CONSTRUCTIVE ARRANGEMENT INTRODUCED IN PORTABLE ERGOMETER WITH PERFORMANCE RECORDER AND SOFTWARE

(EN) The portable ergometric step with lateral bars and software coupled to the pedometer (hardware) is a portable device comprising a base made of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA) which is at most 80 cm wide, 30 cm deep and 30 cm high, with holes in the upper part, in which two lateral bars are fitted to support the user. The step can have three other alternative heights, 15, 20, 25 and 30 cm, by using EVA plates of different colours, with a chamfered front portion to reduce the risk of tripping the user, the plates being fitted to the base by means of a system of "key-and-lock", in order to reduce the risk of the plates slipping during the exercise. These plates can be placed one by one, depending on the applied exercise protocol, and according to the step heights most commonly described in the literature. A number of strain gauges identifies the load of the weight of each lower limb separately and is coupled to the top part of the step. Four wheels are provided on one of the side faces of the base of the step to ensure portability. In this situation, the handles of the lateral support are removed and attached to the front and rear faces of the base, making transport easier. A LED screen is arranged in the top face of the step, opposite the base, and records the patient's performance evaluated by two presence sensors that are attached to the upper part of the base and identify the number of times the user steps on the step. The system comprises a light and sound trigger to identify the beginning of the test, and the evaluator has the option of entering the type of stepper protocol that will be used (self-timed or externally timed). In addition, the sensors identify the total duration of the test, the step up and step down times (ms), the total time/cycle, the number of step ups and step downs per minute. This information is recorded in hardware and transferred to a computer over an USB input/output. The data are analysed by specific software created for that purpose and capable of including evaluator and user data and generating a performance report containing, besides the data obtained by the integrated presence sensors and weight load sensors for each lower limb, other patient variables which can be obtained by calculation carried out by the software, such as: 1) VO2max (ml.min-1. kg-1) = Whor + Wvert; Whor = 0.35 x steps min-1, Wvert = a*steps min-1*step height (m).