July 2021 by Steven Harrison 'Harry'
The first time I used a Viva trainer, I recognised its potential following spinal injury paralysis. Luckily, Medimotion?s 0% hire/buyer plan made it affordable, and I have since owned a Viva 1 trainer for 19-years.
I use the trainer twice daily, beginning passively with my legs while I stretch and warm up my arms with light weights for 30-mins, followed by a minimum of 35-minutes cardiovascular resistance pedalling my arms. In the evenings I passively exercise my legs while using heavier arm weights and finish on the trainer upper body workout up to 1-hour. At times I find it relaxing passively exercising my legs while watching a film? far less spasm.
Using the Viva-1 trainer for daily exercise and keep fit has maintained muscle mass and tone in both my arms and legs, increased blood circulation reducing risk of DVT, pressure ulcers, improved breathing reducing the risk respiratory failure, heart decease and obesity. Ultimately, it encouraged me to take up handcycling and I have since cycled around Cuba for charity as well as cycled London to Paris fundraising for the Royal British Legion.
This is still the most compact, robust, safe, full body wheelchair user workout machine I?ve come across since injury. It?s user friendly getting on and off the trainer as is the keypad. Service and support have been excellent on the rarity I had issues, for example, parts were quickly sourced and dispatched next day and I was politely guided through the only two repairs I have needed, both were easily fixed by my PA (carer).??
