In earlier articles in this series, we have seen that motor training can induce constructive neuroplasticity providing that the tasks are practiced in a particular way and are challenging enough to stimulate positive adaptations. The human body is natural adaptive to the stimulus - or lack of it - that is provided.

Athletes learning new skills and training for peak performance in strength or endurance must draw on the same fundamental body resources as those individuals recovering from a neurological condition. There are many differences however in how to approach training due to the nature of the bodies energy systems and how these are influenced by disability.

When we are encouraged for rehabilitation purposes to train intensively, frequently etc we need to be aware of these energy systems and how they affect fatigue and the perception of effort.

One of the first questions that potential FES Cycling system owners might want to know is how much does a system cost? I guess from a potential client’s point of view there is not a lot of point in finding out about all the features and benefits if the cost is out of reach. In this article I can give you some guidance on the approach to pricing we apply to our RehaMove FES Cycling range.

Although pricing will obviously depend on the exact specification of a system, I can do my best to explain some of our thinking at Anatomical Concepts. We haven't set out to offer the least expensive or the most expensive FES bike and ultimately you will judge for yourself whether we offer good value.

Bike Labyrinth is an innovative product offering interactive bicycle tours for individuals who are now unable to exercise outdoors, such as those who are elderly, frail, or experiencing dementia. The effect is very engaging, interactive, simple to use and loved by users. Bike Labyrinth can incorporate a user’s or care home’s exisitng bike and utilise a HD television.

At Anatomical Concepts we love exercise - it is good for everyone. It can help us overcome aspects of physical disability and is good for our emotional and cognitive well being. Who wants to reduce the chances of us needing healthcare in future?
It seems that many of us are too busy or lack motivation to exercise regularly and this is especially true of older adults. With Bike Labyrinth you can explore more than 600 cycling routes and rediscover the joy of exercise whoever you are.

In this article, we look at the efficiency of FES Cycling and see that there is actually lots of room for improvement when it comes to metabolic efficiency and power output.

Of course that does not mean that they should not be used. Much research over decades shows the benefits for users from regular training. FES Cycling performance is good enough to produce results if people use these products. The benefits are greater than those via passive cycling alone.

However, any engineer who looks closely at the technology will realise that there is much that can be improved when it coms to FES cycling exercise. This is what engineering aims to do - refine and improve things for the benefit of society. Improving the technology could produce a greater health benefit for the same or less effort so it's worth striving for. It should also be said that this is no trivial challenge. All electro-mechanical systems that interact with the human body tend to offer design difficulties that are not obvious to the casual observer.

Combining a passive/active exercise bike with synchronised FES (Functional Electrical Stimulation) is a well-researched and well-known exercise modality for persons to use after a spinal cord injury or other neurological condition.  One of the benefits often sought by our spinal cord injured clients is preservation of bone density and we will look at the evidence for this in this article. Bone is a dynamic tissue - it responds to the needs placed upon it - getting stronger under load and weaker in the absence of load. Paralysis after a spinal cord injury and lack of activity that loads the bones results in a loss of bone strength and increased risk of fractures.. FES Cycing is one way of helping to prevent this.

FES Cycling with the RehaMove system is a foundation in Claire’s routine. In this short video she describes how she discovered FES Cycling, why she felt it was important to continue to exercise the parts that were paralysed as well as the parts that weren’t, and the benefits she has seen from doing so.