Article

Objective: To elucidate the course and determinants of wheelchair exercise
capacity in spinal cord injury up to 5 years after discharge from inpatient
rehabilitation, and to describe loss to follow-up. Design: Prospective cohort
study, with measurements at the start and discharge from inpatient
rehabilitation, 1 and 5 years after discharge. Subjects: A total of 225
wheelchair-dependent persons with spinal cord injury. Methods: Random coefficient
analysis of the course and determinants of peak aerobic power output (POpeak) and
peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Results: A total of 162 participants attended 1 or
more peak exercise tests and were analysed. Significant changes were found for
both VO2peak and POpeak between start and 5 years after discharge, and discharge
and 5 years after discharge. No significant changes were found for VO2peak and
POpeak between 1 year and 5 years after discharge. Age, gender, level and
completeness of lesion were determinants for level of VO2peak and age, gender,
and level of lesion for level of POpeak. No significant determinants were found
for the course of wheelchair exercise capacity. The 63 participants who were not
analysed were older, and showed more persons with a tetraplegia. Conclusion:
Wheelchair exercise capacity of persons with spinal cord injury stabilizes at
between 1 and 5 years after discharge. The participants appear to be a positive
selection of the total study group.

Langue : ANGLAIS