Specific Guidance 2.6: Endurance Exercise Machines
The Surgeon General’s report on Physical Activity and Health published in 1996 asserted “Physical activity of the type that improves cardiovascular endurance reduces the risk of developing or dying from cardiovascular disease, hypertension, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes and improves mental health. Other findings are suggestive that endurance-type physical activity may reduce the risk of developing obesity, osteoporosis, and depression and may improve psychological well-being and quality of life.” [1] One of the important categories of fitness equipment are exercise ergometers. These endurance exercise machines have become pervasive in moden societies, and are used by millions of persons in fitness facilities, homes and rehabilitation centers. Persons with disabilities should have full access to the benefits associated with use of such machines. Exercise ergometers are commonly classified as a medical device, and often include physiological measurements (such as heart rate) integrated into the device plus measures of human performance (such as human power capability) that are used to assess cardiopulmonary function.
This guidance is applicable to devices classified into 5 categories: cycle ergometers (bikes), ellipticals, steppers, treadmills and wheelchair cyclers. The phrase "exercise ergometer" is used to refer to all of these categories. In some cases there is specific guidance for certain categories. This guidance uses six primary resources:
- the Inclusive Fitness guidelines, stages 1 and 2, see http://www.inclusivefitness.org/inclusive-fitness-initiative/inclusive-fitness-equipment and /http://www.inclusivefitness.org/images/categories/Stage_2_Equipment_Fact_Sheet.pdf.
- an RERC-AMI student technical report on cardiopulmonary/endurance ergometers, which reviewed roughly 100 products, completing 60 columns of information such as features for each product (as relevant)
- the Master's Thesis project of Elizabeth Omiatek, which included evaluation using MUA-Lab of a variety of accessible design features for cycle ergometers, and also included the report of a focus group,
- the technical report summarizing the results of a national student design competition for accessibility exercise ergometers,
- the Master's Thesis project of Jason Haines, which focuses on personalized monitors for exercise ergometers, especially using the UI-Socket/URC standard (see Project D3), that included implementation with the actual interface for Magnum cycle ergometers and implementation of the CSafe communication protocol used by the fitness industry.
- the general guidance section of the RERC-AMI.
2.6.1 Endurance exercise machines should facilitate user transfer onto and off the device, or should acommodate the user's assistive technology such as a wheelchair.
Discussion: ... seat that is removable or can swing away ... easy-to-use, one-handed mechanical coupling (locking)
2.6.2 Endurance exercise machines that require users to transfer to a seat should support common transfer principles such as provided in General Guidance 1.4.11, including access to an open area for wheelchair transfer, a seat that can swivel and then lock during transfer, and wider seats (General Guidance 1.4.7).
Discussion: ... modular seat ... swivel ... removable ... For exercise ergomters in which the user is expected to be sitting, the seat should be easily adjustable relative to the location(s) for power transmission by the feets and/or hands ...
2.6.3 If a source of external power is an integrated part of a given endurance exercise machines, this power source should be used to accommodate a power seat which is (at minimum) height adjustable (see also General Guidance 1.4.3). The control for such power assist for the seat should be located so as to be independently operable by the user.
Discussion:
2.6.4 Endurance exercise machines should have integrated features that support user balance. For devices used while seated (e.g., cycle ergometers), this should include support for an seatback and for arm rests, with these supports satisfying General Guidance 1.4.12, as well as for an easily adjustable lapbelt that can be secured with one-hand operation. For devices used while standing (e.g., treadmills, ellipticals, steppers), this should include side grab bars (see General Guidance 1.4.10 and 1.4.14) and accommodation for a user's sling or harness.
Discussion:
2.6.5 Endurance exercise machines with pedals or foot pads should provide a means for locking the foot to the pedal or footpad. This should be adjustable and be able to be operated with one hand, and furthermore with either hand (see also General Guidance 1.2.6).
Discussion:
2.6.6 Endurance exercise machines should make effective use of high contrast for key features of the device, including both cues for the general shape and outer boundaries of the device, surfaces and handles intended for manual operation or use, moving parts that could cause safty hazards, and interfaces that accomodate a user's AT. Colors such as yellow can be used to augment such contrast, but such contrast should not depend solely on color.
Discussion:
2.6.7 For endurance exercise machines requiring adjustment for user anthopometric variation (e.g., size, limb lengths), such as the relative distance between the seat and crank for cycle ergometers, such adjustment should be able to be made with minimal effort and one-hand operation for the adjustment (see also General Guidance 1.1.9, 1.1.24, 1.2.6) and for locking in place a given position (e.g., on a low-profile track).
Discussion:
2.6.8 For the category of cycle ergometers, recumbent cycle designs are recommended, and furthermore, these designs should have a low profile step over between the seet and the crank.
Discussion:
2.6.9 Endurance exercise machines should accommodate low levels of human power generation. This includes having equipment stay on for power levels as low as 5 (10?) Watts, and support for intermitant human power where power may be absent or reversed in polarity for up to several seconds (see also General Guidance 1.1.13 on providing appropriate time for completion of tasks).
Discussion:
2.6.10 All exercise ergometers should be have a software interface that provides full support for the current protocol or standard used by the fitness equipment industry for integrating products within fitness facilities for personalized exercise programs, such as the ad hoc CSAFE protocol.
Discussion: ... This can be used to support alternative interfaces, for instance using the UI/Socket/URC standard.
2.6.11 Monitors for endurance exercise machines should have a default interface that follows the "design for all" / universal design principles outlined in Section 1.2 of this guidance. In designing such interfaces, the tasks of setting up the exercise protocol and exercising should be conceptualized separately.
Discussion: ...
2.6.12 Endurance exercise machines should provide a " quick start" capability that is multimodal.
Discussion: This includes control operation should be possible by both manual or voice operation, and access to this control supporting promtping by visual, audio and braille modes. These modes should be designed with Guidance 1.1.1 to 1.1.6 in mind. The user who starts the device by mild execise should also be able to bypass the quick start feature.
2.6.13 Endurance exercise machines should provide a standards-compliant audio port that is easy to locate and operate, for example close to the seat or to arm supports. It should not be located on the monitor, as a reach to this location is not possible for many persons (see also General Guidance 1.1.9 and 1.1.24 on accommodating for reach and strength limitations).
Discussion: Circuitry for audio output
2.6.14 Endurance exercise machines should support a means for magnifying the visual content on the default monitor. Idealliy, this includes a magnifying lens that can be located by the user. Reasonable alternatives include a sliding magnifying lens and the availability of the manual magnifying lens attached by a cord (see also General Guidance 1.1.2).
Discussion:
2.6.15 Critical information for basic use of the endurance exercise machines should be available in braille, preferably through both the left and right arm supports.
Discussion:
2.6.16 Endurance exercise machine monitors should support touch screen operation with relatively large touch surfaces, but should also support an alternative elecronic interface that meets basic web accessibility standards related to navigation (such as support for tabs and arrow keys) and entry (such as numerical keypad). See also General Guidance 1.1.6, 1.1.8, 1.2.5, 1.2.14 and 1.3.X.
Discussion:
2.6.17 Endurance exercise machines that do not provide an integrated heart rate monitoring capability should provide an interface that can collect this data.
Discussion:
2.6.18 Endurance exercise machines should provide cup holders for a drink or water bottle (both left and right sides) and for a user's cane.
Discussion: ...
Interface frame on a track, Locking mechanism for the track, Zero step over
Two-way resistance arm exercise bars
Cane holders
Wireless LED pedals