Abstract
In a group of 13 adult paraplegics, the circulatory and respiratory effort involved in actively driving a wheelchair on a special treadmill-ergometer once or twice weekly, was observed, from the first time the chair was used, up to the departure of the patient from the clinic (about 4 months). Measurements were taken under steady-state conditions, at different slope elevations and at a speed of 2 km./hour (1.24 mph). In three cases, it was possible to determine the urinal Cortisol excretion during the night.
In general, a significant process of adaptation to wheelchair propelling could be observed in the course of 14 weeks through the decreasing of heart rate (also under resting conditions), respiratory volume and O2-uptake. Disturbances in this adaptional process, which occurred in some cases as a result of longer, concomitant illnesses, came to light in a temporary increase of the controlled parameters. The Cortisol excretion in night urine increased with rising efficiency.
Above all, the observed training effect must be referred to the intensive physiotherapy running parallel since, according to our experience, the daily drive in the wheelchair was insufficient to train the respiratory and circulatory system.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Bennedik, K & Engel, P (1973). Technische und physiologische Aspekte bei Benutzung handbetriebener Krankenfahrstühle. Die Rehabilitation, 11, 94–108.
Berendes, B (1970). Methodische Untersuchungen zur Prüfung der Leistungsfähigkeit bei körperbehinderten Rollstuhlfahrern. Med. Inaug. Diss. Marburg/Lahn.
Berendes, D (1971). Spiroergometrische Untersuchungen an körperbehinderten Rollstuhlfahrern. Med. Inaug. Diss. Marburg/Lahn.
Engel, P & Hildebrandt, G (1971). Zur arbeitsphysiologischen Beurteilung verschiedener handbetriebener Krankenfahrstuhlmodelle. Z. phys. Med. 2, 95–102.
Engel, P & Hildebrandt, G (1972). Belastbarkeitsprüfung des Kreislaufs bei Körperbehinderten. Z. ges. Hyg. (In press).
Hildebrandt, G (1962). Biologische Rhythmen und ihre Bedeutung für die Bäder-und Klimaheilkunde. In: W. Amelung u. A. Evers: Handbuch der Bäder- und Klimaheilkunde. Schattauer, Stuttgart, S. 730–785.
Hildebrandt, G, Voigt, E-D, Bahn, D, Berendes, B & Kröger, J (1970). Energy costs of propelling wheelchair at various speeds: cardiac response and effect on steering accuracy. Arch. Phys. Med. u. Rehab. 51, 131–136.
Kröger, J (1971). Vergleichende Untersuchungen von Körper- und Kreislaufbelastung beim Fahren zweier Standard-Rollstuhlmodelle unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Lenksicherheit. Med. Inaug. Diss. Marburg/Lahn.
Voigt, E-D, Berendes, B & Hildebrandt, G (1968). Energieumsatz und Kreislaufbelastung von Körperbehinderten beim Fahren im Krankenfahrstuhl. Arbeitsmed., Sozialmed., Arbeitshyg. 3, 135–138.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Engel, P., Hildebrandt, G. Long-term spiroergometric studies of paraplegics during the clinical period of rehabilitation. Spinal Cord 11, 105–110 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1973.13
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sc.1973.13
This article is cited by
-
Computer-controlled wheelchair ergometer
Medical and Biological Engineering and Computing (1990)
