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This technique considered as FES (functional electrical stimulation) tricycling has been developed by teams from University College London (UCL) and
University of Glasgow. FES involves stimulating paralyzed muscles by passing short pulses of current through electrodes on
skin. A stimulator synchronizes
stimulation with
pedal position while
person has a 'throttle' to control how much stimulation is applied - rather like a motor bike with
legs as
engine.
Within a year, we should be expecting
availability of this device, dubbed as
‘recumbent tricycle’. Professor Nick Donaldson, one of
members of
team said that this device will help get
impaired people back into exercising safely. This will do them a lot of good since these disabled persons may not be open to
option of exercising, yet. The only current way being applied to wheelchair-bound persons’ in order to exercise
paralyzed muscles is by electrical stimulation. But it was not much fun to just stimulate
muscles during special sessions.
Thus in developing
bike,
team was to create a system where wheelchair athletes can use from home and will be fun to use. The new tricycle can be used at home to train
muscles while stationary, or for recreation outdoors.

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