Medical Supplies Blog

While the Medical Supplies Blog is a great resource for information and reviews on products for a variety of conditions, those who have had a stroke or know someone who has should check out the Stroke Rehab and Recovery Products Blog.

The Stroke Rehab and Recovery Products Blog is a new blog that focuses on products specifically designed for stroke victims. They discuss products for the bathroom, the bedroom, the kitchen, physical therapy, and mobility. Each of the products they feature is designed to either help stroke patients rehabilitate and recover motor functions, lead an independent lifestyle, and prevent future strokes from occuring.

Serving as a resource of information and a forum for discussion, the Stroke Rehab and Recovery Products Blog is open to stroke survivors, loved ones or friends of stroke patients, doctors, therapists, and healthcare providers. Be sure to check it out and leave a comment!

If you work in a somewhat crowded office like those of us here at the Medical Supplies Blog, you know how quickly one person’s illness can affect the entire staff. Bacteria and viruses, combined with mold and dust, can travel through the air quickly, infecting everyone in an enclosed area.

Because we have access to several models of air purifiers, it was difficult to decide which one would be best for our office. After researching several models, we selected the Airfree Onix 3000 Air Purifier from ActiveForever. Because we work in cubicles in a relatively large room, the Onix’s ability to clean air in a 650 square foot space was perfect.

The Airfree Onix 3000 Air Purifier is completely silent so it does not interrupt our conversations, phone calls, or train of thought. The attractive design, with its black finish and soft blue lights, blends well with our office décor and equipment. It is completely maintenance free, uses very little power, and does not use filters or UV lamps. It is great for the home or office.

For more information on the Airfree Onix 3000 Air Purifier and how it works, go to http://www.activeforever.com.

Madonna uses it to stay in incredible shape well into middle age. Shaquille O’Neal used it to recover from surgery for the 2002-2003 NBA season. The NFC Champion New York Giants use it to keep their players out of the training room and on the field. Finally, in a recent independent research study, it helped senior citizens in a retirement home regain lost balance and mobility after only 6 weeks of use.

The Power Plate is an incredible machine that offers a variety of benefits for users from all walks of life by using Acceleration Training and Whole Body Vibration. Athletes enjoy the ability to get an effective strength training workout without the need for heavy weights in a fraction of the usual time. The Power Plate also helps them to heal from muscle and tendon injuries faster by improving blood pressure and helping oxygen to reach inflamed areas.

Elderly patients and caregivers have enjoyed the Power Plate’s ability to give them greater mobility, better blood pressure, improved balance, and increased bone density while personal trainers and those looking to get in shape enjoy the way the power plate helps them to lose fat and cellulite. When used in conjunction with treatments such as Far Infrared Heat Therapy, whole body vibration can be even more effective for improving the patient’s way of life.

For more information on the technology behind the Power Plate and the health benefits of whole body vibration, click the link here: Power Plate and Whole Body Vibration Information

The Power Plate is available in 4 versions depending on your preferences and whether the machine will be for personal or commercial use. Visit http://www.activeforever.com for more information on each version of the Power Plate.

When the average athlete, such as myself, first looks at a Pilates workout, they usually think, “That’s not a workout, it’s just stretching.” Then they try it… and find out that it really is a great workout!

Often thought of as a boutique form of exercise for the wealthy, Pilates is quickly becoming one of the most popular forms of exercise and stress relief amongst all age groups and fitness levels regardless of income. Many celebrities, ranging from young actresses to middle-aged rock stars attribute their health and enviable bodies to Pilates workouts. Unfortunately, the costs of Pilates instruction can be expensive. Between the equipment, studio rental, and the instructors expensive education, the cost of Pilates classes still discourages many from trying it or continuing a program.

Now there is an afforable solution that enables anyone to enjoy the health benefits of a Pilates program: the PilatesStick. Developed by physiologist and personal trainer Charles Blount, the Pilates Stick offers users the ability to perform Pilates workouts in a studio or at home. The high quality covered elastic tubing protects your skin from being pinched while the comfortable foot straps keep your feet secured, allowing you get the most from your Pilates workout. The PilatesStick is easily attached to other pieces of workout equipment or can be shut in a door with the foam door anchors. It includes an instructional DVD to get you started as well as a workout mat and carrying case.

If you are looking to keep your New Year’s resolution to get fit, need a healthy way to unwind from a stressful day, or are simply looking for a low impact exercise for fitness or rehabilitation, we recommend the PilatesStick for all of your fitness needs. For more information on this device, please visit: http://www.activeforever.com.

When most people hear the word “sauna”, they think of a miserably hot room where people sit and sweat in silence. No entertainment of any sorts, just a small room kept at a suffocating temperature full of stale air. Despite this lack of comfort and amenities, saunas are widely used due to the health benefits of sweating out toxins.

Thanks to the Far Infrared Home Sauna, sauna therapy has becomes more comfortable and much more cost effective to have in your home. Using roughly the same amount of power as a high dryer, the Far Infrared Home Sauna heats your body without heating the air around it by using far infrared heat technology. The infrared rays penetrate deep into the soft tissue of your body, heating and loosening tight muscles and providing warm relief to sore joints. As explained in the article “Far Infrared Heat Therapy - The Latest Innovation in Pain Relief, Blood Circulation and Healing” and an earlier blog that we posted (click here to view our far infrared heat therapy blog), infrared heat therapy offers users a variety of health benefits including reduction of cellulite, restoring elasticity to skin, removing toxins from your body, and increasing blood circulation.

Far infrared heat therapy is available in a variety of applications, but I have found the far infrared sauna to be the most enjoyable. Besides the adjustable heat levels and timer, the far infrared home sauna includes an AM/FM Stereo CD Player and an integrated reading light. With the use of an FM transmitter you can even get your iPod to play through the sauna’s stereo system! Whether you suffer from arthritis, are sore from work or a tough workout, need a way to relieve stress and tension, or deal with back pain from an old injury like me, nothing compares to the effectiveness of spending time in a far infrared sauna.

Every summer, especially here in Arizona, we see commercials and billboards reminding pool owners to keep an eye on their children to protect them from falling in and drowning. Unfortunately, a child drowning in backyard swimming pools is not just an issue that needs to be addressed during the summer months. In the case of Collin Lewellen of Phoenix, Arizona, the two year boy fell in the pool two days before Christmas. His father found him a few minutes later, and he was resuscitated, but he remains in critical condition.

Contrary to popular belief, a child drowning is not necessarily a reflection on the parent’s or grandparent’s ability to watch them. A child can get out of sight in a matter of seconds and, if they fall in the pool, can lose consciousness after approximately two minutes. It is important that any homeowner with a pool take multiple safety precautions to keep children out of the pool.

Children are much smarter than most would assume. As mentioned in the article “Pool Safety Devices - How To Help Prevent A Tragedy And Keep Children Safe Year Round”, simply using a fence with a locked gate is not a sure way to keep children out, but does make a good initial deterrent. Pool covers, while seemingly effective, pose an even greater risk to the child. Being able to “walk on water” is inviting to them, but if the cover breaks or is not properly secured to the side of the pool, it can pull the child under. This not only makes rescue more difficult, but it can actually drown a child who may even be a strong swimmer.

The most effective form of child pool safety is a pool alarm. A pool alarm senses when a child over 18 pounds falls in the pool. We have researched swimming pool alarms and have found the best one for the money to be Aquaguard Pool Alarm System. The Aquaguard swimming pool alarm features an attractive looking unit that attaches to the side of your pool and a wireless remote control. The poolside alarm unit features dual sirens that emit an alarm louder than that of a car alarm, as well as another siren in the remote. This is the only pool alarm that features an additional alarm in the remote! LED indicators notify you when the alarm is armed or when the batteries need to be replaced and a numbered keypad prevents unauthorized disarming of the system.

As a pool owner, it is our moral and, in some states, legal responsibility to protect children from drowning, regardless of whether or not we have kids of our own. With the investment of a little bit of time and money, we can avoid tragedies and enjoy peace of mind. For more information on the Aquaguard Pool Alarm System, go to www.activeforever.com .

People love cats for the companionship they offer and the entertainment their antics provide, but as we get older, taking care of our furry feline friends can become more difficult. Those with arthritis, Parkinsons, ailments due to stroke, lower back pain, back injuries, or knee/hip replacements will find it difficult to bend down and scoop the litter or clean the kitty litter box.

Thankfully two new products have made it possible for people to enjoy having a cat for years to come: the Scoop Free Automatic Self Cleaning Litter Box and the CatGenie Self-Flushing, Self-Washing Cat Box. These two automatic kitty litter boxes take away the need to scoop kitty litter and clean the cat litter boxes, but in different ways.

The Cat Genie requires some installation: it draws water from your toilet or washing machine power supply and deposits waste in your toilet bowl or laundry waste water pipe. Rather than using actual cat litter, the CatGenie uses special washable granules that are rinsed with water and the included SaniSolution when used. While the CatGenie is more expensive and requires some installation, it requires much less frequent long-term maintenance and ideal for homes with multiple cats.

The Scoop Free Automatic Self Cleaning Litter Box costs much less than the CatGenie and takes a different approach to cleaning. The Scoop Free uses prepacked trays of cat litter that slide under the main unit. Sensors in the automatic litter box detect when your cat has used it, then drag a rake across the granules, pushing waste into a trap at the end, helping to eliminate odors. The Scoop Free refill trays typically last approximately one month for households with one cat, which is much better than standard litter boxes.

Both the Scoop Free Automatic Self Cleaning Litter Box and the CatGenie Self-Flushing, Self-Washing Cat Box are great products. Choosing which one will work best for you depends on your situation. For households with more than one cat, we recommend the CatGenie. If you only have one cat, the Scoop Free is a much more cost-effective approach. For more information on both, please visit http://www.activeforever.com.

Whether you or your loved one have had a knee replacement or a hip replacement, or just need some extra help getting on and off the toilet, choosing the correct raised toilet seat can be difficult. A wide range of designs and options are available, and since they are typically non-returnable and not covered by health insurance, the decision can be nerve-wracking.

We have researched and tested a wide range of toilet seats against our years of knowledge in this business, and we have found the RTS4002 Ergonomic Raised Toilet Seat with Arms to be the best choice for practically anyone.

While this model does require that you remove your existing toilet seat, the installation of the RTS 4002 Elevated Toilet Seat is much easier than others of its kind. Simply bolt the included bracket in place where your toilet seat was, then slide and lock the RTS 4002 in place. It’s very simple and requires little effort. By simply lifting the lever in the back you can remove the seat for easy cleaning. Unlike raised toilet seats that simply lock into place without any hardware, this seat provides you with superior stability and safety - you don’t have to be worried about the RTS4002 Raised Toilet Seat’s ability to support your weight when you lean on it!

You may be saying to yourself “Sure, it installs easily, but how comfortable is it?”. With the wide, contoured seat and ergonomically designed handgrips, the RTS 4002 Ergonomic Raised Toilet Seat offers an unmatched level of comfort compared to other elevated toilet seats. The armrests are easily removed if you need a larger seating area. The RTS 4002 Ergonomic Raised Toilet Seat leaves you sitting roughly four inches above your toilet, which is the ideal increase for most consumers.

So when the time comes to purchase a raised toilet seat for you or a loved one, check out the RTS4002 Ergonomic Raised Toilet Seat with Arms. Affordable, easy to use, and sturdy, this elevated toilet seat will give you years of the safety and support you need. For more information on this raised toilet seat, go to: www.ActiveForever.com.

Whether it’s muscle pain from an injury or a hard workout, or joint pain from arthritis and carpal tunnel syndrome, far infrared heat therapy is a great form of pain relief without the need for medication. One of the most convenient and cost-effective ways of administering infrared heat therapy is by using the Light Relief Light Therapy Device.

For me, Light Relief provided much needed pain relief for my lower back and shoulders after a tough workout. The warming, penetrating infrared heat increases circulation to sore areas and loosens up tight muscles. The included strap kept it in place on my lower back while the removable, flexible Light Pad enabled it to conform to the curve of my shoulder for even heating. Often I would find myself reaching for over-the-counter pain relievers to counter the pain of sore muscles and old injuries, but sometimes even those would not work. Light Relief Therapy gives me much needed pain relief and muscle relaxation every time I use it. I highly recommend it to anyone suffering from arthritis, sore muscles, or any other form of muscle and joint pain.

While frequently going undiagnosed for years, Sleep Apnea can be a miserable condition to deal with. Pauses in breathing throughout the night can prevent you from getting the restful sleep you need, leaving you fatigued during the day. Long term sleep apnea can lead to depression, anxiety, weight gain, and even heart problems.

Doctors will frequently prescribe the use of a continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP Machine to open up the airway during sleep. Unfortunately, some patients find the machines to be cumbersome and the masks to be uncomfortable, so they either stop the treatment after a short time or decide not to proceed with it at all.

In our quest to find the best relief for those who suffer from Sleep Apnea, we have found the perfect solution in the form of the AEIOMed Everest 2 CPAP Machine. Affordable, portable, and easy to use, the AEIOMed Everest 2 offers the user multiple optional accessories to allow the machine to the adapt to their lifestyle, as opposed to vice versa. Most impressive of all is this CPAP machine’s ability to be run off of a battery as opposed to being plugged into the wall - this is the only CPAP machine on the market with that ability!

To provide users with the utmost comfort, the AEIOMed Headrest with Nasal Seal Kit is available. While it does rest on your head, nothing touches your face other than the nasal seal, so there is no chaffing, redness, sores, or discomfort to worry about. It is easy to adjust for the perfect fit and folds for travel.

As one customer describes, results from use of the AEIOMed Everest 2 CPAP Machine are almost immediate: “After trying the Headrest with Nasal seal for the first time I noticed a significant difference in my quality of sleep. AEIOmed has improved my life more then I could ever say in words, I highly recommend anyone who uses a CPAP to use the mask by AEIOmed.”

If you doctor has diagnosed you with sleep apnea and prescribed use of a CPAP machine, we highly recommend that you purchase that AEIOMed Everest 2 CPAP Machine. Comfortable, portable, and effective, this machine will ensure you get the good night’s sleep you deserve.