Article

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 (VO(peak)) and oxygen pulse during a
hand rim wheelchair test. Secondary outcome measures were isometric peak muscle
strength of the upper extremities and pulmonary function. Hand cycle capacity
(PO(peak) and VO(peak)) was evaluated in the training group only. RESULTS: Strong
tendencies for improvement were found in wheelchair capacity, reflected by
PO(peak) and oxygen pulse after additional hand cycle training. Significant
effects on shoulder exo- and endo-rotation and unilateral elbow flexion strength
were found but no improvements on pulmonary function. CONCLUSIONS: Additional
hand cycle training during clinical rehabilitation seems to show similar or
slightly favourable results on wheelchair capacity and muscle strength compared
with regular care. The heterogeneous subject group and large variation in
training period may explain the limited effects of additional hand cycle training
on wheelchair capacity.

Langue : ANGLAIS