title: Arm cranking versus wheelchair propulsion for testing aerobic fitness in children with spina bifida who are wheelchair dependent.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the best test performance and feasibility using a Graded Arm Cranking Test vs a Graded Wheelchair Propulsion Test in young people with spina bifida who use a wheelchair, and to determine the reliability of the best test.
  
  
  METHODS
  Validity and reliability study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Young people with spina bifida who use a wheelchair.
  
  
  METHODS
  Physiological responses were measured during a Graded Arm Cranking Test and a Graded Wheelchair Propulsion Test using a heart rate monitor and calibrated mobile gas analysis system (Cortex Metamax). For validity, peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and peak heart rate (HRpeak) were compared using paired t-tests. For reliability, the intra-class correlation coefficients, standard error of measurement, and standard detectable change were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VO2peak and HRpeak were higher during wheelchair propulsion compared with arm cranking (23.1 vs 19.5 ml/kg/min, p = 0.11; 165 vs 150 beats/min, p < 0.05). Reliability of wheelchair propulsion showed high intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs) for both VO2peak (ICC = 0.93) and HRpeak (ICC = 0.90).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This pilot study shows higher HRpeak and a tendency to higher VO2peak in young people with spina bifida who are using a wheelchair when tested during wheelchair propulsion compared with arm cranking. Wheelchair propulsion showed good reliability. We recommend performing a wheelchair propulsion test for aerobic fitness testing in this population.
authors.affiliation: HU University of Applied Sciences Utrecht, Bolognalaan 101, NL-3584 CJ Utrecht, The Netherlands. manon.bloemen@hu.nl.
authors.forename: Manon A T
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Bloemen
authors.forename: Janke F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: de Groot
authors.forename: Frank J G
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Backx
authors.forename: Rosalyne A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Westerveld
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Takken
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D014910:Wheelchairs