Wheelchair exercise capacity in spinal cord injury up to five years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation

Casper F. Van Koppenhagen*, Sonja De Groot, Marcel W.M. Post, Floris W.A. Van Asbeck, Dorien Spijkerman, Willemijn X.M. Faber, Eline Lindeman, Lucas H.V. Van Der Woude

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to JournalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To elucidate the course and determinants of wheelchair exercise capacity in spinal cord injury up to 5 years after discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, and to describe loss to follow-up. Design: Prospective cohort study, with measurements at the start and discharge from inpatient rehabilitation, 1 and 5 years after discharge. Subjects: A total of 225 wheelchair-dependent persons with spinal cord injury. Methods: Random coefficient analysis of the course and determinants of peak aerobic power output (POpeak) and peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak). Results: A total of 162 participants attended one or more peak exercise tests and were analysed. Significant changes were found for both V̇O2peak, and POpeak, between start and 5 years 2peak peak after discharge, and discharge and 5 years after discharge. No significant changes were found for V̇O, and POpeak be-No significant changes were found for V̇2peakand POpeak tween 1 year and 5 years after discharge. Age, gender, level and completeness of lesion were determinants for level of V̇Opeak and age, gender, and level of lesion for level of POpeak V̇O2peak POpeak No significant determinants were found for the course of wheelchair exercise capacity. The 63 participants who were not analysed were older, and showed more persons with a tetraplegia. Conclusion: Wheelchair exercise capacity of persons with spinal cord injury stabilizes between 1 and 5 years after discharge. The participants appear to be a positive selection of the total study group.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)646-652
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Rehabilitation Medicine
Volume45
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 23 Jul 2013
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Cohort
  • Lost to follow-up
  • Physical fitness
  • Spinal cord injuries
  • Wheelchair

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