FES-Rowing: Preventing the Secondary Conditions of Paralysis Through Vigorous Exercise
FES-Rowing: Preventing the Secondary Conditions of Paralysis Through Vigorous Exercise
Over the past ten years, the Cardiovascular Research Laboratory at Spaulding has refined a unique form of exercise for those with spinal cord injuries (SCI). Functional Electrical Stimulation Row Training (FESRT) couples volitional arm and electrically controlled leg exercise, resulting in the benefits of large muscle mass exercise. Despite the success of the FES-rowing Program at Spaulding, FES-rowing systems have not yet evolved beyond research prototypes, and ours is the only program in the US where FES-rowing is available. A new design is critically needed to enable people with paralysis to participate in FES rowing in their own homes, which we believe will maximize both the health and commercial impacts of FES-rowing.
The purpose of this observational study is to gain insights into user needs, and market perception of physical activity and FES-rowing to further develop a new, home-based FES-rowing system that meets the needs of people with paralysis. We will enroll a total of 20 subjects, male and female, 18 years and older with lower-limb paralysis who use a wheelchair as their primary means of mobility. Ten subjects will be current FES-rowing participants (especially those doing FES-rowing at home) and 10 subjects will be non-participants. To determine user needs we will survey prospective customers to discover their motivations, preferences and challenges pertaining to participation in physical activity in general and FES-rowing.
Questionnaires:
Barriers to Physical Activity Questionnaire for People with Mobility Impairments (BPAQ-MI): measures barriers to physical activity across the intrapersonal and interpersonal domains.
Physical Activity and Disability Survey (PADS): measures physical activity for people with chronic neurological conditions.
Demographic and Mobility Questionnaire: Important information to inform on user and design needs and potential market for at home FES-row system.
Quebec User Evaluation of Satisfaction with Assistive Technology (QUEST 2.0)-(FES-row participants only): measures satisfaction with current FES-row system used in the ExPD Program.
Exclusion Criteria: