title: Development of FES-rowing machine.
abstract: As per present social needs, assisting machines are very much needed for persons of advanced age. We analyzed and developed a fitness apparatus suitable for meeting the requirement of elderly people. The proposed apparatus consists of a rowing machine and Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES), that can be used to exercise every muscle of a person of advanced age. The rowing mechanism was actually developed to train rowers and can train the legs and upper body parts most effectively. Move over FES can assist the exercise of the legs by using surface electrical stimulation. An experiment was conducted and the results prove that the developed apparatus can train the muscles of the person of advanced age effectively and can compensate exercise shortage.
authors.affiliation: Akita Prefectural R&D Center, Sanuki 4-21 Araya-cho, Akita-city, Akita 010-1623, Japan. miyawaki@rdc.pref.akita.jp
authors.forename: Kazuto
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Miyawaki
authors.forename: Takehiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwami
authors.forename: Goro
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Obinata
authors.forename: Yoichi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Toshiki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsunaga
authors.forename: Mineyoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sato
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D053580:Muscle Strength; D010809:Physical Fitness