Introduction

Only 31% of able-bodied (AB) older adults report participating in 20 min of moderate physical activity three or more times per week whereas the activity level of the spinal cord injured (SCI) population is <40% of the sedentary AB population.1 Add in the factor of a markedly increased life span (currently nearing that of people without SCI)2 and it is no wonder that the primary causes of death are no longer complications related to SCI but rather conditions associated with age and inactivity. Cardiovascular disease is now the foremost cause of death of persons with SCI over 60 years of age3 and obesity, metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis are considered epidemic in the SCI population.4 It is clear that the challenge of promoting an active lifestyle for those with SCI is imperative for healthy aging. The goal of this study was to determine the feasibility of a home-based FES-LEC (functional electrical stimulation lower extremities cycling) program and effects on body composition and quality of life (QOL) in an older individual with SCI.

Study design/methods

A 64-year-old male, 18-month post-traumatic motor complete C5 injury, participated in three sessions per week for 9 weeks with an RT300 FES-LE cycle (Restorative Therapies Inc., Baltimore, MD, USA) in the participant's home. Sessions were monitored by the research staff via internet connection. The participant's weight, height and body mass index were 74.6 kg, 1.7 m and 25.8 kg m−2, respectively. The participant reviewed and signed a written VA Human Subjects Research Consent form. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the McGuire VA Medical Center and all applicable institutional and governmental regulations concerning the ethical use of human volunteers were followed.

FES-LEC

The current amplitude remained at 140 mA throughout the entire 9-week training. The initial pulse width was 300 μs, control speed 45 r.p.m. and resistance 0.5 N m. The control speed was lowered to 38 r.p.m. and the pulse width increased to 400 μs to accommodate an increased resistance of 1.0 N m for the last 20-cycling sessions. Pulse frequency remained at 33.3 Hz and cycling time and distance increased as the participant tolerated. Disposable adhesive gel electrodes were placed on the knee extensors, hamstrings and gluteal muscles for the transmission of electricity.

Assessment

The primary feasibility factor for home-based FES-LEC is exercise compliance, which was measured as percent of recommended sessions completed. QOL was measured with the World Health Organization QOL Questionnaire Brief Form, which has been validated and is currently the most acceptable and established instrument to assess QOL after SCI.5 A Lunar Prodigy Advance Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry scanner (General Electric, Madison, WI, USA) was used to measure the body composition including percent body fat (%BF), fat mass (FM), lean mass (LM) and bone mineral density (BMD).

Results

The participant completed 25 of 27 exercise sessions over 9 weeks for a 93% compliance rate, which is well above the average 31% exercise rate in the older general population. The participant also increased cycling distance from 3.98 to 9.00 km, for an increase of 126%. Session duration increased from19 to 64 min including a 2-min warm-up and 1-min cooldown period.

Total body LM increased by 8.3% from 48.94 to 53.02 kg and %BF decreased from 29.6 to 28.4 (−1.2%). Total body weight, FM and BMD remained unchanged. The psychological domain of the QOL questionnaire improved from 12.67 to 14. This domain is reflective of perception of body image, appearance and self-esteem.

Discussion

The feasibility of a home-based FES-LEC program was supported by the 93% exercise compliance rate. Positive changes regarding body composition and QOL support results of clinical studies using FES-LEC training on younger adults with SCI.4 The results of this case report cannot be generalized to the overall SCI population; however does support the theory that regular home-based FES-LEC exercise is realistic and can induce positive changes in body composition and QOL in geriatric individuals with chronic tetraplegia. This study provides an innovative approach to the major problem of sedentarism in the SCI population. The major innovation was the important overlay of participant convenience with home-based exercise and the distant expert monitoring and oversight of the program via the internet connection. Home-based FES-LEC decreased barriers to exercise adherence and provided the participant the opportunity to cycle from his own wheelchair sitting on his own seat cushion. This eliminated the need for transfers on and off equipment and provided comfort while exercising. The results of this study provide support for the feasibility of home-based FES-LEC programs without direct supervision and possible positive changes in body composition and QOL.