Dosage parameters, muscle selection, outcome measures
Dosage parameters and progression
Although there are default settings that are common to use when starting a FES cycling program (see table below), it is important to know that pain, apprehension, and other factors related to your injury may limit the electrical stimulation amplitudes and duration. The progression of stimulation should be tailored to you, especially in the first 3 months after your injury. It is appropriate to increase amplitudes in small increments from session to session especially in the first 4 weeks if you do not experience problems such as pain, discomfort, increased spasticity, or issues in blood pressure regulation during or after FES cycling. In general, as you progress further into the program, you will need less frequent (every 3 to 5 sessions) increases in stimulation.
You may not be able to produce contractions strong enough to cycle with zero resistance. This means that the therapist will add motor support so you can cycle with muscle stimulation and continue at the maximum level you can tolerate without unnecessary discomfort or fatigue.
Muscle selection
| Muscle group | Functional Goal Examples |
|---|---|
| Thigh – Quadriceps | • Transferring between your bed and a chair • Walking |
| Thigh – Hamstrings | • Sitting down in a controlled manner from a standing position • Improve standing balance |
| Buttocks | • Moving over in bed • Getting up from a seated position |
| Calves | • Taking a step • Transferring between a commode and your bed |
Outcome measures
An outcome measure is a tool that is used to assess your current status. It can be measured at the first session to determine your baseline and in other sessions to determine your progress.
Outcome measures recorded by the RT300 FES cycling program:
- average asymmetry
- distance traveled
- energy per hour (kCal)
- energy expended (kCal)
- average stimulation
- power
- speed
- average pulse
- peak pulse
