Associations between meeting exercise guidelines and mental health and life satisfaction in individuals with spinal cord injury: a longitudinal handcycle training study.

Purpose: To examine: (1) the proportion of individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) meeting three exercise guidelines over one year following a five-month handcycle training period; (2) whether meeting these guidelines is associated with life satisfaction (LS) and mental health (MH); and (3) which components of exercise (moderate/vigorous aerobic or strength) are longitudinally associated with LS and MH.

Materials And Methods: Participants ( = 80) with SCI or spina bifida completed assessments at baseline (T1), post-training (T2), and four months (T3) and one year (T4) later. Measures included the Physical Activity Scale for Individuals with Physical Disabilities and LS and MH questionnaires.

Is handcycling performance affected by hand function impairment? A cross-sectional study on paracycling classification.

Purpose: Athletes with hand function impairment are eligible to compete in handcycling using assistive technology designed to compensate for their reduced grip strength. However, there is no evidence suggesting that these athletes perform similarly to their peers without such impairments. This study examined the impact of three simulated hand function impairments on handcycling performance in non-disabled novices.

Development of a Standardized Protocol to Measure the (An)aerobic Capacity on a Roller Ergometer Among Wheelchair Athletes.

To evaluate and update about previous regression equations to derive standardized and individualized resistance settings for wheelchair-specific anaerobic and aerobic capacity tests in wheelchair athletes. An isometric strength test, a sprint test, a Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT), and an aerobic graded exercise test (GXT) were performed by 43 wheelchair athletes on a computerized roller ergometer. Using previously developed regression equations, measured strength predicted anaerobic power and determined the individual's WAnT resistance.

Combined Strength of Standardized Lab Sprint Testing and Wheelchair Mobility Field Testing in Wheelchair Tennis Players.

Objective: This cross-sectional study examined associations between wheelchair sprint and anaerobic power (measured in the lab) and wheelchair mobility performance (measured in the field) among two groups of wheelchair tennis players. Additionally, construct validity was assessed for both lab and field tests.

Design: Nine amateur and nine elite wheelchair tennis players performed a Sprint and Wingate test on a wheelchair ergometer in the lab and a Sprint, Illinois, and Spider test in the field, with inertial measurement units on their wheelchairs.

Long-term trajectories of physical activity behavior in adults with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases following rehabilitation: the prospective cohort study ReSpAct 2.0.

Purpose: This study aimed to identify trajectories of physical activity behavior from discharge up to 6-8 years after rehabilitation among adults with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases, and to determine modifiable determinants associated with trajectory membership.

Material And Methods: 390 Adults with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases participated in the Rehabilitation, Sports and Active lifestyle (ReSpAct) 2.0 study with measurements at 3-6 weeks before discharge (T0), and 14 (T1), 33 (T2), and 52 weeks (T3), and 6-8 years (T4) after discharge from rehabilitation.

Correction: Different cadences and resistances in sub-maximal synchronous handcycling in able-bodied men: Effects on efficiency and force application.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.

The Effect of a Newly Developed Hand Rim on Mobility Performance and Propulsion Technique in Wheelchair Tennis Players.

Purpose: To investigate the effect of a newly developed hand rim in wheelchair tennis players from a lab and field perspective.

Methods: Nine wheelchair tennis players performed a set of field and lab tests with the new rim (NR) and regular rim on the racket side. Each player had a 60- to 120-minute regular training session with the NR.

Implementing Individually Tailored Prescription of Physical Activity in Routine Clinical Care: A Process Evaluation of the Physicians Implement Exercise = Medicine Project.

Background: Although the prescription of physical activity in clinical care has been advocated worldwide, in the Netherlands, "Exercise is Medicine" (E = M) is not yet routinely implemented in clinical care.

Methods: A set of implementation strategies was pilot implemented to test its feasibility for use in routine care by clinicians in 2 departments of a university medical center. An extensive learning process evaluation was performed, using structured mixed methods methodology, in accordance with the Reach, Effect, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance framework.

Physical Activity Levels, Correlates, and All-Cause Mortality Risk in People Living With Different Health Conditions.

Background: To better understand physical activity behavior and its health benefits in people living with health conditions, we studied people with and without 20 different self-reported health conditions with regard to (1) their physical activity levels, (2) factors correlated with these physical activity levels, and (3) the association between physical activity and all-cause mortality.

Methods: We used a subsample (n = 88,659) of the Lifelines cohort study from the Netherlands. For people living with and without 20 different self-reported health conditions, we studied the aforementioned factors in relation to physical activity.

Feasibility of preoperative and postoperative physical rehabilitation for cardiac surgery patients - a longitudinal cohort study.

Background: This study aimed to determine the feasibility of a preoperative and postoperative (in- and outpatient) physical rehabilitation program, the Heart-ROCQ-pilot program.

Methods: This cohort study included patients undergoing cardiac surgery (including coronary artery bypass graft surgery, valve surgery, aortic surgery, or combinations of these surgeries) and participated in the Heart-ROCQ-pilot program. Feasibility involved compliance and characteristics of bicycle and strength training sessions in the three rehabilitation phases.

Measurement properties of device-based physical activity instruments in ambulatory adults with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases: a scoping review.

Background: People with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases tend to have an inactive lifestyle. Monitoring physical activity levels is important to provide insight on how much and what types of activities people with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases engage in. This information can be used as input for interventions to promote a physically active lifestyle.

Fatigue in children and adolescents after burns: evaluating the problem using longitudinal data.

Purpose: Describe prevalence and severity of fatigue in children and adolescents with burns during six months after hospital discharge, identify potential explanatory variables, and examine the relationship with exercise capacity.

Materials And Methods: Fatigue was assessed using the Pediatric-Quality-of-Life-Inventory-Multidimensional-Fatigue-Scale (PedsQL-MFS) at discharge, and six weeks, three-, and six months after discharge. PedsQL-MFS scores ≥1 SD below the age-group specific non-burned reference mean were considered to signify fatigue.

The impact of lower-limb function on upper-limb pull and push strength in elite handcycling athletes.

This study investigated the impact of performing a closed kinetic chain with the lower limbs on isometric upper-limb pull and push strength. Sixty-two elite handcyclists were assessed with the Manual Muscle Test and allocated to groups with partial to normal (LLF) or no lower-limb (no-LLF) function. Both groups performed upper-limb strength measurements under two kinetic-chain conditions.

Changes in body satisfaction during and after a 5-month handcycle training period and associations with physical capacity and body composition in individuals with a physical impairment.

Purpose: To investigate: (1) changes in body satisfaction during five months of handcycle training and one year after the training period; (2) whether longitudinal changes are dependent on sex, waist circumference and severity of the physical impairment; (3) associations between changes in physical capacity or body composition, and body satisfaction.

Materials And Methods: Individuals ( = 143) with health conditions such as spinal cord injury filled out the Adult Body Satisfaction Questionnaire: at the start of the training (T1), directly after the training period (T2); and four months (T3) and one year after the training period (T4). At T1 and T2, physical capacity was determined with an upper-body graded exercise test, and waist circumference was measured.

Development of a Portable Low-Cost System for the Metrological Verification of Wheelchair Roller Ergometers.

Wheelchair ergometers are widely used in research, clinical practice, and sports environments. The majority of wheelchair ergometers are roller systems that allow for wheelchair propulsion in the personal wheelchair on one or two (instrumented) rollers. Oftentimes these systems are only statically calibrated.

Force-velocity profiling of elite wheelchair rugby players by manipulating rolling resistance over multiple wheelchair sprints.

This study investigated the effect of increased rolling resistance on wheelchair sprint performance and the concomitant force-velocity characteristics. Thirteen wheelchair rugby (WCR) athletes completed five 15 s wheelchair sprints in their own rugby wheelchair on an instrumented dual-roller wheelchair ergometer. The first sprint was performed against a close to overground resistance and in each of the following sprints, the resistance increased with 80% of that resistance.

Handrim Wheelchair Propulsion Technique in Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury With and Without Shoulder Pain: A Cross-sectional Comparison.

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare handrim wheelchair propulsion technique between individuals with spinal cord injury with and without shoulder pain.

Design: A cross-sectional study including 38 experienced handrim wheelchair users with spinal cord injury was conducted. Participants were divided into the "shoulder pain" ( n = 15) and "no-shoulder pain" ( n = 23) groups using the Local Musculoskeletal Discomfort scale.

Psychosocial factors of physical activity among people with disabilities: Prospective cohort study.

Purpose/objective: This study aimed to (a) explore the associations between psychosocial factors and physical activity behavior in people with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases, both between and within persons over time; and (b) examine whether these associations differ for people initiating and people maintaining physical activity behavior.

Research Method/design: Data of 1,256 adults with physical disabilities and/or chronic diseases enrolled in the prospective cohort study Rehabilitation, Sports, and Active lifestyle (ReSpAct) were analyzed. Self-reported physical activity and four main psychosocial factors (i.

Muscle strength trajectories and their association with postoperative health-related quality of life in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting surgery: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Patients with sarcopenia have a higher risk of poor recovery after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Little is known about the impact of changes in muscle strength (the primary indicator for sarcopenia) on health-related quality of life (HR-QoL). This study aimed to (1) identify subgroups with different muscle strength trajectories, (2) identify differences in preoperative risk factors among trajectory group membership, and (3) explore their prognostic value on postoperative HR-QoL in patients undergoing CABG.

A Scoping Review on Shoulder Injuries of Wheelchair Tennis Players: Potential Risk-Factors and Musculoskeletal Adaptations.

Wheelchair tennis players are prone to develop shoulder injuries, due to the combination of wheelchair propulsion, overhead activities and daily wheelchair activities. A methodical literature search was conducted to identify articles on shoulder complaints in wheelchair tennis, wheelchair sports and tennis. The aims were to identify (1) type of shoulder complaints; (2) possible risk factors for the development of shoulder injuries; (3) musculoskeletal adaptations in the shoulder joint in wheelchair tennis players.

Evaluation of a standardized test protocol to measure wheelchair-specific anaerobic and aerobic exercise capacity in healthy novices on an instrumented roller ergometer.

This study aims to evaluate whether a test protocol with standardized and individualized resistance settings leads to valid wheelchair Wingate tests (WAnT) and graded exercise tests (GXT) in healthy novices. Twenty able-bodied individuals (10M/10F, age 23 ± 2 years, body mass 72 ± 11 kg) performed an isometric strength test, sprint test, WAnT and GXT on a wheelchair ergometer. Using a previously developed set of regression equations, individuals' isometric strength outcome was used to estimate the WAnT result (P30est), from which an effective individual WAnT resistance was derived.

Split-belt walking: An experience that is hard to forget.

Background: The common paradigm to study the adaptability of human gait is split-belt walking. Short-term savings (minutes to days) of split-belt adaptation have been widely studied to gain knowledge in locomotor learning but reports on long-term savings are limited. Here, we studied whether after a prolonged inter-exposure interval (three weeks), the newly acquired locomotor pattern is subject to forgetting or that the pattern is saved in long-term locomotor memory.

Interobserver and intraobserver reliabilities of determining the ventilatory thresholds in subjects with a lower limb amputation and able-bodied subjects during a peak exercise test on the combined arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer.

The first (VT1) and second ventilator (VT2) (anaerobic) thresholds are used to individually prescribe exercise training programs. The purpose of this research was to analyze inter- and intraobserver reliabilities of determining VT1 and VT2 in subjects with lower limb amputation (LLA) and able-bodied (AB) subjects during a peak exercise test on the arm-leg (Cruiser) ergometer. Previously published data of exercise tests on the Cruiser ergometer of subjects with LLA ( n = 17) and AB subjects ( n = 30) were analyzed twice by two observers.

A newly developed hand rim for wheelchair tennis improves propulsion technique and efficiency in able-bodied novices.

A new wheelchair tennis hand rim was developed, having a larger contact area and higher friction. How does this new hand rim compare to a regular hand rim regarding submaximal propulsion with a tennis racket during practice in novices? Twenty-four able-bodied novices (12 Regular Rim, 12 New Rim) completed a one-day experiment: pre-test, three practice-sessions and a post-test of 3 × 4 min each on a wheelchair ergometer (1.11 m/s, 7W).

Association between upper-limb isometric strength and handcycling performance in elite athletes.

This study investigated the association among isometric upper-limb strength of handcyclists and sport-specific performance outcomes. At two international events, 62 athletes were tested on upper-limb strength, measured with an isometric-strength setup and with Manual Muscle Test (MMT). Horizontal force (F), effectiveness, rate of development, variability, and asymmetries were calculated for upper-limb pull and push.