Article

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of low-intensity wheelchair training on
wheelchair-specific fitness, wheelchair skill performance and physical activity
levels in inactive people with long-term spinal cord injury. DESIGN: Randomized
controlled trial. PARTICIPANTS: Inactive manual wheelchair users with spinal cord
injury for at least 10 years (n = 29), allocated to exercise (n = 14) or no
exercise. METHODS: The 16-week training consisted of wheelchair
treadmill-propulsion at 30-40% heart rate reserve or equi-valent in terms of rate
of perceived exertion, twice a week, for 30 min per session. Wheelchair-specific
fitness was determined as the highest 5-s power output over 15-m overground
wheelchair sprinting (P5-15m), isometric push-force, submaximal fitness and peak
aerobic work capacity. Skill was determined as performance time, ability and
strain scores over a wheelchair circuit. Activity was determined using a
questionnaire and an odometer. RESULTS: Significant training effects appeared
only in P5-15m (exercise vs control: mean +2.0 W vs -0.7 W, p = 0.017, ru=0.65).
CONCLUSION: The low-intensity wheelchair training appeared insufficient for
substantial effects in the sample of inactive people with long-term spinal cord
injury, presumably in part owing to a too-low exercise frequency. Effective yet
feasible and sustainable training, as well as other physical activity programmes
remain to be developed for inactive people with long-term spinal cord injury.

Langue : ANGLAIS