Virtual Reality Game Provides Exercise for the Wheelchair-Bound
From: NASA Tech Briefs Insider Special Edition - Medical Engineering - 09/15/2008

University of Texas at Austin alumnus, Chris Stanford is working with UT
students to make exercise fun for wheelchair users. For the past year,
Stanford has been partnering with engineering seniors to test his idea for a
virtual reality treadmill for the disabled. 

Stanford, who has been confined to a wheelchair since 1988, said that "not
many people realize the special health risks faced by wheelchair users.
Everything is more difficult, including eating right and getting enough
exercise. Because of this, the incidence of obesity, diabetes, and
cardiovascular disease is several times the rate of the general population."  

The solution is called TrekEase, which is similar to an arcade driving game.
Users back a manual wheelchair into a frame, engage the flywheel for
resistance, and start the driving software. The basic mechanical system had
already been vetted for safety, and the students added software and sensors
that make the experience interactive. 

Users can control speed and direction. A new group of students is enhancing
the existing design so the system detects tilt, making flight simulation
possible, and working to make it affordable and easily reproducible. 

Links:
TrekEase
http://www.trekease.com/index.html

Aerobic exercise for the wheelchair bound
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-09/uota-aef091008.php

University of Texas Students Show Off TrekEase
http://www.eurekalert.org/multimedia/pub/9864.php?from=121322

Soon, a virtual reality treadmill for the wheelchair-bound
http://in.news.yahoo.com/139/20080911/936/thl-soon-a-virtual-reality-treadmill-for.html
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/Health/20080911/1050192.html

Making Exercise Fun For Wheelchair Users
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/121077.php