A rowing machine that uses electrical stimulation is helping people with spinal cord injuries to get in shape.

Robin Gibbons, a rower who is paraplegic, was one of the first to use the new machine at the University of Alberta to get his paralyzed muscles to work again. 

The functional electrical stimulation rowing machine, developed by researchers in Edmonton and England, helps people with disabilities enjoy the benefits of regular exercise.
(CBC)

"Seeing my legs moving, it's just a feel-good factor the likes of which you can't begin to imagine," Gibbons said.

Gibbons is now the fastest rower on the machine in the world. In 2005, he beat able-bodied times at the British Indoor Rowing Championships. The physical, cardiovascular and psychological benefits of having "a pair of legs that look normal" are the most important aspect, he said.

"It's what your daily habits are that make your life better in terms of health and fitness, not being able to run a 2,000-metre race, or row a 2,000-metre race or whatever," Gibbons said.

Researchers in Edmonton and England developed the functional electrical stimulation rowing machine to help people with disabilities enjoy the benefits of regular exercise.

Need certain intensity to work

Studies in the able-bodied literature showed a certain intensity and amount of exercise are needed to lower the risks of Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. By using the arms and electrically stimulating paralyzed legs to move, the beneficial exercise limit could be reached on the machine, said neuroscientist Brian Andrews. 

The machine works by delivering strong electrical pulses through sensors on the skin. The 150-volt pulses cause paralyzed muscles to contract, and a computer repeatedly distributes the stimulation to different muscles to cause a rowing motion.

Able-bodied people would find the intense stimulation painful, but since paraplegics lack sensation, it doesn't bother them, said Andrews, who helped create the machine. He was surprised at the success.

"It's like IBM predicting that there would be six computers in the world," Andrews said. "Back in the early days, we didn't know if it was even possible to row for a few minutes."

Many people who try to use the machine end up craving the stimulation, said Dave Collins, a neuroscientist at the university's faculty of physical education and recreation.

The university plans to make the machine available to rowers who want to get out on the water, to further close the divide with athletes who are able-bodied.