Increased Physical Fitness After 4-Week Training on a New Hybrid FES-Cycle in Persons With Spinal Cord Injury
By Heesterbeek, P.J.C.; Berkelmans, H.W.A.; Thijssen, D.H.J.; van Kuppevelt, H.J.M.; Hopman, M.T.E.; Duysens, J.; Technology and Disability, Vol. 17, No. 2, pp. 103-110Publication Date: 2005
Study conducted to determine the effects of a four-week training program utilizing a prototype hybrid functional electrical stimulation (FES)-cycle on physical fitness among ten people with spinal cord injuries. The hybrid FES-cycle is a combination of a recumbent bike and a hand bike, as it consists of a front section, which is a one-wheeled bike unit, and a common wheelchair. The wheel of the front section is arm and leg driven. The FES unit consists of a small box connected to an incremental angle encoder, brake sensor, and an amplitude control unit. The participants trained with the device eight to twelve times during a four-week period. Leg volume, peak oxygen consumption, peak power output, and leg power were measured pre- and post-training. After only four weeks of training, considerable training effects were observed, which were comparable to results witnessed in longer training studies. The results indicate that the hybrid FES-cycle is an appropriate training device for people with spinal cord injury.
Published by: IOS Press (Website:http://www.iospress.nl)
Association for the Advancement of Assistive Technology in Europe (AAATE) (Web Site: http://www.aaate.net )
This publication is included in the library of the National Rehabilitation Information Center (NARIC), accession number J49385
