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

Authors: Lenton, John Paul¹; Van Der Woude, Lucas H. V.²; Fowler, Neil E.³; Goosey-Tolfrey1, Victoria¹

Source: Disability and Rehabilitation, Volume 32, Number 26, June 2010 , pp. 2155-2164(10)

Buy & download fulltext article:

Price: $26.16 plus tax (Refund Policy)

Abstract:

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. GE, arm frequency and measures of sub-maximal performance were determined. Participants were assigned to an unpaced (FCF, N = 9), paced (80% FCF, N = 8) or control (CON, N = 8) no practice group. The FCF and 80% FCF groups received 4-weeks (unpaced and paced, respectively) propulsion practice (three sessions·per wk, four 4 min/trials; 33-35 W) at 1.7 m/s on a wheelchair ergometer. Following practice, the pre-testing protocol was repeated.

Results. Mean GE showed a relative increase in both experimental groups (21 and 17%; FCF and 80% FCF respectively; p = 0.001) compared to no change in CON (−1.5%). The FCF arm frequency decreased in both experimental groups (p = 0.001), with larger changes evident following FCF practice.

Conclusion. Four weeks of unpaced or paced practice had a beneficial effect on GE. This improvement seems to be associated with a reduction in arm frequency.

Keywords: Able-bodied; wheelchair ergometry; arm frequency; gross efficiency; skill acquisition

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2010.509462

Affiliations: 1: 1Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, School of Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK 2: 2Center for Human Movement Sciences, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands 3: 3Exercise & Sport Science, Mancehster Metropolitan University, Alsager, UK

Publication date: 2010-06-01

More about this publication?

Information for Authors
Subscribe to this Title
Terms & Conditions
ingentaconnect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

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

Buy & download fulltext article:

Tools

Key

Text size:

Useful pages