Feasibility for developing cardiovascular exercise recommendations for persons with motor-complete paraplegia based on manual wheelchair propulsion; A protocol and preliminary data

The Journal of Spinal Cord Medicine, 2016 · DOI: 10.1179/2045772314Y.0000000292 · Published: January 1, 2016

Simple Explanation

This study aims to find out how much manual wheelchair use someone with paraplegia needs to do to get enough exercise to keep their heart healthy. Current exercise guidelines are based on able-bodied individuals. The research measures how many calories people with paraplegia burn while using a manual wheelchair. The goal is to figure out how many minutes per week they need to propel their wheelchairs to burn 1000 calories. The study found that, on average, participants burned 3.3 calories per minute while using their wheelchairs. This suggests that about 303 minutes per week of wheelchair propulsion may be needed to meet the 1000-calorie goal.

Study Duration

Not specified

Participants

Sixteen adults with motor complete T3-T12 paraplegia

Evidence Level

Cross-sectional study

Key Findings

1
Participants expended 3.3 ± 1.0 Kcal/minute during manual wheelchair propulsion.
2
1000 Kcal of energy expenditure in one week would require 303 minutes of MWP per week.
3
Level of thoracic SCI, age, or BMI did not significantly correlate with energy expenditure.

Research Summary

This study investigated the feasibility of creating exercise recommendations for individuals with motor-complete paraplegia based on manual wheelchair propulsion (MWP). It aimed to determine the duration of MWP required to expend 1000 Kcals per week, a target associated with cardiovascular health. The study found that participants with paraplegia expended approximately 3.3 Kcal/minute during MWP. This suggests that around 303 minutes per week of MWP would be necessary to expend 1000 Kcals. The authors conclude that it is feasible to develop practical exercise recommendations based on MWP for individuals with paraplegia, but larger studies are needed to establish accurate guidelines.

Practical Implications

Personalized Exercise Plans

The research suggests that manual wheelchair propulsion can be a basis for exercise recommendations for people with paraplegia.

Future Research

Larger studies are needed to confirm these preliminary findings and create more accurate exercise guidelines.

Clinical Application

Clinicians can use these findings as a starting point for discussing exercise options with patients with paraplegia, while emphasizing the need for further research.

Study Limitations

1
The study only included participants with complete SCI.
2
The sample size was relatively small.
3
The study did not account for variations in diet or exercise prior to data collection.

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