title: Aerobic capacity with hybrid FES rowing in spinal cord injury: comparison with arms-only exercise and preliminary findings with regular training.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the magnitude and range of increases in peak aerobic capacity with hybrid-functional electrical stimulation (FES) rowing versus arms-only rowing in persons with spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comparison of graded exercise tests for peak responses during FES rowing and arms-only rowing. Preliminary data on adaptations to FES row training were gathered in a subset of individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient cardiovascular research laboratory.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six male patients with spinal cord injury (T4-T9, American Spinal Injury Association class A). METHODS OR INTERVENTION: Arms-only rowing was compared with FES rowing, in which the person who is exercising synchronizes the voluntarily controlled upper body movement with the FES-controlled leg movement via stimulation to the paralyzed leg muscles. A subgroup (n = 3) completed at least 6 months of a progressive FES row training exercise program with graded exercise tests every 6 months.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peak oxygen consumption, peak ventilation, peak respiratory exchange ratio, peak heart rate, and peak oxygen pulse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peak oxygen consumption was greater during FES rowing than during arms-only rowing (20.0 ± 1.9 mL/kg/min versus 15.7 ± 1.5 mL/kg/min, P = .01). Peak ventilation was similar, whereas peak respiratory exchange ratio and peak heart rate tended to be lower (P = .14 and P = .19, respectively). As a result, oxygen pulse was greater by 35% during FES rowing. Two of the three persons who completed at least 6 months of FES row training demonstrated increases in aerobic capacity greater than those previously observed in able-bodied individuals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FES rowing may provide a more robust exercise stimulus for persons with spinal cord injury than most options currently available because of the greater aerobic demand.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, 125 Nashua St., Boston, MA 02114, USA. jandrew_taylor@hms.harvard.edu
authors.forename: J Andrew
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Glen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Picard
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Widrick
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy; D015444:Exercise; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009068:Movement; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*