Fiscal Year:
2001
Title:
DEVELOPMENT OF THE GAME-CYCLE EXERCISE SYSTEM
Agency:
HHS
Contract:
PHS2001-2
Award Amount:
$99,808.00
Abstract:
DESCRIPTION (adapted from applicant's abstract): The activity level of people
tends to decrease after a spinal cord injury. Studies have reported that daily
wheelchair propulsion activity level of an individual with a spinal cord injury
(SCI) is not sufficient to maintain or improve their cardiovascular fitness
level. Sedentary individuals with paraplegia and tetraplegia have low maximal
oxygen consumption. Research has shown that sedentary individuals with SCI are
less fit than either their physically active counterparts or the sedentary
unimpaired population and other research reports maximum oxygen uptake for
people with paraplegia is lower than ambulatory subjects. Research shows that
with a sedentary lifestyle and lower rate of maximum oxygen consumption,
cardiovascular diseases are an increasing health concern for wheelchair users
and the SCI population. We have been studying exercise systems for people with
lower extremity impairments. Our previous efforts have resulted in training
rollers, the GAMEwheel system, and the SMARTwheel. This proposal builds upon
this previous work and experience. We have shown that the GAMEwheel can help
people to exercise and possibly reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular
disease. However, research with the SMARTwheel shows that the GAMEwheel systems
tends to cause people to shorten their stroke and increase their stroke
frequency which have been shown to be related to joint degeneration. We propose
a simpler and more universal concept based upon a modified arm-ergometer, named
the GAMEcycle. The will be based upon an arm-ergometer placed on a turnstile to
allow steering in much the same way as an arm-cycle. Sensors on the sprocket of
the arm ergometer will be used to record the speed, and sensors on the
turnstile will be used to record the direction. The speed and direction signals
will be used through the game port of personal computer to control commercially
available computer games.
PROPOSED COMMERCIAL APPLICATION: NOT AVAILABLE
Small Business Information at Submission:
THREE RIVERS HOLDINGS, LLC
7418 E HELM DR SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260-2418 SCOTTSDALE, AZ 85260
EIN/Tax ID:
860959597
DUNS:
N/A
Number of Employees:
N/A
Woman-Owned:
No
Minority-Owned:
No
HUBZone-Owned:
No
Research Institution Information:
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH HEALTHCARE SYSTEM
PITTSBURGH, PA 15290
RI Type:
Nonprofit college or university