate overall performance in daily living skills, work-related tasks, school activities, recreational activities and social participation. The 90-minute sessions are led by an occupational therapist in a group setting.

Parkinson’s Group. This group-based extension of the LSVT BIG exercise program is designed for people with Parkinson’s disease or other neurological disorders, who have completed LSVT BIG™. In twice-weekly, 1.5-hour sessions, the group promotes carry-over of exercise principles from LSVT BIG, using whole-body amplitude-based movements to promote improved posture, strength, flexibility, balance and walking.

Dysautonomia Exercise Program. This community-based exercise program includes both circuit training and aquatic therapy sessions for people with dysautonomia.

FES Bike. Functional electrical stimulation (FES) creates patterned movement in the arms, legs and trunk. FES enables people with weak or paralyzed muscles to perform activities by applying small electrical pulses to muscles to restore or improve their function.

MOTOmed®. The Motomed movement trainer moves legs and arms gently. Clients can select passive, motor-assisted or active resistance training, based on their muscle strength. Upper and lower body cycling is similar to bicycling.

Lokomat®. Both pediatric and adult clients have access to robotic treadmill training.

A physician referral is necessary to participate in Strength Unlimited. To enroll in a program, call 1 (800) 44-REHAB (73422).