Effects of hand cycle training on wheelchair capacity during clinical rehabilitation in persons with a spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of a structured hand cycle training programme on physical capacity in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI) during clinical rehabilitation.


METHODS
Twenty subjects with SCI who followed hand cycle training were compared with matched control subjects from a Dutch longitudinal cohort study, who received usual care. Primary outcomes of physical capacity were peak power output (PO(peak)), peak oxygen uptake (VO₂(peak)) and oxygen pulse during a hand rim wheelchair test. Secondary outcome measures were isometric peak muscle strength of the upper extremities and pulmonary function. Hand cycle capacity (PO(peak) and VO₂(peak)) was evaluated in the training group only.


RESULTS
Strong tendencies for improvement were found in wheelchair capacity, reflected by PO(peak) and oxygen pulse after additional hand cycle training. Significant effects on shoulder exo- and endo-rotation and unilateral elbow flexion strength were found but no improvements on pulmonary function.


CONCLUSIONS
Additional hand cycle training during clinical rehabilitation seems to show similar or slightly favourable results on wheelchair capacity and muscle strength compared with regular care. The heterogeneous subject group and large variation in training period may explain the limited effects of additional hand cycle training on wheelchair capacity.
Valent
Linda
L
Rehabilitation Centre, R&D, Relweg 51, Wijk Aan Zee, 1949 EC, Netherlands. l.valent@heliomare.nl
Dallmeijer
Annet
A
Houdijk
Han
H
Slootman
Hans J
HJ
Janssen
T W
TW
Van Der Woude
Lucas H V
LH
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D009426:Netherlands; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D014910:Wheelchairs