The first ride across Saudi Arabia on a hand bike
L.I.F.E. is thrilled to contribute to this inspiring project striving to empower individuals with disabilities, referred to as “people of determination”, enabling them to actively engage in a vibrant and inclusive society. This project introduces new nationwide initiatives aimed at promoting inclusion, diversity, and participation in sports.
Matteo Parsani, a professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) and an L1 incomplete paraplegic athlete, is the star in this pioneering project: the first-ever coast-to-coast hand bike journey across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
This amazing journey has 3 main goals:
- Promoting recreational or high-performance sports, physical activity, and advocating for a healthy lifestyle among individuals of all ages with or without disabilities;
- Help raise funds for the “children of determination” of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia;
- Study the effect of intense physical exercise not only on the musculoskeletal system, but also mental health, of people with limited mobility.
Starting on December 17th, Matteo will cover over 3000 km, beginning in Dammam and ending at the KAUST campus. Matteo expects to travel 30 days, covering around 150 km in 7 hours daily. Several wearable technologies developed by his KAUST colleagues will be monitoring his body for the entire journey. The aim of the data collected is to guide advancements in new rehabilitation programs, targeting people suffering from spinal cord injury or other mobility impairments.
Matteo utilized X10Y devices in his preparatory months of athletic training and will continue to do so throughout the crossing itself, adhering to a specific weekly data monitoring protocol. This includes the analysis and evaluation of cardio-respiratory and physical activity during high-intensity efforts, as well as the examination of sleep quality during nighttime rest.
The X10Y devices used by Matteo for this purpose are:
- Healer R2: During exercise with functional electrical stimulation (associated with pedalling).
- Healer R3: During hand bike use and sleep monitoring.
Our devices can record the following physiological parameters: Electrocardiographic signal (ECG) with 12 leads (Healer R3) or 6 leads (Healer R2), respiratory signals utilizing 3 channels, blood saturation (SpO2), body temperature, movement and position analysis.
The collected data will be analysed for the entire duration of Matteo’s journey by Franco Molteni‘s team at the Villa Beretta Rehabilitation Research Innovation Institute.
The L.I.F.E. team wishes Matteo good luck!
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