Adaptive Training Academy - Jenna Muri-Rosenthal
At Equip Products, we’re proud to collaborate with forward-thinking professionals who believe movement is for every body. One of those trailblazers is Jenna Muri-Rosenthal, owner of Fit To Function and certified Adaptive Training Academy (ATA) instructor. Her work with stroke survivors is reshaping the way we think about neurorehabilitation—and at the center of it all? Rhythm.
Jenna recently shared why rhythmic cueing is so powerful in stroke rehabilitation—and the science is just as inspiring as the results.
1. Rhythm Reignites the Brain’s Motor Timing Systems
Stroke survivors often face challenges with movement timing, especially in gait, balance, and coordination. But rhythmic cues—like music, metronomes, or beats—can activate key brain areas:
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Basal Ganglia
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Cerebellum
These regions help regulate motor timing and movement initiation. By tapping into them, rhythm gives the brain a tempo to follow—improving step initiation, cadence, and flow.
2. Rhythm Reduces Cognitive Load
Post-stroke movement can feel like overthinking every tiny action:
“Lift the leg. Balance. Shift weight. Step.”
Rhythmic cueing acts like scaffolding. It frees the brain from conscious micromanagement and allows for more automatic movement, similar to walking to the beat of a drum. When the rhythm takes over, the effort goes down—and confidence goes up.
3. Rhythm Improves Gait and Symmetry
According to studies on Rhythmic Auditory Stimulation (RAS), stroke survivors experience real, measurable improvement in:
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Stride length
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Walking speed
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Limb coordination
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Gait symmetry
This is especially important for regaining balance and lowering fall risk. Tools like metronomes, music therapy, and even simple clapping or tapping can make all the difference in retraining healthy movement patterns.
4. Rhythm Builds Confidence and Consistency
The emotional benefit can’t be overstated. As movement becomes smoother, less effortful, and more consistent, the fear and hesitation many survivors feel begins to fade.
Confidence grows. Independence increases. Life improves.
Why This Matters at Equip Products
We build adaptive fitness and therapy tools to make these kinds of moments possible—whether you're relearning to walk, training with asymmetrical strength, or simply rebuilding your confidence. Our partnerships with organizations like Adaptive Training Academy and leaders like Jenna mean we’re learning, adapting, and innovating alongside you.
Explore Neuro-Friendly Tools
We recommend pairing rhythmic training with adaptive equipment like:
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✅ Ankle, Leg, & Body Straps GAIT Belts & Wheelchair Straps for Therapy
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✅ LapSecure Mat™ for Daily Living and Physical Therapy Work Mat
These are used in physical therapy clinics and adaptive gyms across the country—including at Fit To Function.
Final Thoughts
Whether you're a trainer, a therapist, a caregiver, or a survivor—don’t underestimate the beat. Rhythm can restore movement, rebuild confidence, and reconnect people to a life of independence and strength.
We’re honored to stand alongside communities and coaches who believe in the science—and soul—of adaptive recovery.
#NeuroTraining #StrokeRehab #RhythmicCueing #AdaptiveTraining #FitToFunction #AdaptiveAthlete #EquipProducts #LapMat #MultiRope