The longitudinal relation between physical capacity and wheelchair skill performance during inpatient rehabilitation of people with spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To study the longitudinal relation between physical capacity and wheelchair skill performance in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) during rehabilitation.


METHODS
Observational prospective cohort study. Measurements were taken 3 times during subjects' rehabilitation.


METHODS
Eight rehabilitation centers in the Netherlands.


METHODS
Ninety-seven subjects with SCI.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Parameters of physical capacity were upper-extremity muscle strength (manual muscle test [MMT] sum score), peak oxygen uptake, and peak power output (POpeak). The Wheelchair Circuit consists of 8 wheelchair skills and results in 3 test scores: ability, performance time, and physical strain.


RESULTS
POpeak was related to all 3 scores of the Wheelchair Circuit, and the MMT sum score was related to the ability score and the performance time score. The results indicate that (1) subjects with higher values of POpeak and/or the MMT sum score had better scores on the Wheelchair Circuit than subjects with lower values and (2) when a subject increased his/her POpeak and/or MMT sum score, this was associated with better wheelchair skill scores.


CONCLUSIONS
There is a significant longitudinal relation between wheelchair skill performance and POpeak and MMT sum score during the rehabilitation of people with SCI. To optimize wheelchair skill performance, attention should be directed toward manual wheelchair exercise training and strength training of the upper body.
Kilkens
Olga J
OJ
Institute for Rehabilitation Research, Hoensbroek, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Dallmeijer
Annet J
AJ
Nene
Anand V
AV
Post
Marcel W
MW
van der Woude
Lucas H
LH
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014910:Wheelchairs