title: Influence of varied tempo music on wheelchair mechanical efficiency following 3-week practice.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyse adaptations in propulsion technique and gross efficiency in novice able-bodied subjects during the initial phase of learning hand-rim wheelchair propulsion to music. 22 able bodied participants performed wheelchair propulsion (1.1 m·s(-1)) followed by a VO(2) peak test on a wheelchair ergometer. Push frequency, gross efficiency (GE), heart rate, rating of perceived exertion and propulsion technique variables (force application and temporal characteristics) were recorded. Participants were then assigned to a 3-wk practice period listening to i) 125 beats·min(-1) tempo music (LOW); ii) 170 beats·min(-1) tempo music (HIGH); or iii) a control group (CON). Following practice, all participants repeated the pre-testing protocol whilst force application data was collected in practice trials 1 and 9. After accounting for the pre-practice differences in GE (using ANCOVA), GE was higher in LOW compared with CON (P=0.038; 6.6 vs. 6.1% respectively). The differences between CON vs. HIGH and LOW vs. HIGH (P=0.830; P=0.188) were trivial suggesting that only LOW experienced an increase in GE. Practice had a favourable effect on the perceptions of effort, work per cycle, push and cycle time in contrast to the CON group. The use of music in a rehabilitation setting warrants further investigation.
authors.affiliation: The Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, Loughborough University, England, United Kingdom. v.l.tolfrey@lboro.ac.uk
authors.forename: V L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Goosey-Tolfrey
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lenton
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tolfrey
mesh_terms: D051341:Dependent Ambulation / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion; D010809:Physical Fitness; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D012046:Rehabilitation; D014910:Wheelchairs; D055815:Young Adult