Todd’s Story

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) - T9 Complete

Meet MyoCycle user, Todd Rehmann. Todd's been married for 37 years and has 2 adult children and 3 grandchildren. Todd sustained a spinal cord injury (SCI) when he fell off a ladder while trimming trees in 2018.

Todd has ongoing neuropathic pain in his trunk and legs. He has no volitional movement below t9 nerve points below the navel. Since his injury, he's also experienced atrophy in his legs and abdomen. This has caused his muscles to look smaller and his waist to look larger.

Prior to Todd's injury, he enjoyed camping, backpacking, wilderness canoeing, woodworking, and other activities that are defined by mobility.

"Since using the MyoCycle, I have seen a marked increase in the size of my leg muscles as well as an increase in density. My wasteline has stabilized with some decrease. It's not just noticeable to me but also my wife, extended family, and friends. When used regularly, my spasticity is decreased."

Aside from his morning yoga stretch and workout on the floor, the MyoCycle is his only other physical routine for the day. "It's now an essential part of my activity," said Todd. When it comes to mobility, Todd says, "I have readjusted my expectations to be sure but the reversal of atrophy has benefits beyond vanity. There's a cause/effect correlation between FES cycling and overall vigor and GI management."

Getting started with the MyoCycle was easy when Todd received it at home. "The cycle was delivered in perfect condition with amazing packaging. I was able to put it together myself (from my wheelchair) in minutes with my wife lending a second pair of hands. Through my local PT Neuroscience center, I have used a more expensive and complicated FES cycle through the oversight of my physical therapist. The MyoCycle is less than 1/2 the cost and much easier to use. Surprisingly, even though I use what’s considered the more simple version that doesn’t connect directly to my calf muscles, I obtain strong contractions in my calves during my workout. It’s now so second nature that I listen to a podcast or read the news during workouts," says Todd.

"The support [from MYOLYN] is outstanding. The only challenge I’ve had is the breakage of the stimulation leads that connect to the adhesive pads. It’s a small part but indispensable. The staff has sent replacements and has updated me on how they are working with the vendor improvements. Also, the on staff Physical Therapist has read out to me on optimizing my workouts. I feel surrounded by the support of the staff."

The MyoCycle has redefined his mobility since his injury. "My journey from an active 58 year old man with full mobility to an active 62 year old man with (T9 complete) limited mobility has been just that…a journey. It’s been exhausting like the first day of a backpacking trip, it’s been frightening like getting lost somewhere in Canada and the map just doesn’t make sense. And then it’s the injury itself that continues to cause physical pain and has forced me to confront the limits of my former abilities. There are also the highs of achieving things I assumed impossible the first weeks and months of my rehabilitation. I’m lucky in so many ways. Having a physical routine centered on my MyoCycle workout gives me the verve, the confidence and the optimism to live fully, with energy and most importantly with the independence I’ve always had. I’m lucky to have a family to support me. I’m also lucky to know that despite my injury and even because of my injury in am needed and I can model the resilience required by all of us to face challenges and find the joy and beauty in living."