FES Cycling in SCI
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Development and testing of an FES bike for an experiment in functional recovery after spinal cord injury
IRAS ID
123270
Contact name
Jane Burridge
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Southampton
Research summary
The focus of incomplete spinal cord injury rehabilitation nowadays is on maximizing the recovery of function rather than compensation for loss of function. This change reflects an improved understanding of the plasticity (potential for regeneration) of the central nervous system even after spinal cord injury.
A cycling exercise machine (FES bike) in which the participant’s own effort is augmented by functional electrical stimulation (FES) of the leg muscles and a motor to drive the pedals has been designed. The FES bike links to a virtual reality racing game and a remote monitoring device to provide feedback on performance (amount of voluntary effort). In this study we will test the feasibility of the using the FES bike with people who have suffered an incomplete spinal cord injury and collect preliminary data on whether it is effective in improving recovery both of leg muscle strength and walking. If successful we will conduct a three-arm clinical trial in which we will test the hypothesis that combined FES and voluntary effort when cycling results in greater functional recovery than either a) cycling supported by FES without voluntary effort or b) cycling supported by a motor and voluntary effort.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
13/LO/0832
Date of REC Opinion
26 Jul 2013
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion