Screening and Habituation of FES-Leg Cycle Ergometry for Individuals with Spinal Cord Injury: A Pilot Study

This study documents the process of screening individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) to determine their eligibility for a functional electrical stimulation leg cycle ergometry (FES-LCE) exercise program. The study also outlines the habituation procedures used to help participants adapt to the FES-LCE and attain target duration and cycle speed. Almost half of the individuals interested in participating in the FES-LCE exercise program did not pass the screening phase.

• 1
  Almost half of the individuals interested in participating in the FES-LCE exercise program did not pass the screening phase due to factors such as previous fragility fracture, excessive spasticity, pain, autonomic dysreflexia, or lack of electrical stimulation response.
• 2
  Time to attain target cycle speed for 30 continuous minutes ranged from 30 – 779 minutes (1 – 31 training sessions).
• 3
  All participants who completed the habituation phase reported little adverse effects to using the device.