Selecting The Resistance Mode; Constant Resistance Control (Aerobic Exercise); Isokinetic Speed Control (Strength Exercise) - biodex 950-214 Installation & Operation Manual

7. SELECTING THE RESISTANCE MODE

(Clinical Pro Only)
The BioStep Clinical Pro provides two modes of operation: Constant Resistance Control and
Isokinetic Speed Control. Either mode is selected using the <Select Exercise> key. The BioStep
Clinical Pro defaults to Constant Resistance Control. Pressing the <Select Exercise> key will let
you toggle between the two choices. A LED illuminates next to the current selection. The
Constant Resistance Level or Isokinetic Speed selected are displayed in the exercise window at
the bottom of the display. Resistance level and WATTs are also displayed in the resistance level
display bar.
NOTE: Although the resistance level display bar shows up to 300 WATTs, the LED display will show up
to 600 WATTs.
NOTE: Work rates of 30 to 600 WATTs can be achieved without using the AC adapter when above 30
WATTs and 50 RPM. Using the AC adapter will allow users to achieve work rates as low as 50 WATTs at
25 RPM.

CONSTANT RESISTANCE CONTROL (AEROBIC EXERCISE)

• Excellent for heart rate and pulmonary rehab
• Popular for general aerobic conditioning
Constant Resistance Control is ideal for cardiovascular and general aerobic exercise. In this
mode, subjects can pedal as fast or as slow as they wish. Using Constant Resistance Control, no
matter how fast or slow the subject exercises the resistance stays the same.
When Constant Resistance Control is selected, resistance level is displayed in the Resistance
Level Display Window and Resistance Level Display Bar. A selection of 30 resistance levels pro-
vides a wide range of work-rate choices. Weak, de-conditioned, or post-operative patients, for
example, can exercise at work rates as low as 10 WATTs. Stronger subjects ranging up to highly
conditioned athletes can demand as much as 600 WATTs.

ISOKINETIC SPEED CONTROL (STRENGTH EXERCISE)

• Speed is always constant and resistance is accommodating
• Pedal hard, work rate increases. Pedal easy, work rate decreases
• Excellent for strengthening and building endurance
• Popular for sport training and physical rehabilitation
Isokinetic Speed Control provides accommodating resistance throughout the subject's entire
stepping range of motion for the duration of the exercise period. Resistance continuously match-
es resistance, accommodating to variations in the subject's force output due to weakness or pain
at specific points in the range of motion, and to fatigue over the course of the cycling period.
With a selection of speeds ranging from 50 to 120 deg/sec, Isokinetic Speed Control can be used
to maximize strength gains while minimizing the potential for injury. The default Isokinetic
speed setting is 60 RPM.
As subjects exercise with Isokinetic Speed Control, they will quickly notice that you can go only
so fast. Once the selected speed is reached, increasing resistance results in increased stepping
resistance - try as they might, subjects can't exercise any faster. On the other hand, if resistance
is lessened, the exercise resistance will decrease. This reflects the basic premise of Isokinetic
exercise: fixed speed with totally accommodating, variable resistance.
— 13 — SELECTING THE RESISTANCE MODE