Disability Research and Assessment Laboratory
IMAR has two metabolic measuring systems to provide cardiopulmonary stress testing, nutritional analysis and fitness and sports evaluation for both patients and athletes. Our portable Oxycon Mobile® system can determine metabolic response while working and exercising in situations that have been traditionally difficult to monitor. The system records breath-by-breath data while being carried in a comfortable vest which allows testing of children, adults, patients and athletes. The metabolic cart can be linked to exercise equipment, ECG, heart rate and blood pressure instruments to provide a complete integrated cardiopulmonary exercise examination. Breath-by-breath, dynamic flow-volume loops and energy expenditure can all be analysed with the results displayed using a user friendly graphics interface.
We have recently purchased a Smartwheel® which sets the standard in the field of manual wheelchair use analysis and optimisation. The Smartwheel® monitors manual wheelchair use by analysing each push on the wheel rim, providing an immediate visual feedback for clinical use and data storage for longer term research purposes. Recording push forces, frequency, length and smoothness along with wheelchair speed can help optimise performance and prevent pain for the wheelchair user.
IMAR has a large range of EMG (electromyography) instruments, from small portable recorders to the latest wireless technology that can measure activity from up to sixteen muscles, synchronised with the moving body. Combined with a range of analysis tools the resulting data can provide muscle analysis for a wide range of clinical and research projects.
