First International FES-Sports Day Cardiff June 22 nd, 2006 The first International FES-Sports Meeting will be held at Cardiff in the United Kingdom in June 2006. All who are interested in participating are invited, whether as someone with spinal cord injury, who is already training with FES, or as one who is interested to see how these sports are developing. Background Functional Electrical Stimulation (FES) of paralysed muscle is being used at many places in the world for exercise to maintain or improve fitness. However the number of people with spinal cord injury who actually use FES regularly is low. We believe that this is because FES has been presented as a hospital-based therapy, is boring and expensive. It is our conviction that by developing FES as a sport or recreation, so that muscle training is done for the purpose of enjoyable activity, it will be attractive to many more people. So far, most trials involved spinal cord injured people but those with other causes of paralysis may join in. It is hoped that at some time in the future mutual encouragement in participation can be stimulated with Internet events. In September 2005 a FES-Sports Day was held when British cyclists and rowers met. Robin Gibbons, using a 4-channel FES system with an adapted Concept II machine, demonstrated FES rowing over his training distance of 5,000 metres. The adaptations were developed in collaboration with the charity DEMAND (http://www.demand.org.uk/home.htm). This system was the same as that used at last year s British Indoor Rowing Championships (BIRC) in November 2004 where Robin and Sol Solomou successfully completed the Olympic 2000 metre distance in open competition with other able-bodied athletes this unique achievement has been recognized by the rowing community and England s Olympic Captain and Gold Medallist, James Cracknell, presented the FES rowers with their medals at the Leander Club http://www.leander.co.uk/popup/james_paraplegic_indoor_rowing_champs.html. FES rowing is now a part of the annual BIRC event. Robin and Sol will again lead a team of FES rowers to compete with 3,000 others at this year s BIRC on the 20 th November in Birmingham s National Indoor Arena (www.concept2.co.uk/birc/index.php ). 1
The cyclists (http://www.footprints-in-the-snow.info/) rode recumbent tricycles (http://www.ice.hpv.co.uk/) in races and a game. The team game, played both 2- and 3-a-side, is based loosely on rugby but is played with a cushion. It was fast, exciting for the audience and clearly fun for the players. They continued playing for well over an hour. It was encouraging to see that players with a wide range of power outputs could enjoy playing together and all scored. 2006 At Cardiff in 2006 we intend to take this further and have participants from other countries. The events will include time trials for tricycle sprinting over 1 km, to establish a fastest time, and rowing over 2 km. For entrants with complete spinal cord lesions, there will be prizes totalling 500 for the fastest times, cycling and rowing. It is hoped to have some international relay races. However, there will also be also be less serious games, rowing races with members of the audience, and we hope to have enough FES-cyclists to run a league of the Cushion Game. There will also be a demonstration of FES rowing using the Internet. Venue All events will be held in the UWIC (University of Wales at Cardiff) sports stadium (http://www.runtrackdir.com/ then select Cardiff Indoor, for pictures and maps) which has a 200m oval track and a games pitch. Seating is provided for an audience of 1000. Cycling events will be held on the pitch and the track. Eight rowing ergometers will be set up with an electronic display board, showing progress of the competitors; six of these ergometers will be adapted for FES-rowing. Arrangements Competitors are expected to be at UWIC Stadium for two days, one to set up and test the equipment, program the stimulators, etc, and one for the Sports Day. Three nights of accommodation will be arranged in the university Halls of Residence or local hotels for those requiring disabled facilities 2
Competitors Most FES-exercise is being done by people with complete spinal cord lesions, so they have complete sensory and motor loss, but with not-bad voluntary control of the trunk (i.e. midthoracic paraplegics). We expect most competitors to be in this category. It will be most helpful if those paraplegics who cycle, and have their own tricycles, bring them along. However, we recognise that more FES-cycling exercise is actually done on stationary ergometers. Ergometercyclists who wish to come but have no tricycle should make this clear in their application: we will arrange tricycles if we can, subject to demand. FES-rowing machines will be available for experienced FES users and others who would like to try FES-rowing. Anyone who is doing FES-exercise, is not a complete-lesion paraplegic, or is not doing either ergometer-rowing or pedal-only cycling, but wishes to participate, should also apply. 3
Refund of Expenses for Competitors The FES-Sports Day is being funded by a grant from the British Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. We have a limited budget for refunding expenses. If you wish to come as a competitor, please send in a completed Registration form as soon as possible. Forms can be sent by post (John Gisby, The Inspire Foundation, Salisbury District Hospital, Salisbury, Wiltshire, SP2 8BJ, UK), by fax (01722 415230) or by email (john@gisby268.freeserve.co.uk). We will let you know whether we can accept your Registration and whether we can refund your travel expenses to an appropriate limit. These limits will be a maximum of 50 in the UK, 250 from Europe and 500 from the rest of the world. If we offer to refund your expenses, you should buy your tickets while prices are favourable and send us a copy of your receipt. We will refund 50% of the agreed refund immediately and the remaining 50% when you arrive in Cardiff. In addition to this subsidy to meet your travel costs, an accommodation subsidy of up to 50 for bed and breakfast costs/night for 20/21, 21/22 and 22/23 June will be given against receipts When we acknowledge your Registration, we will also send you the email addresses of various hotels in Cardiff which have suitable facilities, together with prices and room occupancy options. You should make your own arrangements direct with your selected hotel. In making your travel arrangements you may well find that Cardiff or Bristol Airports are convenient and economic. Our funds are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so do not delay! Audience We hope that many people, disabled and able-bodied will come to watch. We would particularly like to see disabled people who are thinking about getting involved in FES-Sports. There may be an opportunity for able-bodied members of the audience to compete against FES rowers, so bring along your kit! There will be opportunities for them to talk to the competitors during the day. Entrance to the UWIC Stadium will be free, but please send in an Audience Registration Form, so that we can cater for you. Lunch and other refreshments through the day will be available at 12.50/head. If you wish to attend for more than just the Sports events on 22 nd June then please 1
indicate this on your Registration form. There is adequate car parking in the area. Full details including a map will be sent with confirmation of booking. FES Stimulators The FES rowing ergometers will be set up with 4-channel stimulators for bilateral quadriceps and hamstring muscle groups. Control of the stimulation is manually-operated. It is easy to learn to coordinate the leg muscle stimulation with the movement of the upper body. Able-bodied rowers are not obliged to use FES! The FES-tricycles will have 8-channel stimulators with programs for stimulating quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteals and calf muscle groups. It is not necessary to stimulate all these muscles and the stimulus intensity is set for each user. Competitors who are not bringing their own tricycles and stimulators should send us a list of your stimulus parameters by the end of May 2006 (see application form). Schedule June 19 th June 20 th June 21 st June 22 nd June 23 rd English tricycles and rowing ergometers taken to Cardiff. Scottish and English competitors travel to Cardiff. Competitors from abroad arrive (preferably Heathrow, if a London Airport. Equipment set up in UWIC Stadium. Final programming of stimulators. Competitors try out the equipment. Competitors divided into teams for games. Final arrangements made for events. Sports Day 10.00 Cycling time trial over 1 km on track. (An application that the best time is registered in the Guiness World Records has been made and is being reviewed by that organisation.) 11.30 Rowing time trial over 2 km on ergometers paraplegic competitors. Rowing time trial over 2km on ergometers - open competition. Tricycle Slalom races 13.00 Lunch 14.00 Cushion Game League Rowing for 1 minute on ergometers paraplegics from audience. FES rowing Internet demonstration race. Overseas competitors depart British competitors go home 2
Audience Application Form Name.. Address....Post/Zip Code. Telephone number. Email.. (in BLOCKS) Wheelchair user If yes can you cope with being transported by coach? Special needs (diet, etc). Anything else you want us to know?.. Do you want to reserve over-night Bed and Breakfast accommodation at UW? June 21 st June 22 nd A cheque for 12.50 per day and 27.50 per night, made out to Reactivate, should be sent with this application form. We will let you know whether we have been able to reserve a room for you (subject to demand). Please send to John Gisby, The Inspire Foundation Salisbury District Hospital Salisbury Wilts SP2 8BJ United Kingdom Fax: 01722 415230 email: john@gisby268.freeserve.co.uk 3
Competitor Application Form Name.. Address....Post/Zip Code.. Telephone Number.. Mobile Number Email.. (in BLOCKS) Age Sex: M/F Do you have a spinal cord injury? If yes, what level?.. complete / incomplete If no, what is the cause of your disability?.. How long have you been doing FES exercise of your leg muscles?. Which muscle groups do you stimulate? L Quads: R Quads: L Hams: R Hams: L Gluts: R Gluts: L Calf: R Calf: Other?. Do you use an FES rowing ergometer? If yes: do you want to compete in the rowing competition Who, if anyone, set up your muscle stimulator for you?.. May we ask this person about your stimulator settings? If yes: how can we contact them (email, telephone)?.. 4
Do you use an FES-tricycle? Will you bring it to Cardiff? (please bring it if you can!) Do you use an FES cycle ergometer? Do you want us to arrange a tricycle for you to use in the cycling events? If yes: What is your inside-leg length? cm (This tells us what seat-crankshaft distance you need) Who, if anyone, set up your muscle stimulator for you? May we ask this person about the stimulation parameters that you use? If yes: how can we contact them (email, telephone)?.. How much FES exercise do you aim to do each week?.. Do you want a refund for your travel cost? Is there anything else that you think we ought to know?..... Please send to John Gisby, The Inspire Foundation Salisbury District Hospital Salisbury Wilts SP2 8BJ United Kingdom Fax: 01722 415230 email: john@gisby268.freeserve.co.uk 5