Feasibility of home-based functional electrical stimulation cycling: case report

Area of Science:

• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Biomedical Engineering
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Spinal cord injury (SCI) significantly impacts mobility and health in older adults.
• Home-based exercise programs offer a convenient alternative for individuals with limited mobility.
• Functional electrical stimulation lower extremities cycling (FES-LEC) has shown promise in younger SCI populations.

Observation:

• A single 64-year-old male with SCI participated in a 9-week home-based FES-LEC program.
• The program involved three supervised sessions per week, monitored remotely via the internet.
• Pre- and post-intervention assessments included body composition, quality of life (QOL), and seat pressure mapping.

Findings:

• The participant achieved 93% adherence, completing 25 of 27 prescribed FES-LEC sessions.
• Significant improvements were observed in lean mass (8.3% increase) and a decrease in body fat percentage.
• Quality of life, particularly the psychological domain, improved, and seat pressure significantly decreased (average 5%, maximum 24%).

Implications:

• Home-based FES-LEC is a feasible and effective intervention for older adults with SCI.
• The positive outcomes in body composition, QOL, and seat pressure suggest broader applicability of FES-LEC.
• Remote monitoring enhances the accessibility and adherence of home-based rehabilitation programs for SCI.