Prolonged bed rest can lead to 10–15% loss of muscle strength in one week and up to 35%–50% loss over five weeks [1]. Strength and endurance loss during bed rest often requires additional time for reconditioning, resulting in longer lengths of stay. When performed regularly during bed rest, lower limb resistance exercise has been demonstrated to successfully neutralize the atrophic effects of bed rest in able-bodied persons [2–5]. Although devices exist for lower limb exercise while in the supine position, we were unable to find commercially available devices for upper limb exercise in the supine position. There is a need for a device that provides supine upper limb exercise, e.g. for persons with spinal cord injuries who are on bed rest healing pressure ulcers. Thus the purpose of this project was to develop an upper limb cycle ergometer that can be used while in the supine...

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