Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the course of mechanical efficiency of handrim wheelchair propulsion during rehabilitation of subjects with (in)complete paraplegia and tetraplegia.
DESIGN: Subjects were tested at the start of active rehabilitation (t1), 3 months later (t2), and when discharged from inpatient rehabilitation (t3). They performed two 3-minute submaximal treadmill exercise blocks in a wheelchair.
SETTING: Eight rehabilitation centers in the Netherlands.
PARTICIPANTS: Ninety-two people with (in)complete paraplegia and tetraplegia.
INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Mechanical efficiency values were calculated for each block. The course of mechanical efficiency was investigated using test occasions (t1 -t3), completeness and level (paraplegia or tetraplegia) of the lesion, and power output as independent variables in a multilevel regression analysis.
RESULTS: Mechanical efficiency significantly increased between t1 and t2 only. After adding level and completeness of the lesion and their interactions with time to the model, block 2 showed that subjects with paraplegia had a significantly higher mechanical efficiency than subjects with tetraplegia. Subjects with tetraplegia improved more between t1 and t2 . Differences in mechanical efficiency between subjects with paraplegia and tetraplegia could not be explained by differences in absolute and relative power output levels.
CONCLUSIONS: Results showed a significant improvement in mechanical efficiency during the first 3 months of active rehabilitation. Subjects with paraplegia showed a higher mechanical efficiency than did subjects with tetraplegia, whereas the latter showed more improvement between t1 and t2 .
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1452-1460 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation |
Volume | 86 |
Issue number | 7 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Jul-2005 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Acceleration
- Adaptation, Physiological
- Adult
- Energy Metabolism
- Exercise Test
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Paraplegia
- Physical Fitness
- Prospective Studies
- Quadriplegia
- Spinal Cord Injuries
- Wheelchairs