title: The use of functional electrical stimulation cycles in children and adolescents with spinal cord dysfunction: a pilot study.
abstract: METHODS
  Children who experience spinal cord injuries (SCI) may develop many complications, including loss of bone mass, osteoporosis, and pathological fractures. Additionally, patients with SCI often rate their quality of life as poor compared to non-injured peers. We examined the effect of functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycle exercise on bone mineral density (BMD) and quality of life (QOL) in six patients ranging in age from 9 to 20 years. BMD was determined using Dual X-ray Absorptiometry scans, and QOL was measured using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL™ 4.0).
  
  
  RESULTS
  While patients experienced difficulty in attending sessions consistently, we found a tendency toward improved BMD and QOL associated with the number of months using the FES cycles. In addition, a positive relation was seen between improved BMD and the total number of cycling sessions, as well as between the final rating of QOL and time from injury.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  FES cycle exercise has the potential to increase BMD, possibly leading to a decrease in pathologic fractures, as well as to improve QOL, in children and adolescents with SCI. Further investigation is warranted on a larger population of children with SCI in order to establish the full benefits of FES cycle exercise.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, NJ, USA. FCastello23@msn.com
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Castello
authors: Barbara
authors: B
authors: Louis
authors: JenFu
authors: J
authors: Cheng
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Armento
authors: Anne Marie
authors: AM
authors: Santos
mesh_terms: D015502:Absorptiometry, Photon; D000293:Adolescent; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology*; D002648:Child; D004599:Electric Stimulation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011788:Quality of Life; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult