title: Functional electric stimulation-assisted rowing: Increasing cardiovascular fitness through functional electric stimulation rowing training in persons with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess changes in peak functional aerobic power after a 36-session, progressive functional electric stimulation (FES) rowing hybrid training program for persons with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to examine the safety and acceptability of the ROWSTIM II device as well as the integrity of technical modifications to it.
  
  
  METHODS
  Repeated-measures training study, quasi-experimental design, within-person data comparison.
  
  
  METHODS
  A university-based recreational physical activity facility for persons with physical disabilities.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six persons with level C7-T12 SCI (American Spinal Injury Association classes A-C).
  
  
  METHODS
  Progressive rowing training program, 30 minutes per session, 3 times a week for 12 weeks at 70% to 75% of pretest peak functional aerobic power during FES rowing on an open loop control, FES-assisted rowing machine.
  
  
  METHODS
  Total rowing distance, peak functional oxygen consumption, and peak oxygen pulse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects completed between 22 to 36 sessions. After 3 months of training, rowing distance increased by 25% (P<.02), peak oxygen consumption by 11.2% (P<.001), and peak oxygen pulse by 11.4% (P<.01). Heart rate response to hybrid training did not change at the end of training, although peak heart rate with FES lower-extremity exercise increased significantly from pre- to posttraining (P<.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre- and posttraining peak aerobic power values for ROWSTIM II training were comparable to previously reported values for hybrid cycle and upper-extremity exercise. We conclude that FES-assisted rowing is an effective, safe, and well-tolerated training system for persons with SCI.
authors.affiliation: Steadward Centre, Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. garry.wheeler@ualberta.ca
authors.forename: Garry D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Wheeler
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lederer
authors.forename: Rhahman
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Davoodi
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Natho
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.forename: Yagesh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bhambhani
authors.forename: Robert D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Steadward
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012119:Respiration; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*