Physiologic Responses to Electrically Assisted and Frame-Supported Standing in Persons with Paraplegia
By Jacobs, Patrick L., PhD; Johnson, Brad, MS; Mahoney, Edward, MA; Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, Vol. 26, No. 4, pp. 384-400Publication Date: Winter 2003
Study conducted to compare the physiological responses of persons with paraplegia to active functional electrical stimulation (FES)-assisted standing (AS) and frame-supported passive standing (PS). Fifteen people with T6-T11 paraplegia with previous experience with FES ambulation completed physiologic testing of PS and AS. The AS assessments were performed using a commercial FES system called the Parastep from Altimed. The PS tests used a commercial standing frame called the Easy Stand 5000, also from Altimed. Participants also performed a peak arm-cranking exercise with a Monark 881 Rehab Trainer arm ergometer. During all assessments, metabolic activity and heart rate were measured using open-circuit spirometry and 12-lead electrocardiography. Absolute physiologic responses to PS and AS were averaged over one-minute periods at five-minute intervals. The results indicated that standing with FES requires more energy than does AS, and may provide cardiorespiratory stresses sufficient to meet minimal requirements for exercise conditioning.
Assistive Products Discussed: EASYSTAND 5000 (MODELS 5000 & 5200)
MONARK REHAB TRAINER (MODEL 881E)
Published by: American Paraplegia Society (Website:http://www.apssci.org)
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J46754
