Physical capacity after 7 weeks of low-intensity wheelchair training.

Purpose: To simulate the effect of low-intensity exercise in early rehabilitation, we investigated the effect of a 7-week low-intensity norm duration hand rim wheelchair training on the physical capacity in untrained able-bodied individuals.

Method: Twenty-five able-bodied participants were randomly assigned to an experimental and control group: 10 participants exercised 7 weeks, three times a week at 30% heart rate reserve (HRR) for 30 min (experimental group). The control group consisted of 15 participants who did not receive training.

Is manual wheelchair satisfaction related to active lifestyle and participation in people with a spinal cord injury?

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To describe the satisfaction of the manual wheelchair user with hand rim wheelchair-related aspects (for example, dimensions, weight and comfort) and wheelchair service-related aspects and to determine the relationship between wheelchair users' satisfaction, personal and lesion characteristics, and active lifestyle and participation in persons with a spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Eight Dutch rehabilitation centers with a specialized SCI unit.

Prospective analysis of body mass index during and up to 5 years after discharge from inpatient spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of overweight/obesity and the course of the body mass index (BMI) in persons with spinal cord injury during and after inpatient rehabilitation.

Design: Multi-centre longitudinal study.

Subjects: A total of 184 persons with spinal cord injury.

Effects of 4-weeks of asynchronous hand-rim wheelchair practice on mechanical efficiency and timing.

Purpose: To investigate the consequence on gross mechanical efficiency (GE), arm frequency and sub-maximal performance, of paced and unpaced practice during asynchronous hand-rim wheelchair propulsion.

Methods: Twenty-five able-bodied participants performed five, 4-min exercise bouts at 1.7 m/s, at the freely chosen frequency (FCF) and four paced arm frequencies of 60, 80, 120 and 140% FCF.

Effects of hand cycle training on wheelchair capacity during clinical rehabilitation in persons with a spinal cord injury.

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

Method: 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.

A power balance model for handcycling.

Purpose: To demonstrate the applicability of the power balance model to elite handcycling and to obtain values for gross efficiency (GE).

Methods: Four members of the Dutch Paralympic team performed trials on a 250-m indoor track. Velocity (v) and power output (PO) were measured in conjunction with physiological measures to obtain values for GE.

Effects of camber on the ergonomics of propulsion in wheelchair athletes.

Purpose: to examine the effects of rear-wheel camber on the physiological and biomechanical responses during manual wheelchair propulsion in highly trained wheelchair athletes.

Methods: participants (N = 14) pushed on a motorized treadmill (2.2 m·s, 0.

A systematic review of wheelchair skills tests for manual wheelchair users with a spinal cord injury: towards a standardized outcome measure.

Objective: To review, analyse, evaluate and critically appraise available wheelchair skill tests in the international literature and to determine the need for a standardized measurement tool of manual wheeled mobility in those with spinal cord injury.

Data Sources: A systematic review of literature (databases PubMed, Web of Science and Cochrane Library (1970-December 2009).

Subjects: Hand rim wheelchair users, mainly those with spinal cord injury.

Occurrence and predictors of pressure ulcers during primary in-patient spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Study Design: Multicenter prospective cohort study.

Objectives: To determine the occurrence and predictors for pressure ulcers in patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) during primary in-patient rehabilitation.

Setting: Eight Dutch rehabilitation centres with specialized SCI units.

Social support and life satisfaction in spinal cord injury during and up to one year after inpatient rehabilitation.

Objective: To describe the course of social support in persons with recently acquired spinal cord injury, and to examine direct and indirect relationships between social support and life satisfaction over time.

Design: A multi-centre prospective cohort study with measurements at the start of active rehabilitation, at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation and one year after discharge.

Subjects: One hundred and ninety individuals with spinal cord injury from 8 Dutch rehabilitation centres.

Physical capacity after 7 weeks of low-intensity wheelchair training.

Purpose: To simulate the effect of low-intensity exercise in early rehabilitation, we investigated the effect of a 7-week low-intensity norm duration hand rim wheelchair training on the physical capacity in untrained able-bodied individuals.

Method: Twenty-five able-bodied participants were randomly assigned to an experimental and control group: 10 participants exercised 7 weeks, three times a week at 30% heart rate reserve (HRR) for 30  min (experimental group). The control group consisted of 15 participants who did not receive training.

A qualitative examination of wheelchair configuration for optimal mobility performance in wheelchair sports: a pilot study.

Objective: To examine wheelchair athletes' perceptions of wheelchair configuration in relation to aspects of mobility performance.

Methods: Nine elite wheelchair athletes from wheelchair basketball, wheelchair rugby and wheelchair tennis were interviewed using a semi-structured format. Interview transcripts were analysed using an Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, whereby emergent themes with common connections were identified and clustered into 3 superordinate themes: (i) performance indicators; (ii) principal areas of wheelchair configuration; and (iii) supplementary areas of wheelchair configuration.

Effect and process evaluation of implementing standardized tests to monitor patients in spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Purpose: To evaluate the implementation of standardized physical and functional tests to monitor patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) in eight rehabilitation centers and to analyze the enablers and the barriers of the implementation process.

Method: The method involved prospective effect and process evaluation. Team members responded to mailed questionnaires at the start (n = 115) and end (n = 82) of the 1-year implementation period.

Evaluation of the physical activity scale for individuals with physical disabilities in people with spinal cord injury.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To evaluate the physical activity scale for individuals with physical disabilities (PASIPD) in people with spinal cord injury (SCI).

Setting: Eight Dutch rehabilitation centers with a specialized SCI unit.

Hand-cycling: an active form of wheeled mobility, recreation, and sports.

By studying exercise and performance in hand-cycling in both activities of daily living and in Paralympic sport settings, new insights can be gained for rehabilitation practice, adapted physical activity, and sports. This review looks into the pros and cons of hand-cycling in both rehabilitation and optimal sports performance settings as suggested from the current-but still limited-scientific literature and experimentation. Despite the limited evidence-base and the diversity of study approaches and methodologies, this study suggests an important role for hand-cycling during and after rehabilitation, and in wheeled mobility recreation and sports.

Development and validation of prognostic models designed to predict wheelchair skills at discharge from spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Objective: To develop and validate a statistical model to predict wheelchair skills at discharge (t(2)) from personal and lesion characteristics and wheelchair skills at the start of spinal cord injury inpatient rehabilitation (t(1)).

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Eight Dutch rehabilitation centres.

Predicting respiratory infection one year after inpatient rehabilitation with pulmonary function measured at discharge in persons with spinal cord injury.

Objective: To determine whether pulmonary function at discharge from inpatient rehabilitation can predict respiratory infection in spinal cord injury in the first year after discharge, and to determine which pulmonary function parameter predicts best.

Design: Multicentre prospective cohort study.

Subjects: A total of 140 persons with spinal cord injury.

Recovery of life satisfaction in persons with spinal cord injury during inpatient rehabilitation.

Objective: To determine the course of life satisfaction of persons with spinal cord injury and its determinants during inpatient rehabilitation and up to 1 yr after discharge.

Design: Prospective cohort study of 222 persons with spinal cord injury. Measurements at the start of active rehabilitation, after 3 mos, at discharge, and 1 yr after discharge.

Effects of hand cycle training on physical capacity in individuals with tetraplegia: a clinical trial.

Background: Regular physical activity is important for people with tetraplegia to maintain fitness but may not always be easily integrated into daily life. In many countries, hand cycling has become a serious option for daily mobility in people with tetraplegia. However, little information exists regarding the suitability of this exercise mode for this population.

Influence of glove type on mobility performance for wheelchair rugby players.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of different glove types on mobility performance in a series of field tests specific to wheelchair rugby.

Design: Ten international wheelchair rugby players performed three drills in each glove condition: (i) players' current glove selection, (ii) American football glove, (iii) building glove, and (iv) new prototype glove. Performance was assessed by a combination of outcomes including test times, peak velocities, and accelerations within each drill.

Passive shoulder range of motion impairment in spinal cord injury during and one year after rehabilitation.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and course of pass notive shoulder range of motion in people with a spinal cord injury and the relationships between shoulder range of motion limitations and personal and lesion characteristics.

Design: Multicentre longitudinal study.

Subjects: A total of 199 subjects with spinal cord injury admitted to specialized rehabilitation centres.

Investigation of bias due to loss of participants in a Dutch multicentre prospective spinal cord injury cohort study.

Objective: To determine bias due to loss of participants (attrition bias) in a prospective cohort study.

Design: A multi-centre prospective cohort study.

Subjects: A total of 225 individuals with a spinal cord injury from 8 Dutch rehabilitation centres.

Functional independence and health-related functional status following spinal cord injury: a prospective study of the association with physical capacity.

Objective: To determine changes in functional independence following spinal cord injury and to evaluate the association between functional independence and physical capacity.

Design: Multi-centre prospective cohort study.

Subjects: Patients with spinal cord injury admitted for initial rehabilitation.

Seat height: effects on submaximal hand rim wheelchair performance during spinal cord injury rehabilitation.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of wheelchair seat height on wheeling efficiency and technique during rehabilitation in subjects with a spinal cord injury.

Design: Laboratory-based study.

Subjects: Twelve persons with spinal cord injury (age range 19-77 years, lesion level: C5/C6-L2; 7 men; 8 incomplete).