Can functional electric stimulation-assisted rowing reproduce a race-winning rowing stroke?
OBJECTIVE
To compare the ergometer rowing technique of a person with spinal cord injury (SCI), using functional electric stimulation (FES) of his leg muscles, with that of a well-defined group of able-bodied rowers.


METHODS
Whole-body kinematics and kinetics and electric activity of selected muscles were measured during ergometer rowing.


METHODS
A hospital-based motion analysis laboratory.


METHODS
Five male university varsity-level rowers and 1 male rower with SCI.


METHODS
Eight rowing trials were collected on the university-level rowers, 2 trials each at 20, 24, 28, and 32 strokes/min. The rower with SCI had surface electrodes applied to his medial hamstrings and medial quadriceps muscle bellies. The electrodes were attached to a stimulator that was activated using a button in the ergometer handle. The subject with SCI rowed at a self-selected stroke rate.


METHODS
Forces at the ergometer handle and foot cradle, 3-dimensional whole-body kinematics, net joint moments, and phasic activity of muscles.


RESULTS
Motion of the arms, ankles, and knees of the rower with SCI was similar to those of the university-level rowers; other joint motions and forces applied to the ergometer differed.


CONCLUSIONS
FES-assisted rowing in its current implementation cannot reproduce a race-winning rowing stroke. Further development work is required.
Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Suzanne E
SE
Halliday
Amy B
AB
Zavatsky
Kazunori
K
Hase
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000842:Ankle / Q000503:physiopathology; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003163:Competitive Behavior; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D004576:Electromyography; D016552:Ergometry; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006615:Hip / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000503:physiopathology; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013177:Sports; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis