Exercise can be boring. The thought behind development of the GAMECycle was that if a person forgot he or she was exercising or having fun during the exercise session, he or she would exercise longer and at a higher intensity. GAMECycle is an interface between an arm ergometer and a game cube that enables the person cycling to play a computer game, such as Need for Speed. By cranking on the ergometer, one is able to drive the race car around various tracks. Just as when one plays the game via a joystick, as a user gets better at the game, he or she can proceed to more difficult race courses.

Various research has already been completed examining the efficacy of the GAMECycle, including cross-sectional studies that show people with SCI were able to develop a training zone effective for exercise. An ongoing study includes providing GAMECycles in one's home for an extended period of time to determine if exercise habits improve along with general health and wellness.

To learn more, go to http://www.herlpitt.org/research.htm, or http://www.3rivers.com/gamecycle.php.