Development of a Motor Driven Rowing Machine with Automatic Functional Electrical Stimulation Controller for Individuals with Paraplegia; a Preliminary Study

OBJECTIVE: To examine the cardiorespiratory responses of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) paraplegia using a motor driven rowing machine. METHOD: Ten SCI patients with paraplegia [A (n=6), B (n=1), and C (n=3) by the American Spinal Injury Association impairment scale] were selected. Two rowing techniques were used. The first used a fixed seat with rowing achieved using only upper extremity movement (fixed rowing). The second used an automatically moving seat, facilitating active upper extremity movement and passive lower extremity movement via the motorized seat (motor rowing). Each patient performed two randomly assigned rowing exercise stress tests 1-3 days apart. The work rate (WR), time, respiratory exchange ratio (R), oxygen consumption (VO(2)), heart rate (HR), metabolic equivalents (METs), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were recorded. RESULTS: WR, time, VO(2), and METs were significantly higher after the motor rowing test than after fixed motor rowing test (p<0.05). HR after motor rowing was significantly lower than fixed rowing (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Cardiorespiratory responses as VO(2), HR and METs can be elicited by the motor rowing for people with paraplegic SCI.