EXERCISE PROGRAM FOR WHEELCHAIR ACTIVITY

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 60  (2) , 67-75
Abstract
Poor physical fitness of wheelchair-dependent individuals may result in excessive cardiorespiratory responses during locomotion. An interval training program (ITP) incorporating wheelchair ergometer (WERG) exercise was developed and implemented to improve fitness for wheelchair activity. Of 13 able-bodied female volunteers, 7 were selected to participate in a 5 wk ITP, while the remainder served as sedentary controls. The exercise training (ET) group and the sedentary control (SC) group completed a standardized fitness test on the WERG before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the 5 wk period. Following the ITP submaximal heart rate, pulmonary ventilation and O2 uptake responses of the ET group were generally significantly lower during the post-test. These improvements in WERG exercise performance were not observed in the SC group. The ITP may have contributed to adaptations of upper body muscles, improved cardiorespiratory function, and/or a higher level of skill for wheelchair propulsion. Applying the concepts of interval training to wheelchair exericse may substantially improve the performance and fitness characteristics of wheelchair users. This could reduce the relative stresses of wheelchair locomotion and lead to a higher level of rehabilitation.

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