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Recruitment at The
Steadward Centre
for Personal & Physical Achievement
FES Rowing for Health!
Recently a Functional Electrical Stimulation assisted rowing
ergometer for people with a Spinal Cord Injury has been developed at
The Steadward Centre. In the last years several studies have been done
on this device. At this moment a new project is started to examine the
effects of a FES-rowing training on the cholesterol levels of persons
with a Spinal Cord Injury.
If you are a paraplegic (T1-T12), you can participate in the
study. The study involves exercise
with FES-Rowing for 12 wks, 3/4 times/wks, 30-40min/day.
What are we going to do?
After a short period of leg strengthening, participants will begin
a Functional Electrical Stimulation assisted rowing program. This is a
completely new form of exercise which allows people with a spinal cord
injury to work out with their whole body muscle mass. The stimulation
of the leg muscles (hamstrings and quadriceps) is triggered by pushing
a button on the hand bar, so movement is controlled by the
rower.
You will work out 4 times a week for approximately one hour. The
training period will take 12 weeks. At several points in time we will
measure your oxygen consumption (9 times in total) and take some blood
samples (20 ml, 4 times in total). The oxygen consumption data will be
used to determine your exercise intensity. The blood samples will be
analysed for cholesterol and triglycerides.
Before and after the training period a Dual Energy X-ray
Absorbtiometry (DEXA) scan will be made to determine body composition
(fat mass, fat free mass, bone mineral density). The amount of
radiation exposure is minimal. All measurements are safe and performed
by experienced researchers. The study has been approved by the Ethics
Committee within the Faculty of Physical Education and Recreation of
the University of Alberta.
Who can take part?
We are looking for persons with a Spinal Cord Injury between T1 and
T12 (at least 1 year post injury). You need to be healthy, not
suffering from any cardiovascular diseases or diabetes, over 18 years
of age and living in the Edmonton area.
What are the benefits for the participants?
- Knowing your percent body fat, fitness level and cholesterol
level.
- Familiarity with a new type of exercise opportunity for persons
with spinal cord injury.
- An improvement on your fitness.
- General advice on exercise and diet.
- Your participation and discussions with the investigators during
the study will contribute to, and enhance your knowledge and
understanding of the risk factors for Chronic Heart Diseases and
the benefits of exercise for people with spinal cord injury.
- The health-related benefits which may accumulate during 12 weeks
of exercise.
If you are interested in being part of our team studying this
exciting new exercise system, contact:
Dr. Garry Wheeler
Research Manager, The Steadward Centre
Phone: (780) 492-7158
E-mail: research@steadwardcentre.org
Justin Jeon
Research Associate, The Steadward Centre
Phone: (780) 492-8339 or (780) 907-7601
E-mail: yjeon@ualberta.ca
The Steadward Centre is always looking for research subjects for
varied and interesting studies. Please contact Dr.
Garry Wheeler (Phone 780-492-7158 or Fax 780-492-7161) for further
information.
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