Approximately two million people worldwide live with a SCI. 11,000 new injuries are reported every year in the United States. As mentioned earlier, the documented physical benefits as a result of regular exercise for the SCI population are an improvement in functional capacities, an increased efficiency in performing activities of daily living and a decrease in related hospitalizations. Due to the patients consciousness of these physical benefits, there are increasing demands on devices that can provide the cardiovascular workout needed.

      Currently, there are some biomedical companies offer wheelchair treadmills as training and rehabilitation device for both cardiovascular and muscular conditioning workout. Costs of the device range from USD 500 to USD 3000. However, most of these companies are located outside of United States. An extra international shipping cost would be added when ordered. Besides, some insurance companies might have policies that only co-pay for the equipment bought in the United States.

      Thus, the commercialization capability of a device that could provide the cardiovascular workout yet has a lower price than what we have in the market is promising. The target buyers of this wheelchair treadmill are the rehabilitation centers, hospitals, gyms, fitness centers and the wheelchair users for home use.