Article

An adequate wheelchair propulsion capacity is required to perform
daily life activities. Exercise training may be effective to gain or improve
wheelchair propulsion capacity. This review investigates whether different types
of exercise training programs are effective in improving wheelchair propulsion
capacity. DATA SOURCES: PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched from their
respective inceptions in October 2013. REVIEW METHODS: Exercise training studies
with at least one outcome measure regarding wheelchair propulsion capacity were
included. In this study wheelchair propulsion capacity includes four parameters
to reflect functional wheelchair propulsion: cardio-respiratory fitness (aerobic
capacity), anaerobic capacity, muscular fitness and mechanical efficiency.
Articles were not selected on diagnosis, training type or mode. Studies were
divided into four training types: interval, endurance, strength, and mixed
training. Methodological quality was rated with the PEDro scale, and the level of
evidence was determined. RESULTS: The 21 included studies represented 249
individuals with spinal-cord injury (50%), various diagnoses like spina bifida
(4%), cerebral palsy (2%), traumatic injury, (3%) and able-bodied participants
(38%). All interval training studies found a significant improvement of 18-64% in
wheelchair propulsion capacity. Three out of five endurance training studies
reported significant effectiveness. Methodological quality was generally poor and
there were only two randomised controlled trials. CONCLUSION: Exercise training
programs seem to be effective in improving wheelchair propulsion capacity.
However, there is remarkably little research, particularly for individuals who do
not have spinal-cord injury.
CI - (c) The Author(s) 2014.

Langue : ANGLAIS