SEATTLE, WA, and BUFFALO, NY—September 23, 2021—SportsArt, a leader in fitness equipment, design, and manufacturing, has been selected by the Motion Project Foundation to provide the Intelligently Controlled Assistive Rehabilitation Elliptical (ICARE) system as part of a new state of the art rehabilitation facility in Western New York. The Madonna ICARE System by SportsArt is fully integrated and will provide a safe and effective method for helping patients with neurological conditions, neuromuscular disorders and spinal cord injuries pursue their walking, fitness, strengthening and balance goals at The Natalie Barnhard Center for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation and Recovery.

“My goal with this center is to provide those living with a neurological condition the most advanced and effective equipment and training to help them progress in their recovery,” said Natalie Barnhard, founder, The Motion Project. “We selected the Madonna ICARE System by SportsArt because of its uniqueness and versatility - it can benefit those with spinal cord injuries as well as patients who are recovering from other conditions like a stroke or multiple sclerosis.”

Building on the patented technology created by Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals’ researchers, clinicians and patients, the Madonna ICARE System by SportsArt can address the rehabilitation needs of users with both upper and lower body challenges. ICARE’s intelligent control is designed to provide an ‘assist as needed’ approach to moving the arms and legs similar to what a therapist provides physically and intuitively while gait training a patient. This unique feature frees clinicians from hours of manual manipulation and improves patient access to assistive technology, allowing them to improve their walking and fitness. The intelligent control can also transition seamlessly from assisting to resisting, thus allowing training to evolve in response to the users’ abilities. A multitude of accessories including medical handrails, strap-in cycle foot pedals, a height-adjustable seat and wheelchair ramps can help when treating patients.

“We created ICARE to be more than a piece of rehabilitation equipment. It helps people envision—and accomplish—what they can do instead of focusing on what they can’t do,” said Dr. Judith M. Burnfield, Ph.D., PT, director of Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals’ Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering and leader of the research team that created the ICARE through funding provided by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research.

Ruben Mejia, executive vice president, SportsArt Americas, highlighted, “The driving force behind our partnership with Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals is to create intuitive and versatile equipment that will help rehabilitation facilities like Natalie’s get patients back to living their best life, regardless of where they are in their journey.”

Exercise is an important piece to anyone’s overall health; it becomes even more important for those living with paralysis and other injuries. The Motion Project Foundation is dedicated to improving the lives of those with a spinal cord injury, brain injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, and other neurological disorders. The organization provides intense, activity-based exercise programs to help clients achieve some of the most basic lifelong functions.

Relearning to walk and remaining physically active are important rehabilitation goals for individuals with weakness, numbness, or balance problems and those recovering from a disabling injury or illness. The ICARE’s leg movements were designed to closely mimic the motions and muscle demands of walking. Research has shown that ICARE training can help individuals regain or retain walking, fitness, and balance even after formal rehabilitation has ended.

“At SportsArt, we believe that serving others is more rewarding than serving ourselves,” added Mejia. “ICARE is a direct extension of that underlying value, allowing us to provide a wider population with access to rehabilitation and fitness solutions.”

For more information on the Natalie Barnhard Center for Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation and Recovery or The Motion Project Foundation visit motionprojectny.org. To learn more about SportsArt or The Madonna ICARE System by SportsArt visit gosportsart.com.

About SportsArt

With more than 40 years of innovative design and manufacturing excellence, SportsArt continues to lead the fitness industry through revolutionary sustainable solutions. Along with the world’s only line of energy-generating cardio equipment, ECO-POWR™, SportsArt also offers a full range of high-quality cardio, strength and rehabilitation equipment for the fitness, medical and residential markets. Known for its dedication to service, durability and cutting-edge technologies, SportsArt is one of the largest single brand manufacturers in the world with over 500,000 square feet of state-of-the-art space. The company designs, manufactures and tests all equipment in-house before it is sold in over 70 countries worldwide. For more information visit www.gosportsart.com.

About The Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals

Madonna Rehabilitation Hospitals offers world-class physical and medical rehabilitation and research. Specializing in brain and spinal cord trauma, stroke and neurological conditions for adults and children, Madonna takes the most medically complex cases. We offer hope and healing and return patients back to their communities at a higher rate than industry benchmarks. Madonna’s Institute for Rehabilitation Science and Engineering focuses on bridging research with the realities of clinical care to advance rehabilitation science, technology and outcomes. Learn more at www.madonna.org.

About The Motion Project Foundation

The Motion Project aims to provide community-based holistic rehab services with state-of-the-art equipment with specialized activity-based therapy and expertly trained therapists. This facility serves as a place where patients and clinicians will work together to rise above and recover, making this facility much more than just a rehabilitation center. For more information visit www.motionprojectny.org.

Media Contact:

For SportsArt: Kim Markus
440-864-8270
kmarkus@getinvolve.com