Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 15, 2026
Determining and Controlling External Power Output During Regular Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion
Published on: February 5, 2020
Mechanical efficiency and wheelchair performance during and after spinal cord injury rehabilitation
S de Groot1, A J Dallmeijer, F W A van Asbeck
1DNO, Rehabilitation Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands. s.de.groot@fbw.vu.nl
Abstract:
The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether mechanical efficiency (ME) relates to wheelchair propulsion capacity and wheelchair performance tasks during and after rehabilitation of people with a spinal cord injury (SCI). Eighty participants with a SCI were tested during rehabilitation (3 x) and 1 year after discharge. Two 3-minute submaximal exercise blocks, a maximal wheelchair exercise test, and four wheelchair performance tasks were performed. ME, peak power output (PO (peak)), the sum of the performance times of a 15-m sprint and figure-of-eight, and the heart rate reserve (%HRR) during 10 s of wheelchair propulsion on a 3 % and 6 % slope were calculated. The relationship between ME and PO (peak), %HRR and performance time was tested with a multilevel regression analysis. ME showed a significant relationship with PO (peak) (p
