This lecture is free to attend
Refreshments are available from 5:15, the lecture will start at 6pm prompt. 

The positive health benefits associated with regular physical exercise, in terms of preventing heart disease, diabetes 2, some cancers and dementia are being established. In the general population, physical exercise with an intensity of at least 6 METs and a volume of at least 1200-2200 kcal/week is recommended to significantly lower the relative risk of coronary heart disease. However, many people with paralysis following spinal cord injury can have difficulty in achieving these levels using only their preserved upper limb musculature.

Even though some can achieve moderately high peak oxygen consumption, maintaining sufficient aerobic power with a small muscle mass is difficult and may be limited by fatigue of the highly stressed arm musculature despite adequate systemic responses. Furthermore, over 50% of chronic wheelchair users develop painful and often debilitating overuse syndromes of the upper limbs, therefore, any proposed physical exercise should not exacerbate this condition. The solution may be to increase the metabolically active muscle mass by electrically stimulating the paralyzed lower limbs simultaneously with voluntary upper limb exercise. This so called “hybrid exercise” is being explored using an adapted indoor rowing ergometer. Quadriplegics and paraplegics have successfully used the equipment and the above recommended levels for intensity and volume have been achieved by paraplegic rowers. The pulling actions of rowing involve different shoulder/arm musculature than those used in wheelchair propulsion and may help reduce pain and prevent overuse injury.

FES assisted rowing may also open up new sport and recreation opportunities for individuals with SCI. Some FES rowers have successfully competed alongside able-bodied rowers over 2,000m in major international indoor rowing competitions. Further work is now underway to develop FES rowing on water. The lecture will illustrate the biomechanical development of the FES technology and adaptation of ergometers and sculls.