How to Perform the Exercise
Setup: Fit the patient into the Solo-Step harness and connect the lanyard to the trolley on the overhead track. Position the patient directly beneath the track, standing upright. Adjust the lanyard length to allow natural standing movement while ensuring the system can engage immediately if balance is lost. The patient may lightly rest a hand on a parallel bar, wall rail, or assistive device for added stability during the early stages of the exercise if needed.
Starting Position: Have the patient stand tall with feet together, core lightly engaged, and toes pointing forward. Arms should be relaxed at the sides or lightly resting on a support surface. Instruct the patient to shift their weight onto the standing leg, maintaining a soft bend in the knee. Avoid locking out the joint.
The Exercise:
- Cue the patient to slowly lift the outside leg directly to the side, keeping the knee straight and the toes pointing forward throughout the movement. Avoid rotating the leg outward or upward.
- Instruct the patient to raise the leg to a comfortable height, approximately 30 to 45 degrees, without allowing the pelvis to hike or the trunk to lean in the opposite direction.
- Pause briefly at the top of the movement, focusing on the contraction in the outer hip.
- Slowly lower the leg back to the starting position in a controlled manner. Resist the urge to let the leg drop.
- Complete the prescribed number of repetitions on one side before switching to the opposite leg.
- Repeat for the prescribed number of sets on each side.
Progressions: As strength and confidence improve, the therapist can advance the exercise by increasing the height of the lift, adding a resistance band around the thighs or ankles, incorporating a brief hold at the top of each repetition, increasing the number of repetitions or sets, or progressing to a dynamic variation by combining the side leg raise with a lateral step or balance challenge.