This sectiion introduces forthcoming Events. They will be presented chronalogically, most recent first.

This study uses state-of-the-art scanning techniques to assess bone in the wrists and ankles of people with a compete SCI. A high-resolution pQCT scanner will be used to investigate changes in the microstructure of cortical and trabecular bone. The study only requires a single visit to Southampton Hospital, and travel expenses will be paid up to 100 miles from Southampton. Please see attached flyer for inclusion criteria.

The event will be held in The Stanmore Room at 2pm on Wednesday 13th May 2015.

A group of researchers will showcase a diverse area of study from The Daisy Project which aims to improve eating and drinking challenges in people with tetraplegia, to a robotics system called 'Robin' for the rehabilitation of people who have suffered brain injury, stroke or spinal cord injury, to functional electrical stimulation-assisted exercise systems.

Visit The Daisy Project for more information on dysphagia in tetraplegia.

For more information on this event email Jackie or call 07803 212122.

Disability Exercise and Paralymic Sports Open Day: 18th April 2015

The event will show case a number of exercise options, Paralympic sports, and visitors’ will have the opportunity to experience a fully integrated gym. FES-assisted exercise will also be demonstrated, and the FES-Rowing Group Team, Robin, Lindsay and Kelly, will be available to explain the technology and how this form of exercise can help improve whole body health and fitness. The event is free and there are free car park facilities on site.

See timetable below for event times and venues. For any other information call Aspire National Training Centre reception on 020 8954 5759.

10th to 19th November 2014

The UK FES Rowing Group has been collaborating with a group based at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Palo Atlo Health Care System in California. This group is interested in skeletal health after spinal cord injury (SCI). The study, funded by the VA, is led by Gary Beaupre PhD, a Research Career Scientist at VA Palo Alto, and Becky Lambach PhD, a Research Biomechanical Engineer (Figure 1 Left). Becky is responsible for participant recruitment, bone density measurements using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT), aquisition of foot and handle forces and body kinematics during rowing in a motion capture lab (image right below), and musculoskeletal modelling. Other key collaborators at the VA include Dr Graham Creasey, MD and Jenny Kiratli, PhD, both of whom have decades of clinical and research experience working with patients with SCI.

Left: Robin, Becky and Gary, Right: Motion capture in the VA motion capture lab

An initial pilot study at VA Palo Alto builds on Robin's preliminary investigations on the cardiorespiratory and skeletal benefits of FES-rowing. Robin's visit was planned to help and advise the group on the implementation of an FES-rowing programme at VA Palo Alto via a series of meetings and presentations to patients, and SCI researchers and clinicians at VA Palo Alto and Valley Medical Center in San Jose (Figure Left and Right below). 

Left: Veterans of America Palo Alto, Right Valley Medical Centre San Jose

Both VA Palo Alto and Valley Medical Center have a long history of treating patients with spinal cord injuries. The 10 day visit included initial motion capture measurements and pQCT scans by Becky, and DXA scans by Jenny (image left below). Gary also took Robin to the University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine, where Galateia took the first ever high-definition pQCT scans of an individual who had been long-term FES rowing trained (image right below).

Left: DXA scan Veterans Association, Right: HR pQCT scan University of California

The Palo Alto group also comprises a number of clinicians interested in progressing this exciting new field of research investigating the prevention and reversal of osteoporosis after SCI. Key collaborators at Valley Medical Center include Dr Steve McKenna, MD and Dr James Crew, MD, both of whom specialize in the treatment of patients with SCI. A profile on some of these clinicians and researchers can be found in the FES Rowing Group page.

As an aside, one of the highlights of the visit to the VA Palo Alto, was a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium; a 'must see' organisation dedicated to inspire the conservation of the oceans. The extraordinary indivividuals running this unique center also provide diving experience to children with a range of disabilities.

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