Effects of 4-weeks of asynchronous hand-rim wheelchair practice on mechanical efficiency and timing

John Paul Lenton*, Lucas H. V. Van Der Woude, Neil E. Fowler, Victoria Goosey-Tolfrey

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

8 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Purpose. To investigate the consequence on gross mechanical efficiency (GE), arm frequency and sub-maximal performance, of paced and unpaced practice during asynchronous hand-rim wheelchair propulsion.

Methods. Twenty-five able-bodied participants performed five, 4-min exercise bouts at 1.7 m/s, at the freely chosen frequency (FCF) and four paced arm frequencies of 60, 80, 120 and 140% FCF. GE, arm frequency and measures of sub-maximal performance were determined. Participants were assigned to an unpaced (FCF, N = 9), paced (80% FCF, N = 8) or control (CON, N = 8) no practice group. The FCF and 80% FCF groups received 4-weeks (unpaced and paced, respectively) propulsion practice (three sessions center dot per wk, four 4 min/trials; 33-35 W) at 1.7 m/s on a wheelchair ergometer. Following practice, the pre-testing protocol was repeated.

Results. Mean GE showed a relative increase in both experimental groups (21 and 17%; FCF and 80% FCF respectively; p = 0.001) compared to no change in CON (-1.5%). The FCF arm frequency decreased in both experimental groups (p = 0.001), with larger changes evident following FCF practice.

Conclusion. Four weeks of unpaced or paced practice had a beneficial effect on GE. This improvement seems to be associated with a reduction in arm frequency.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)2155-2163
Number of pages9
JournalDisability and Rehabilitation
Volume32
Issue number26
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2010

Keywords

  • Able-bodied
  • wheelchair ergometry
  • arm frequency
  • gross efficiency
  • skill acquisition
  • SPINAL-CORD-INJURY
  • PROPULSION TECHNIQUE
  • INPATIENT REHABILITATION
  • PUSHRIM BIOMECHANICS
  • PERCEIVED EXERTION
  • PHYSICAL CAPACITY
  • INITIAL PHASE
  • PERFORMANCE
  • FREQUENCY
  • STRATEGY

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