Design of a test and training tricycle for subjects with paraplegia

Issue title: Restoration of Wheeled Mobility in SCI Rehabilitation

Guest editors: Lucas H.V. van der Woudexy, Thomas W.J. Janssenxy and DirkJan Veegerxz

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Reichenfelser, Werner^{; *} | Gföhler, Margit | Angeli, Thomas

Affiliations: Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Vienna University of Technology, Austria | [x] Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Movement Science, Faculty of Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands | [y] Rehabilitation Center “Amsterdam”, Amsterdam, The Netherlands | [z] Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author. E-mail: werner.reichenfelser@gmx.at.

Abstract: This paper describes an instrumented test and training tricycle that was designed for persons with complete or incomplete paraplegia. The tricycle can be used as a stationary device for training and adjustment of stimulation parameters or as a mobile cycle. It is driven either by the remaining muscular activity of a person with incomplete paraplegic and/or by Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) of paralysed leg muscles. Paralysed muscles are stimulated in dependence of the actual crank angle by a 10-channel current controlled stimulator. The geometry of the cycle is easily adjustable to individual demands. The tricycle is instrumented with an auxiliary motor, force measuring cranks, and devices for measurement of knee and ankle angles. The control is based on a laptop computer. Predefined measurement modes are available for isometric and isokinetic measurements in order to determine the optimal stimulation regimes and geometrical settings for an individual subject with paraplegia.

Keywords: spinal cord injury, functional electrical stimulation, paraplegia, cycling

DOI: 10.3233/TAD-2005-17206

Journal: Technology and Disability, vol. 17, no. 2, pp. 93-101, 2005