Staff: Tim Perkins, Nick Donaldson, Martin Fry, Jonathan Norton.

In this project we are developing a system that is capable of providing paraplegics with a functional cycling system. We are also studying the health benefits of recreational cycling for paraplegics. This project is also concerned with the development of new methods of providing the stimulation. In the first instance we are investigating "electrode trousers". In the longer term we are also investigating the possibility of using an implanted stimulator. We are actively collaborating with Prof David Rushton and Prof Di Newham (Kings College London), Prof Ian Swain and Dr Duncan Wood, (Salisbury District Hospital) and Prof Ken Hunt's team, (Glasgow).

As seen on BBC’s Tomorrow’s World; April 10^th 2002.

NEW We have funding for this project from the EPSRC. If you are interested in potentially taking part in this study please contact  Dr Roger Fitzwater. If you have technical queries please contact Mr Tim Perkins. We are looking for subjects with complete spinal cord lesions between T3 and T12 at present.

In addition to work with complete paraplegics we are also interested in the effects of stimulation on incomplete paraplegics. We are using FES assisted cycling to study possible mechanisms of motor and sensory recovery in incomplete paraplegia. We are adapting "standard" neurophysiological tests to assist with this.