Physical Strain During Handcycling Under Daily Living Conditions

PURPOSE: Cycling is popular in the Netherlands. Its wheelchair-related equivalent, handcycling, is equally popular today. It substantially increases mobility of active wheelchair users. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate physical strain of ADL handcycling in terms of absolute and relative power output (PO), oxygen uptake (VO2) and heart rate (HF) against ACSM guidelines for healthy daily activity. METHODS: 8 healthy males conducted an incremental handbike exercise test (IT) on a treadmill. In addition, 2 indoor submaximal treadmill (4.5km/h,0.7% (IN1); 3.6km/h,4.8% (IN2)) and 3 outdoor overground bouts were performed (6km/h (OUT1); 12km/h (OUT2); 18km/h (OUT3)). Also, 2 out of 8 males handcycled a representative distance of 8km to the rehabilitation center in Groningen city (CASE). Power output (PO), VO2, heart rate (HR), RER and perceived local strain (LEO: summed 1-10 scores of 20 upper body regions) were determined. RESULTS: Physical strain is presented in Table 1 in detail. Mean values for CASE were: VO2: 1.21±0.36 l/min; HR: 118±15 bpm, PO: 64.9±35.9 W, RER: 0.65±0.09, velocity: 14.8±3km/h, duration: ∼23 min).TABLE 1: Physical strain of handcycling (mean+/-SD;n=8) in terms of absolute (PO) and relative power output (%POpeak), absolute (VO2) and relative oxygen uptake (%VO2peak), absolute (HR) and relative heart rate (%HRpeak), RER and perceived local strain (LEO).CONCLUSION: Regular handcycling contributes to a healthy activity pattern and cardiovascular status conform ACSM guidelines. Moderate to hard physical exercise was performed in a range between 2-10 METs and is comparable to cycling exercise up to 200W. Local strain of handcycling is not perceived as limiting ADL performance.