Testimonials
Adrie van Diemen (MSc, MEd)
Admotion - Webtrainer
"I think the Excalibur sport is a fantastic tool to assess athletes performance."
During the year we test our riders on the Excalibur to determine the different training intensities which elect the specific and desired training effects.
With this top level ergometer we are sure we deliver the right power to the athletes. We have the version with the pedal force measurements and length adjustable cranks. With the continuously variable adjustable seat and handlebar position all our riders fit perfect on the ergometer.
During the testing we measure the pedal forces to analyse the left and right balance and their cycling technique with the software that comes with the ergometer.
This gives us the possibility to advise the riders how to position the non circular chainring if they use it.
Just perfect!
Publications
Dr. Yutaka Hirano
Kinki University Hospital, Osaka, Japan
"Lode ECST with Angio is indispensable, enabling observation of cardiac wall motion under stress"
With recent advances in ultrasound systems, extremely clear and precise images of cardiac wall motion under normal physiological conditions have become available to us. However, observation of left ventricular wall motion is still impossible in patients walking on a treadmill or pedaling on an ergometer.
With the use of the Lode Echo Cardiac Stress Table with Angio ergometer, left ventricular wall motion can be consistently observed before, during, and after stress testing, with the patient in the supine position and in no danger of falling.
The table can be tilted to the left, and the back support corresponding to the left side of the chest can be removed, which enables the acquisition of clearer images of the left ventricular wall, thus providing data essential for determining “correct diagnosis and treatment” and “prognosis and plan for future treatment”.
Therefore, the Lode Echo Cardiac Stress Table with Angio ergometer has become one of the most important stress testing devices for us.
Publications
Conrad Earnest, PhD
Pennington Biomedical Research Center
"We count on the reliability of our Excalibur Sport Ergometer"
In our testing labs we test a range of participants from those with various risk factors for disease as well performing nutrition and performance studies in athletes.
In order to fulfill our busy lab schedule we count on the reliability of our Excalibur Sport Ergometer and customized Valiant Treadmill that was custom built to my specifications.
The staff at Lode of been very helpful in fine tuning our treadmill to the exact specifications I required.
By using an extra wide and extra long treadmill belt that accommodates speeds ranging from 0.0 to 40 kmh in 0.1 kmh increments, uphill grades to 25% and a downhill grade of 10%, coupled with the Excalibur, I am confident that we can accommodate testing across all spectrums of research participants that visit our facilities.
Ginvtilé Rinkuniené, MD
VšI Kauno 2-oji klinikiné ligoniné, Lithuania
"We rely on Lode Corival"
It is very easy and convenient to use Lode ergometer. We perform plenty of stresstests for patients with suspected cardiovascular pathologies every day.
We rely on Lode Corival ergometer, which is very stable and performs its function at its best.
Tim Takken
Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital
".... Lode ergometers are very reliable and are a good investment for many years...."
We have a long standing positive experience with the Lode equipment. When I started working as a PhD student at the Wilhelmina Children’s Hospital 15 years age, we used a Lode Examiner ergometer. Because we were satisfied with the quality and sustainability of the Lode equipment, we obtained a pediatric Corrival to replace the old Examiner ergometer.
Currently we have several Lode ergometers in our laboratory, including the Lode Corival, pediatric Corival, Corival pediatric, Angio arm ergometer, and the Angio Echo Cardiac Stress Table including the LEM software. We are using the ergometers for both our clinical care as well as scientific research for patients in the age range of 4 to 80 years.
It is our experience that the Lode ergometers are very reliable and are a good investment for many years.
Publications
Daphne Wezenberg Ph.D.
Human Movement Sciences, VU Amsterdam
"With the Corival we could determine the exercise capacity of people with a lower limb amputation"
Measuring people with a lower limb amputation is a challenge. However, an exercise test can provide the clinician with useful information about the exercise capacity and cardiac health of the patient. We determined the feasibility and validity of a one-legged exercise test using the Lode Corival ergometer. By using an adapted protocol and the Lode ergometer a valid and safe determination of the exercise capacity of people with a lower limb amputation can be obtained. Because the ergometer can be controlled using a computer which simultaneously can measuring ECG and blood pressure, the patient can be continuously monitored and alteration in the cardiac condition can be anticipated upon.
Herman Groepenhoff , Msc
VU UMC, Amsterdam, Netherlands
"During clinical exercise testing, we rely on the bicycle ergometers of Lode"
Maximal cardio pulmonary exercise testing is a proven clinically useful test when gas exchange parameters and cardio-circulatory parameters are related to (maximal) exercise tolerance. Therefore a reliable ergometer simply connectable to a metabolic chart is of great importance. In our clinic we use a.o. the Corival (ideal for children) in the function lab and the MRI Ergometer Pedal for supine position measurements during Magnetic resonance imaging from Lode BV.
Publications
Koen Levels, PhD
TNO and VU University Amsterdam
"We would definitely recommend the Excalbur Sport and LEM software"
For the research conducted in the PhD thesis: “pacing strategies during exercise in the heat” we frequently made use of the Lode Excalibur Sport Cycle ergometer. We examined the effect of several thermal signals on pacing patterns in the heat. Pacing pattern was represented by changes in cycling power output. With the Lode Excalibur Sport we were able to determine the (changes in) power output very accurately. Moreover, analyzing the power output data was very easy with the Lode Ergometry Manager software. We never experienced problems with the ergometer or the software and would definitely recommend it to other researchers who are looking for state of the art ergometers. The ergometer is suitable for elite athletes and for patient populations because of its highly reliable recordings in the low and high power output range.
Astrid Balemans, MSc
VU University Medical Center, dpt rehab. Med.
"Children performed a maximal exercise test and a Wingate test on the Lode Corival ergometer"
Within the Learn 2 Move research project the level of physical fitness of children with cerebral palsy in the age of 7-12 years was investigated. In order to investigate the level of physical fitness the children performed a maximal exercise test and a Wingate test on the Lode Corival ergometer. The LEM software was used to perform the Wingate test. The adjustable cranks enabled adjustment of the crank length for each child. The results showed that physical fitness is decreased in children with cerebral palsy. Therefore, we have implemented these tests, with use of the Lode ergometer and LEM software, in clinical care.
Drs. Maarten Werkman
University Medical Center Utrecht
"Lode ergometers are very reliable for clinical care and research purposes."
The Godfrey protocol for maximal bicycle exercise testing and the Steep Ramp test protocol for VO2peak verification were performed on an electronically braked cycle ergometer (Lode Corival, Groningen, The Netherlands). It is our experience that the Lode ergometers are very reliable for clinical care and research purposes.
I Putu Alit Pawana, MD
Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya
"I think CMAX is one of the best tools for motion and gait analysis measurement"
Upgrading of our gait laboratory provides an extraordinary atmosphere in our lab. The old gait lab condition from complexity turns into simplicity. All measurement and analysis became user friendly.
Gait problem is our concern to help patient reach better quality of life. Gait pathology can be analyzed using CMAX. By using this software we can assess gait deviations through the ground reaction force and kinematic changes.
Analysis of the ground reaction force and kinematic will determine the appropriate prescription for the patient ; and revisions to the orthoses and prostheses will be easier with accurate measurement.
Publications
D.R. van der Woude, MSc.
Reade
"Easy to use software, nice people who share their knowledge and expertise in gaining data."
Difference in muscle activity in walking overground vs walking on a treadmill
In many private physical therapy practices and rehab centers treadmills are available for treatment and research. Due to the limited space using a treadmill for gait analysis is a big advantage . This allows clinicians to test long distances in relative small spaces without turning. It’s still unclear what the similarities and differences are in muscle activation between walking overground and treadmill walking. This makes it unclear if it’s possible to use a treadmill for gait analysis in order to analyse muscle activation patterns, especially on the level of central neurological control. Is the muscle activity and the intensity and duration of the muscle contraction during overground walking comparable with treadmill walking?
Results
After a habituation period of ten minutes there still are some small, but significant differences in muscle activity.
Twan ten Haaf, PhD
VU Amsterdam, Dpt Human Movement Sciences,
"The Lode Excalibur Sport Cycle Ergometers were ideal equipment "
Intensified training can result in short-term fatigue and subsequent supercompensation of the physiological systems. However, imbalanced (exercise-induced) stress and recovery results in (functional) overreaching, characterized by temporally decreased performance capacity and other possible symptoms such as mood disturbances. In my PhD thesis entitled ‘On the physiological and psychological differences between functional overreaching and acute fatigue’ I investigated methods and markers to distinguish between acute fatigue and functional overreaching. Since a decrease in performance is one of the main characteristics of overreaching, we used Lode Excalibur Sport Cycle Ergometers to determine longitudinal changes in cycling performance with greatest precision. The Lode Excalibur Sport Cycle Ergometers were ideal equipment to distinguish between subjects that maintained their physical performance capacity after a period of intensified training, and subjects whose performance capacity decreased.
Jean Nyakayiru, MSC
Human Biology department Maastricht University
"The Lode Excalibur Sport and LEM software are easy to use and very reliable"
I used the Lode Excalibur Sport ergometer and the LEM software during my PhD research into the ergogenic effects of dietary nitrate. The lode Excalibur allowed me to assess the effects of dietary nitrate supplementation under various conditions, including steady state cycling and during a simulated cycling time trial. I also used the Lode Excalibur Sport cycling ergometer to assess the exercise capacity of elite cyclist from the National Rwandan Cycling Team during their European Tour. The accompanying LEM software was very easy to use and provided me with real-time data, as well as the possibility to export and process the saved data following the experimental trials. Based on these experiences, I can hardly imagine performing a laboratory based cycling experiment without the use of the Lode Excalibur Sport ergometer and the LEM software.
Marika Leving MSc.
University Medical Center Groningen
"The Lode Esseda opens up new possibilities"
One of the main conclusions of my PhD thesis entitled ‘Understanding the motor learning process in handrim wheelchair propulsion’ was that there is a need for new technology to be implemented globally in order to be able to closely monitor the motor learning process of wheelchair propulsion in the context of rehabilitation and beyond. Methods used do far were very time consuming which affected the experience of the patients and made clinical implementation of the lengthy protocols difficult. Implementation of wheelchair propulsion laboratories was proposed as a possible solution to this. The available technology, specifically Lode Esseda wheelchair ergometer in combination with portable sensors, opens up new possibilities to build an efficient multi-center network of wheelchair propulsion laboratories to assist clinicians in providing individualized diagnosis, therapy and wheelchair fitting and to provide a rich source of data from standardized protocols to the research community.
Malou Fanchamps, MSc
Erasmus MC, rehabilitation medicine
"Lode products are easy to work with"
In our research we used a bicycle ergometer and a treadmill to let people perform cycling and walking activities. These activities were measured with an activity monitor. To validate the activity monitor we recorded the activities also on video and later on compared the data of the activity monitor with the video reference data. The results of the study showed that the activity monitor was able to distinguish upright activities from lying/sitting and cycling. Although the difference between lying/sitting and cycling was sometimes hard to detect, because of slow speed of cycling. In this research it was nice that the bicycle ergometer and treadmill were easy to use and no difficult programming or specific knowledge was needed to get the devices started. Students could help to do the measurements without any problems.
Title: ‘The Accuracy of the Detection of Body Postures and Movements Using a Physical Activity Monitor in People after a Stroke.’
Danny AJP van de Sande
UMC Utrecht, Department Cardiology
"The use of the Corival cpet was very pleasant"
Exercise electrocardiography in athletes; diagnostic accuracy and pathophysiological background
This thesis gives insight in the value of exercise testing used during pre-participation screening in asymptomatic athletes. Exercise testing is commonly used to detect coronary heart disease. This thesis shows that exercise testing combined with analysis of inspiratory and expiratory breath gasses increased the accuracy of exercise testing to detect any form of dysfunction of the heart. The athletes with abnormal test results were referred to the department of Cardiology for further diagnostic evaluation. The majority of these athletes didn’t show any signs of coronary heart disease. In order to explain the abnormal exercise test results, the geometry of the heart of the athletes was evaluated. Athletes with abnormal exercise test results did not shown the typical signs of the so-called athlete’s heart. However, the function of the smallest arteries (microcirculation) of athletes was attenuated. Therefore, it can be hypothesized that at least a part of the athletes with abnormal exercise test results without obstructive coronary heart disease show signs of premature coronary heart disease together with an attenuated microvascular function. These athletes could be at risk for the development of exercise-induced myocardial ischemia and subsequently for the development of a myocardial infarction and/or sudden cardiac death. Therefore, the findings of this thesis may have important clinical implications for athletes with abnormal test results without obstructive coronary heart disease, as a new potential substrate for the occurrence of sudden cardiac death in athletes is identified.
Juultje Sommers, MSc
Amsterdam UMC, location AMC
"We can now also use Lode equipment for the vulnerable hospital and intensive care patients"
Evidence shows that early rehabilitation in critically ill patients is effective, but the optimal training load is unknown. Critically ill patients are extremely vulnerable with a very low exercise capacity and a first important step towards identifying the most optimal training load, is to evaluate the acute response to exercise at different intensities. Given the very low exercise capacities of this extremely vulnerable population, the pertinent question is, whether it is possible to make a clear distinction between different relative exercise intensities, based on the physiological response.
The goal of the current study is to describe the physiological response of
critically ill patients to exercise at different, relative intensities (i.e. low and high) as
determined from maximal exercise testing. Given the very low exercise capacities of this extremely vulnerable population, the question is, whether it is possible to make a
clear distinction between different relative exercise intensities, based on the physiological response. This information is crucial for identifying the most optimal training dose.
Dr. E.M.W. (Elles) Kotte
Fitkids Foundation
"Lode Valiant Treadmill and LEM software easy to use in a research setting"
In our research, 356 healthy children between 6 and 18 years of age performed the Fitkids Treadmill Test (FTT) on the Lode Valiant Treadmill to describe age- and sex-related reference values for FTT performance. A small group of children performed to FTT twice in two weeks and another small group performed both the FTT and the Bruce protocol in two weeks in order to gain insight in the validity and the reproducibility of the FTT. It is our experience that the Lode Valiant Treadmill is very reliable and the LEM software is easy to use. The results showed that the FTT is a valid and reliable maximal exercise test in heathy children. The reference values provided can be used by physical therapists to adequately interpret FTT performance.
M. Akkerman, PhD, PT
Burn center Groningen, Martini Hospital
"We rely on the Lode Corival during clinical rehab, systematic evaluation and scientific research"
Pediatric burns generally affect exercise capacity. This is mainly due to the bodily response to burns (profound and sustained stress response, increase in resting metabolism, muscle wasting), but also due to the relatively long periods of bed rest and inactivity during hospitalization.
In order to better determine the rehabilitation needs of pediatric burn patients beyond discharge from the burn center, we aimed to gain insight in the course of exercise capacity during the initial six months after discharge.
Exercise capacity was assessed on a Lode Corival Bicycle ergometer, using the Steep Ramp Test protocol that was manually entered in the Lode Ergometry Manager software. Results showed that half of the children achieved healthy levels of exercise capacity within six months, while the other half did. The latter children were considered ‘at risk’ for diminished functioning and adverse (long-term) health outcomes, providing a call for additional rehabilitation attention.
Remarkably, burn severity did not predict the recovery of exercise capacity in our study population. Instead, preliminary results showed that early assessment of exercise capacity with the Steep Ramp Test can help to identify those who will need additional rehabilitation support beyond discharge. Therefore, the Steep Ramp Test, performed on the Lode Corival Bicycle ergometer using the LEM software, will soon be part of standard care. The three Dutch burn centers will start to systematically monitor exercise capacity in children and adolescents after discharge. Children who score low on the Steep Ramp Test six weeks after discharge will receive additional rehabilitation support.
