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Effectiveness of an Upper Extremity Exercise Device Integrated With Computer Gaming for Aerobic Training in Adolescents With Spinal Cord Dysfunction

By Widman, Lana M., MS; McDonald, Craig M., MD; Abresch, R. Ted, MS; Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, Vol. 29, No. 4, pp. 363-370
Publication Date: 2006

Study conducted to determine whether use of the GameCycle exercise system from Three Rivers Holdings yields enough metabolic demand and effort for aerobic training. The GameCycle utilizes a crank mechanism from a hand cycle with Nintendo’s GameCube. Users can play a car racing game called “Need for Speed II” from EA Games by cranking the handles to control the car’s speed. Direction can be controlled by titling the crank handles. Resistance can be changed to increase the work required to play the game, while crank speed can be calibrated in order to increase the user’s aerobic effort. A total of eight adolescents with spina bifida and lower extremity disabilities participated in the study. The GameCycle was delivered to each participant’s home, while they were instructed to use the device at least three times each week for at least twenty minutes for a period of sixteen weeks. Each participant wore a heart rate monitor, which they brought to the laboratory every two weeks. The results from the heart rate monitor were downloaded into a computer so that clinicians could monitor heart rate changes and device usage. The results indicated that the GameCycle was an adequate exercise intervention for adolescents with lower extremity disabilities caused by spinal cord dysfunction. The participants also reported that the video game was fun to play, as it motivated them to exercise. This research was conducted at the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of California in Sacramento.

Assistive Products Discussed: GAMECYCLE
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 J51476
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