Effect of Manual Wheelchair Propulsion Workload on Speed, Energy Expenditure, and Propulsion Mechanics

The first purpose of this study is to characterize the relationship among propulsion workload, self-selected propulsion speed, and propulsion kinetics/kinematics.

The second purpose is to assess the between days repeatability/reliability of the above outcomes.

There are no hypothesis

This is a repeated measures clinical trial. All participants will complete the following: 1) Acclimation to propelling a manual wheelchair on a wheelchair ergometer; 2) Graded exercise test on the wheelchair ergometer to 80% of age adjusted estimated maximal heart rate; and 3) N=20 one minute propulsion bouts on the wheelchair ergometer.

Participants will complete two visits in a 14 day period. Visit 1 will require 3-4 hours. Visit 2 will require 2-3 hours.

During visit 1 participant will complete: 1) Acclimation to propelling a manual wheelchair on a wheelchair ergometer; 2) Graded exercise test on the wheelchair ergometer to 80% of age adjusted estimated maximal heart rate; and 3) N=20 one minute propulsion bouts on the wheelchair ergometer.

During visit 2 participants will repeat the N=20 one minute propulsion bouts on the wheelchair ergometer.

Wheelchair ergometer propulsion acclimation: Participants will complete a minimum of 2 minutes of wheelchair propulsion to acclimate. Additional propulsion time will be completed as needed. Propulsion workload will be varied during the acclimation. Acclimation propulsion may be repeated as needed during study participation.

Submaximal wheelchair ergometer test protocol: Participants will rest quietly in the wheelchair for several minutes. After resting, participants will begin propelling at a comfortable speed at a low initial workload. Workload will be increased every minute. Propulsion speed will remain constant across all workloads. Test will end when participants reach 80% of age adjusted estimated maximum heart rate.

Wheelchair propulsion workload assessment: Participants will complete 20 one-minute propulsion bouts at a self-selected speed. Each one minute propulsion bout will be followed by a 2 minute rest period. Each propulsion bout will be at a different workload. After the first 10 propulsion bouts, participants will be provided with an extended rest period (5 to 30 minutes). For each participant, the maximum workload to be tested is based on their estimated maximum workload. Estimate maximum workload is based on the Heart Rate-Workload relationship documented during the submaximal test.

The workloads of the N=20 propulsion bouts will be divided into two groups of N=10 (Group A and Group B). The total workload of each group will be equal. Within each group, workload sequence is fixed and arranged in a non-ascending or descending order. Completion order of the groups will be counterbalanced within sex. Within participants, completion order will be counterbalanced across days

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* age 18 years or older
* cleared to participate in physical activity as determined by the Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire for Everyone (PAR-Q+)
* self-reported ability to propel a manual wheelchair
* not currently disabled

Exclusion Criteria:

* no additional exclusion criteria if otherwise eligible to participate