Purpose: To assess the use of network-connected home-based functional electrical stimulation (FES) cycle ergometers. Method: De-identified data on ≯20,000 FES sessions for 314 users with spinal cord injury were analyzed for usage patterns and energy expenditure. These were compared with authoritative exercise guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week over at least 2 days per week for a total of 1,000 kcals. Results: Seven percent of participants were classified as high-(≥5 days/week), 11% as medium-(2-5 days/week), and 82% as low-frequency users (<2 days/week). Conclusion: None of the users satisfied authoritative energy expenditure recommendations for disease prevention with FES cycling alone.

exercise guidelines, functional electrical stimulation, health and fitness guidelines
Garber CE, Blissmer B, Deschenes MR, et al. American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: Guidance for prescribing exercise. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2011;43(7):1334–1359.
,
American College of Sports Medicine position stand. Quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults: Guidance for prescribing exercise
,
Med Sci Sports Exerc.
, vol.
43
(pg.
1334
-
1359
)
US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical activity guidelines for Americans. Updated 2011. http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/. Accessed Febuary 17, 2014. http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/.
Lavis TD, Scelza WM, Bockenek WL. Cardiovascular health and fitness in persons with spinal cord injury. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 2007;18(2):317–331, vii.
,
Cardiovascular health and fitness in persons with spinal cord injury
,
Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am.
, vol.
18
(pg.
317
-
331
)
Nash MS, Gater DR. Exercise to reduce obesity in SCI. Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil. 2007;12(4):76–93.
,
Exercise to reduce obesity in SCI
,
Top Spinal Cord Inj Rehabil.
, vol.
12
(pg.
76
-
93
)
Nash MS, Mendez AJ. A guideline-driven assessment of need for cardiovascular disease risk intervention in persons with chronic paraplegia. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2007;88(6):751–757.
,
A guideline-driven assessment of need for cardiovascular disease risk intervention in persons with chronic paraplegia
,
Arch Phys Med Rehabil.
, vol.
88
(pg.
751
-
757
)
Hunt K, Fang J, Saengsuwan J, Grob M, Laubacher M. On the efficiency of FES cycling: A framework and systematic review. Technol Health Care. 2012;20(5):395–422.
,
On the efficiency of FES cycling: A framework and systematic review
,
Technol Health Care.
, vol.
20
(pg.
395
-
422
)
Griffin L, Decker MJ, Hwang JY, et al. Functional electrical stimulation cycling improves body composition, metabolic and neural factors in persons with spinal cord injury. J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2009;19(4):614–622.
,
Functional electrical stimulation cycling improves body composition, metabolic and neural factors in persons with spinal cord injury
,
J Electromyogr Kinesiol.
, vol.
19
(pg.
614
-
622
)
Grohler M, Angeli T, Eberharter T, Lugner P, Mayr W, Hofer C. Test bed with force-measuring crank for static and dynamic investigations on cycling by means of functional electrical stimulation. IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Engineer. 2001;9(2):169–180.
,
Test bed with force-measuring crank for static and dynamic investigations on cycling by means of functional electrical stimulation
,
IEEE Trans Neural Syst Rehabil Engineer.
, vol.
9
(pg.
169
-
180
)
Woodard CM, Berry MJ. Enhancing adherence to prescribed exercise: Structured behavioral interventions in clinical exercise programs. J Cardiopulmon Rehabil Prevent. 2001;21(4):201–209.
,
Enhancing adherence to prescribed exercise: Structured behavioral interventions in clinical exercise programs
,
J Cardiopulmon Rehabil Prevent.
, vol.
21
(pg.
201
-
209
)
Tasiemski T, Kennedy P, Gardner BP, Taylor N. The association of sports and physical recreation with life satisfaction in a community sample of people with spinal cord injuries. NeuroRehabilitation. 2005;20(4):253–265.
,
The association of sports and physical recreation with life satisfaction in a community sample of people with spinal cord injuries
,
NeuroRehabilitation.
, vol.
20
(pg.
253
-
265
)
Buchholz AC, Martin Ginis KA, Bray SR, et al. Greater daily leisure time physical activity is associated with lower chronic disease risk in adults with spinal cord injury. Appl Physiol Nutr Metabol. 2009;34(4):640–647.
,
Greater daily leisure time physical activity is associated with lower chronic disease risk in adults with spinal cord injury
,
Appl Physiol Nutr Metabol.
, vol.
34
(pg.
640
-
647
)
Hamilton MT, Hamilton DG, Zderic TW. Role of low energy expenditure and sitting in obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes. 2007;56(11):2655–2667.
,
Role of low energy expenditure and sitting in obesity, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease
,
Diabetes.
, vol.
56
(pg.
2655
-
2667
)
Ballaz L, Fusco N, Cretual A, Langella B, Brissot R. Peripheral vascular changes after home-based passive leg cycle exercise training in people with paraplegia: A pilot study. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008;89(11):2162–2166.
,
Peripheral vascular changes after home-based passive leg cycle exercise training in people with paraplegia: A pilot study
,
Arch Phys Med Rehabil.
, vol.
89
(pg.
2162
-
2166
)
This content is only available as a PDF.