Improvement in wheelchair propulsion in pediatric wheelchair users through resistance training: a pilot study

Six children, three with cerebral palsy and three with myelomeningocele, participated in a progressive, 8-week, circuit muscular strength training program. The program was designed to improve wheelchair propulsion, an important functional outcome. Subjects performed three sets of six-repetition maximum (6-RM) upper body strength exercises, three times a week. Exercises included shoulder flexion, extension, abduction, internal and external rotation, elbow flexion, extension, and shoulder flexion/elbow extension (bench press). Subjects exercised quickly with little rest between each set for approximately 30 minutes per session. All children used wheelchairs extensively and participated in a 50-m, and a 12-minute wheelchair propulsion test before and after the 8-week program. The sign test was used to determine if statistically significant (P < or = .05) wheelchair propulsion or 6-RM changes occurred over the training period. Subjects improved significantly (P < or = .031) in all muscular strength (6-RM) measures and the 12-minute distance test. There was a trend toward improvement in the 50-meter test, although this change was not significant (P < or = .05). The results indicate that progressive resistance exercise training seems to improve muscular strength and wheelchair performance in selected disabled children.