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Research Article| Volume 27, ISSUE 7, P731-737, August 2012

Functional electrical stimulation elliptical stepping versus cycling in spinal cord-injured individuals

  • Nur Azah Hamzaid
    Correspondence
    Corresponding author at: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
    Affiliations
    Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia

    Exercise, Health and Performance Faculty Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia

    Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Malaysia
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  • Karla R. Pithon
    Affiliations
    Orthopaedics Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Brazil
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  • Author Footnotes
    1 Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe 2141, NSW, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9351 9462; fax: +61 2 9351 9204.
    Richard M. Smith
    Footnotes
    1 Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe 2141, NSW, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9351 9462; fax: +61 2 9351 9204.
    Affiliations
    Exercise, Health and Performance Faculty Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia
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  • Author Footnotes
    2 Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe 2141, NSW, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9351 9466; fax: +61 2 9351 9204.
    Glen M. Davis
    Footnotes
    2 Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe 2141, NSW, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9351 9466; fax: +61 2 9351 9204.
    Affiliations
    Clinical Exercise and Rehabilitation Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia

    Exercise, Health and Performance Faculty Research Group, Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Australia
    Search for articles by this author
  • Author Footnotes
    1 Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe 2141, NSW, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9351 9462; fax: +61 2 9351 9204.
    2 Faculty of Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Lidcombe 2141, NSW, Australia. Tel.: +61 2 9351 9466; fax: +61 2 9351 9204.
Published:April 19, 2012DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2012.03.005
Functional electrical stimulation elliptical stepping versus cycling in spinal cord-injured individuals
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      Abstract

      Background

      The cardiorespiratory responses and mechanical efficiencies of two modalities of functional electrical stimulation augmented leg exercises – isokinetic cycling and isokinetic elliptical stepping – were compared amongst individuals with spinal cord injury.

      Methods

      Five subjects performed seated isokinetic evoked cycling and elliptical stepping leg exercise at 10, 20 and 30 rev·min−1 pedal cadences. 3-D motion analysis and force transducers attached onto the foot pedals quantified the external forces and power outputs developed by each lower extremity. Hip, knee and ankle joints power were derived via inverse dynamics analysis. The subjects' cardiorespiratory responses during exercise were measured by respiratory gas analysis.

      Findings

      Ensemble-averaged oxygen uptakes across pedal cadences were higher during stepping (448 (75) ml·min−1) compared to cycling (422 (54) ml·min−1). External power outputs and metabolic efficiencies during stepping (9.9 (8.3) W, 2.9 (3.2) %) were double those observed during cycling (5.3 (6.3) W, 1.6 (1.9) %). Cumulative internal and external leg joint powers during stepping were twice higher than cycling, but the stepping mechanical efficiencies derived from inverse dynamics analysis were comparable to cycling (76.3 (21.2) % and 63.6 (12.3) % respectively). Heart rate responses were similar between cycling and stepping, while carbon dioxide production and expired ventilation were slightly higher during elliptical stepping.

      Interpretation

      Both exercise modalities could deliver appropriate training stimuli for improving the aerobic fitness and leg pedalling strength of spinal cord-injured individuals. However electrical stimulation-enhanced elliptical stepping might provide greater exercise dose-potency for leg muscle strengthening than electrically-enhanced cycling due to the higher power outputs observed.

      Keywords

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      Article info

      Publication history

      Published online: April 19, 2012
      Accepted: March 15, 2012
      Received: July 15, 2011

      Identification

      DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiomech.2012.03.005

      Copyright

      © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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