Biomaterial Database

The mechanical efficiency of wheelchair dependent women during wheelchair ergometry. 1981

R G Knowlton, and P I Fitzgerald, and D A Sedlock

Few previous studies have attempted to study the response of disabled women to work in a wheelchair. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanical efficiency of wheelchair dependent women (WCD) during progressively loaded wheelchair ergometry. Five WCD subjects with an average confinement of 17.8 years were compared to five able bodied women (AB). Neither maximal oxygen uptake, 1.121 WCD and 1.485 AB (L X min-1) or maximal power outputs, 41.6 WCD and 44.1 AB (watts) were significantly different for the groups. The WCD group, however, demonstrated significantly higher mechanical efficiencies at comparable power outputs, p greater than 0.05. This difference remained when comparisons at about 60, 80, and 90% of VO2 max were made. The average efficiencies over these metabolic levels were 14% WCD and 10.6% AB. Stroke length consistently reduced as power outputs increased with the values lower for the WCD subjects. Average values for the submaximal workloads were 3.17 WCD and 3.76 AB (m x stroke-1) which meant a difference that was 18.6% greater in length for the AB group. The possible influence of this upon the efficiency of wheelchair locomotion was discussed.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010101	Oxygen Consumption	The rate at which oxygen is used by a tissue; microliters of oxygen STPD used per milligram of tissue per hour; the rate at which oxygen enters the blood from alveolar gas, equal in the steady state to the consumption of oxygen by tissue metabolism throughout the body. (Stedman, 25th ed, p346)	Consumption, Oxygen,Consumptions, Oxygen,Oxygen Consumptions
D010264	Paraplegia	Severe or complete loss of motor function in the lower extremities and lower portions of the trunk. This condition is most often associated with SPINAL CORD DISEASES, although BRAIN DISEASES; PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM DISEASES; NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES; and MUSCULAR DISEASES may also cause bilateral leg weakness.	Paralysis, Lower Extremities,Paraplegia, Spastic,Spastic Paraplegia,Paralysis, Legs,Paralysis, Lower Limbs,Paraplegia, Ataxic,Paraplegia, Cerebral,Paraplegia, Flaccid,Paraplegia, Spinal,Ataxic Paraplegia,Ataxic Paraplegias,Cerebral Paraplegia,Cerebral Paraplegias,Flaccid Paraplegia,Flaccid Paraplegias,Paraplegias,Paraplegias, Ataxic,Paraplegias, Cerebral,Paraplegias, Flaccid,Paraplegias, Spastic,Paraplegias, Spinal,Spastic Paraplegias,Spinal Paraplegia,Spinal Paraplegias
D004734	Energy Metabolism	The chemical reactions involved in the production and utilization of various forms of energy in cells.	Bioenergetics,Energy Expenditure,Bioenergetic,Energy Expenditures,Energy Metabolisms,Expenditure, Energy,Expenditures, Energy,Metabolism, Energy,Metabolisms, Energy
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D006804	Ergonomics	The science of designing, building or equipping mechanical devices or artificial environments to the anthropometric, physiological, or psychological requirements of the people who will use them.	Engineering Psychology,Human Engineering,Cognitive Ergonomics,Ergonomic Assessment,Human Factors Engineering,Human Factors and Ergonomics,Organizational Ergonomics,Physical Ergonomics,Psychology, Engineering,Visual Ergonomics,Cognitive Ergonomic,Ergonomic,Ergonomic Assessments,Ergonomic, Cognitive,Ergonomic, Organizational,Ergonomic, Physical,Ergonomic, Visual,Ergonomics, Cognitive,Ergonomics, Organizational,Ergonomics, Physical,Ergonomics, Visual,Human Factors Engineerings,Organizational Ergonomic,Physical Ergonomic,Visual Ergonomic
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D014910	Wheelchairs	Chairs or seating mounted on wheels and designed to be controlled or propelled by the occupant. Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) covers power-operated vehicles (scooters), walkers, and wheelchairs as durable medical equipment.	Wheel Chairs,Chair, Wheel,Chairs, Wheel,Wheel Chair,Wheelchair