Help Relieve Arthritic Pain and Ankle Swelling with the Aircycle

A worried wife thought of it and now it helps many others.

You can buy an Aircycle direct from the GrownUps Store.

It all started some years ago when an Otaki woman, concerned about her husband's severe arthritis, made something to see if it would help. It did that and much more too! It helped relieve his pain, reduced his swollen ankles and kept his joints moving while he sat. That was the beginning of the AirCycle story. Here now, is another chapter.

One day, a South Island woman phoned in great excitement. The previous day she had walked almost a kilometre to her friend's house and after lunch, the same distance home again. Sounds simple you might say – nothing out of the ordinary. But for this elderly woman with osteo-arthritis in her ankles, knees and spine, this was a major achievement.

For more than two years this woman had been unable to walk any distance without pain and without her feet “going dead” as she described it. Now, for less than two weeks she had been using her newly acquired inflatable exerciser.

She kept her AirCycle on the floor beside her chair and worked away on it while sitting knitting, reading or watching TV. She said she found it so easy to use and so soft and comfortable on her feet, leaving them beautifully warmed to put back in her slippers.

Now, since AirCycles have been made more widely available, hardly a day goes by without a phone call or letter telling of the benefits people have experienced from the regular exercise – swollen ankles reducing, night cramps disappearing, stronger leg muscles and improved circulation helping convalescent patients and those with diabetes. When used in the lap, painful fingers, wrists and shoulders are eased too.

Self management is a term widely used these days, in referring to the chronic diseases in particular. There certainly are ways we can help ourselves and it is heartening to hear of people taking responsibility for their own health and wellbeing, taking the time and trouble to look after themselves.

The AirCycle is a great self management tool and circulation booster. Sometimes the simplest of ideas can achieve far-reaching results. In this case, an attempt to help a family member resulted in many others being helped also and in more ways than could ever have been imagined.

Health professionals, some hospitals, podiatrists and physiotherapists recommend Aircycles to their clients. Arthritis New Zealand advertises them on their website, Diabetes NZ shops sell them. Some diabetes and arthritis educators demonstrate them in their clinics and groups.

You can buy an Aircycle direct from the GrownUps Store.

An arthritis educator says:

“Many members and clients of the Wellington Service Centre have purchased and used an AirCycle since they first came on the market years ago. They are very easy to use and the benefits (with regular use) for some people with arthritis have included improved muscle strength, improved movement, especially in the ankle, improved circulation, improved balance and in turn, improved confidence.”

To watch some videos on how the Aircycle works, click here.