Submaximal physical strain and peak performance in handcycling versus handrim wheelchair propulsion.
METHODS
Experimental study in subjects with paraplegia and nondisabled subjects.


OBJECTIVE
To compare submaximal physical strain and peak performance in handcycling and handrim wheelchair propulsion in wheelchair-dependent and nondisabled control subjects


METHODS
Amsterdam, The Netherlands.


METHODS
Nine male subjects with paraplegia and 10 nondisabled male subjects performed two exercise tests on a motor-driven treadmill using a handrim wheelchair and attach-unit handcycle system. The exercise protocol consisted of two 4-min submaximal exercise bouts at 25 and 35 W, followed by 1-min exercise bouts with increasing power output until exhaustion.


RESULTS
Analysis of variance for repeated measures showed a significantly lower oxygen uptake (VO2), ventilation (Ve), heart rate (HR), rate of perceived exertion and a higher gross efficiency for handcycling at 35 W in both subject groups, while no significant differences were found at 25 W. Peak power output and peak VO2, Ve and HR were significantly higher during handcycling in both groups. The differences between handcycling and wheelchair propulsion were the same in subjects with paraplegia and the nondisabled subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
Handcycling induces significantly less strain at a moderate submaximal level of 35 W, and shows noticeably higher maximal exercise responses than wheelchair propulsion, which is consistent in subjects with paraplegia and nondisabled controls. These results demonstrate that handcycling is beneficial for mobility in daily life of wheelchair users.
Dallmeijer
A J
AJ
Institute for Fundamental and Clinical Human Movement Sciences, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Zentgraaff
I D B
ID
Zijp
N I
NI
van der Woude
L H V
LH
D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D012016:Reference Values; D012119:Respiration; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000592:standards*