Accessible exercise for wheelchair users: comparing the usability of two adapted exercise machines

Exercise is an important occupation for wheelchair users. Limited access to adapted aerobic exercise equipment in the community and lack of knowledge on how to exercise are barriers to exercise participation among wheelchair users. To address these barriers, the adapted rower (aROW) and adapted skier (aSKI) exercise machines and educational materials were created.

1) To compare wheelchair users' perspectives of the effectiveness and usability of the aROW and aSKI. 2) To explore perceptions of educational materials to support use of the machines.

A sequential, mixed-methods study design was used. Six wheelchair users trialled the machines, and completed an interview and two usability questionnaires. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic and conventional content analysis. Usability scores of both machines were compared using the Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test.

Data show high usability of the aROW and aSKI. More set up challenges were reported for the aROW than the aSKI. Participants perceived both machines provided effective cardiovascular workouts, and each met their exercise goals differently. Participants preferred the instructional videos over instructional sheets and provided suggestions for improving both. The Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test showed no statistically significant difference in usability between the aROW and aSKI.

Implementing the aROW and aSKI in the community may address some equity issues that wheelchair users face by providing more aerobic exercise options. Results will inform educational material revisions to support use of the machines.