Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether outcomes based on stopwatch time and power output (PO) over a 15m-overground wheelchair sprint test can be used to assess wheelchair-specific anaerobic work capacity, by studying their relationship with outcomes on a Wingate-based 30s-wheelchair ergometer sprint (WAnT).
METHODS: Able-bodied persons (N=19, 10 men, aged 18-26 y) performed a 15m overground sprint test in an instrumented wheelchair and a WAnT. 15m-outcomes were based on stopwatch time (time and mean velocity over 15m) and on PO (primary outcome: highest mean unilateral PO over successive 5s-intervals (P5-15m)). WAnT-outcomes were mean unilateral PO over 30s and the highest mean unilateral PO over successive 5s-intervals. Correlation coefficients (Pearson's r) and coefficients of determination (R(2)) were calculated between 15m-sprint outcomes and WAnT-outcomes.
RESULTS: Time over 15m (7.2s (± 1.0)) was weakly related to WAnT-outcomes (r=-0.61 and -0.60, R(2)=0.38 and 0.36, p<0.01), similar to mean velocity over 15m (2.1 m·s(-1) (± 0.3), R(2)=0.43 and 0.39, p<0.01). P5-15m (38.1W (± 14.0)) showed a moderate relationship to WAnT-outcomes (r=0.77 and 0.75, R(2)=0.59 and 0.56, p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS: It seems that outcomes based on stopwatch time over a 15m-overground sprint cannot be used to assess wheelchair-specific anaerobic work capacity, in contrast to an outcome based on PO (P5-15m). The 15m-sprint with an instrumented wheel can be implemented in rehabilitation practice and research settings when WAnT equipment is not available, although care is needed when interpreting P5-15m as an outcome of anaerobic work capacity given that it seems more skill-dependent than the WAnT.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 432-438 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Medical Engineering & Physics |
Volume | 36 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Apr-2014 |
Keywords
- Anaerobic power
- Fitness
- Spinal cord injury
- Sprint power
- Wheelchair propulsion
- Wingate testing
- SPINAL-CORD-INJURY
- INPATIENT REHABILITATION
- PROPULSION TECHNIQUE
- PHYSICAL CAPACITY
- SKILL PERFORMANCE
- AFTER-DISCHARGE
- DAILY-LIFE
- ERGOMETER
- POWER
- STRAIN