Functional electrical stimulation(FES) is a technique that allows paralysed muscles to move
again. Although FES stationary cycling has been utilized in rehabilitation settings,implementing
an overground cycling program for those with spinal cord injuries(SCI), stroke or multiple
sclerosis(MS). The laboratory team focused on training five people with (SCI) using an impulse
generator implanted for a cycling race FES OVERGROUND at CYBATHLON 2016 in
Zurich,Switzerland. A training program was developed that maximized the time they spent
producing maximum power,realizing that runners was initially labored a lot. The strength
protocol consisted of 60 seconds of stimulation followed by 30 seconds of rest. They were
instructed to perform this in the most difficult gear ratio that would still allow them to
complete these intervals for one hour. A 1-H endurance protocol consisted of a 10- min bout of
cycling followed by a 5-min rest. The runners performed these protocols a total of 3-4 times for
week on a stationary trainer with emphasis on the protocol that addressed their weakness. It
was the first time that they were able to exercise outdoors on their own in the community
and,based on feedback from the pilots,having the ability to ride outdoors had a strong impact on
their motivation to train. Two months prior to the CYBATHLON they held a time trial to
determine which two of five pilots would go to Switzerland. During this event,all five pilots
produced race times that would have at least advanced them from the qualifying rounds of the
CYBATHLON and four of the five runners would have advanced to the gold medal round. One
major difference between this runners and every other pilot participating in the race was the
use of implanted system that provided selective and repeatable activation of the targeted
muscle groups. All of this has allowed one of the riders to win the gold medal. Such a positive
result has encouraged the team to put effort into developing more widespread use of FES
overground cycling as a rehabilitative tool for ehose with spinal cord injuries. Research on
rehabilitation has also enabled the techniques and technologies that are developed to help
patients advance in their physical,personal,professional and social well-being.
