FES-rowing in tetraplegia: a preliminary report

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience and Rehabilitation Engineering
• Sports Science and Adapted Physical Activity
• Clinical Neurology and Spinal Cord Injury Research

Background:

• Functional electrical stimulation-rowing (FES-R) offers a potential avenue for physical activity in individuals with tetraplegia.
• Structured training programs are needed to assess the efficacy and feasibility of FES-R for this population.
• Understanding the required training load is crucial for developing effective FES-R interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility of a structured, progressive FES-R training program for individuals with tetraplegia.
• To determine the number and type of FES-training sessions necessary to achieve 30 minutes of continuous FES-R.
• To explore improvements in rowing performance and participant-reported benefits.

Main Methods:

• A training intervention study involving eight participants with chronic tetraplegia (C4-C7, ASIA A-C) who were new to FES-assisted exercise.
• Participants underwent a progressive FES-R program, aiming for three 30-minute sessions weekly at 60-80% peak power output.
• Rowing performance was monitored for 12 months post-intervention, alongside documentation of training session requirements and participant feedback.

Main Results:

• All participants successfully achieved 30 minutes of continuous FES-R after an average of 13±7 training sessions.
• Average power output during FES-R significantly increased over the 12-month training period.
• The FES-R program was demonstrated to be safe and well-tolerated by individuals with tetraplegia.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with tetraplegia can successfully participate in a progressive FES-R training program.
• FES-R training shows promise as a safe and effective method for improving physical capacity in this population.
• Further research is recommended to investigate FES-R as an adjunctive therapy for individuals with tetraplegia.