Effect of a 7-week low intensity handcycling training program on the physical capacity in able-bodied women : Is low intensity training an appropriate alternative for people who are unable to exercise according to the ACSM guidelines?

Monden, P.G. (2012) Effect of a 7-week low intensity handcycling training program on the physical capacity in able-bodied women : Is low intensity training an appropriate alternative for people who are unable to exercise according to the ACSM guidelines? thesis, Human Movement Sciences.

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Abstract

Abstract: Purpose: Maintaining physical activity is important in people with a spinal cord injury (SCI) to prevent secondary health diseases and a decline in quality of life. Low intensity handcycling training seems to be appropriate for improving physical capacity, without the risk of overuse injuries. The purpose of this study was to determine whether low intensity handcycling training improves physical capacity and whether this is easily achieved in untrained able-bodied women. Methods: 19 participants were included in this study. Nine participants received 7 weeks handcycling training (experimental group; 30% HRR, 30 min per session, three times per week) and 10 received no training (control group). All subjects performed a maximal incremental pre- and post-test performed on an add-on handbike. Maximal values for oxygen uptake, peak power output, ventilation, heart rate peak and RER, and submaximal values for mechanical efficiency, heart rate and oxygen uptake were assessed during both tests. Discomfort and perceived exertion was measured with a local perceived discomfort scale and the rate of perceived exertion. Results: The training group showed a significantly improvement in peak power output ( +20%), heart rate peak (+3%) and RER (+5%) in comparison with the control group. Also improvements for submaximal mechanical efficiency (+21%), oxygen uptake (-20%), ventilation (-33%) and heart rate (-12%) were found. The participants scored low on perceived exertion (7.1 ± 0.5; very very light) and perceived discomfort (3.4 ± 1.6; no discomfort) during the training sessions. Conclusion: This study indicates that low intensity handcycling training improves physical capacity, while perceived local discomfort and exertion of training sessions was low. This provides a perspective for people who are unable to exercise according to the ACSM guidelines, to improve mobility and participation.

Item Type:	Thesis (Thesis)
Supervisor name:	Supervisors: and Hettinga, Dr. F.J. and Woude, Prof. Dr. L.H.V. van der and Center for Human Movement Sciences, University of Groningen and University Medical Center Groningen (UMCG)
Faculty:	Medical Sciences
Date Deposited:	25 Jun 2020 10:42
Last Modified:	25 Jun 2020 10:42
URI:	https://umcg.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/327

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