Wheelchair-modified ergometer rowing exercise in individuals with spinal cord injury: a feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy study

Rasmus Kopp Hansen; Johanna L J de Wit; Afshin Samani; Uffe Laessoe; Krystian Figlewski; Ryan Godsk Larsen

doi:10.1038/s41394-022-00518-6

Wheelchair-modified ergometer rowing exercise in individuals with spinal cord injury: a feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy study

Rasmus Kopp Hansen^*, Johanna L J de Wit, Afshin Samani, Uffe Laessoe, Krystian Figlewski, Ryan Godsk Larsen

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

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Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Exploratory clinical investigation.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of upper-body rowing exercise adapted to wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI).

SETTING: University exercise laboratory.

METHODS: Eight individuals with SCI exercised on a rowing ergometer modified for wheelchair users (REMW), three times weekly, for up to 30 min per session. Participants completed feasibility and acceptability questionnaire (1-5 Likert scale), and the Wheelchair Users Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI) before and after six weeks of exercise. Average power output (POAVG), distance rowed, percent peak heart rate (%HRpeak), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (6-20 scale) were monitored throughout the 18 exercise sessions and analyzed to evaluate preliminary efficacy of the exercise modality.

RESULTS: All eight participants completed the study (97% adherence). Participants rated the exercise high on the feasibility and acceptability scale; median (interquartile range) = 5.0 (4.0-5.0), where higher numbers indicated greater feasibility. Shoulder pain was reduced by 21% yet not significantly different from baseline (p = 0.899). Physiological measures (%HRpeak = 80-83%; RPE = 15.0-16.0) indicated a high cardiovascular training load. From week 1 to week 6, POAVG and distance rowed increased by 37 and 36%, respectively (both p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Data from six weeks of exercise on the REMW suggests that upper-body rowing is a feasible and acceptable exercise modality for wheelchair users with SCI. Session data on %HRpeak, RPE, and shoulder pain indicate that REMW evoked moderate to vigorous intensity exercise without exacerbation of shoulder pain. Future research is required to quantify potential training-induced changes in cardiorespiratory fitness.

Original language	English
Article number	48
Journal	Spinal Cord Series and Cases
Volume	8
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-022-00518-6
Publication status	Published - 30 Apr 2022

Bibliographical note

© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Spinal Cord Society.

Correction to: Spinal Cord Series and Cases https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-022-00518-6, published online 30 April 2022

In the Acknowledgements section of this article an company information was missing. The complete text should read:

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the participants who participated in the study. We would also like to acknowledge suppliers of training equipment (Wolturnus A/S for assistive equipment (Bodypoint vests and belt) and arm crank ergometer; Aalborg Rowing Club for lending of a Concept 2 ergometer; Modest Sport for sponsoring Adapt2row units; and iQniter for sponsoring heart rate belts). No financial assistance was received in support of this study.

The original article has been corrected.

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title = "Wheelchair-modified ergometer rowing exercise in individuals with spinal cord injury: a feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy study",

abstract = "STUDY DESIGN: Exploratory clinical investigation.OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of upper-body rowing exercise adapted to wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI).SETTING: University exercise laboratory.METHODS: Eight individuals with SCI exercised on a rowing ergometer modified for wheelchair users (REMW), three times weekly, for up to 30 min per session. Participants completed feasibility and acceptability questionnaire (1-5 Likert scale), and the Wheelchair Users Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI) before and after six weeks of exercise. Average power output (POAVG), distance rowed, percent peak heart rate (%HRpeak), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (6-20 scale) were monitored throughout the 18 exercise sessions and analyzed to evaluate preliminary efficacy of the exercise modality.RESULTS: All eight participants completed the study (97% adherence). Participants rated the exercise high on the feasibility and acceptability scale; median (interquartile range) = 5.0 (4.0-5.0), where higher numbers indicated greater feasibility. Shoulder pain was reduced by 21% yet not significantly different from baseline (p = 0.899). Physiological measures (%HRpeak = 80-83%; RPE = 15.0-16.0) indicated a high cardiovascular training load. From week 1 to week 6, POAVG and distance rowed increased by 37 and 36%, respectively (both p ≤ 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Data from six weeks of exercise on the REMW suggests that upper-body rowing is a feasible and acceptable exercise modality for wheelchair users with SCI. Session data on %HRpeak, RPE, and shoulder pain indicate that REMW evoked moderate to vigorous intensity exercise without exacerbation of shoulder pain. Future research is required to quantify potential training-induced changes in cardiorespiratory fitness.",

author = "Hansen, {Rasmus Kopp} and {de Wit}, {Johanna L J} and Afshin Samani and Uffe Laessoe and Krystian Figlewski and Larsen, {Ryan Godsk}",

note = "{\textcopyright} 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Spinal Cord Society. Correction to: Spinal Cord Series and Cases https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-022-00518-6, published online 30 April 2022 In the Acknowledgements section of this article an company information was missing. The complete text should read: Acknowledgements We would like to thank the participants who participated in the study. We would also like to acknowledge suppliers of training equipment (Wolturnus A/S for assistive equipment (Bodypoint vests and belt) and arm crank ergometer; Aalborg Rowing Club for lending of a Concept 2 ergometer; Modest Sport for sponsoring Adapt2row units; and iQniter for sponsoring heart rate belts). No financial assistance was received in support of this study. The original article has been corrected.",

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doi = "10.1038/s41394-022-00518-6",

language = "English",

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AU - Hansen, Rasmus Kopp

AU - de Wit, Johanna L J

AU - Samani, Afshin

AU - Laessoe, Uffe

AU - Figlewski, Krystian

AU - Larsen, Ryan Godsk

N1 - © 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to International Spinal Cord Society. Correction to: Spinal Cord Series and Cases https://doi.org/10.1038/s41394-022-00518-6, published online 30 April 2022 In the Acknowledgements section of this article an company information was missing. The complete text should read: Acknowledgements We would like to thank the participants who participated in the study. We would also like to acknowledge suppliers of training equipment (Wolturnus A/S for assistive equipment (Bodypoint vests and belt) and arm crank ergometer; Aalborg Rowing Club for lending of a Concept 2 ergometer; Modest Sport for sponsoring Adapt2row units; and iQniter for sponsoring heart rate belts). No financial assistance was received in support of this study. The original article has been corrected.

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Y1 - 2022/4/30

N2 - STUDY DESIGN: Exploratory clinical investigation.OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of upper-body rowing exercise adapted to wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI).SETTING: University exercise laboratory.METHODS: Eight individuals with SCI exercised on a rowing ergometer modified for wheelchair users (REMW), three times weekly, for up to 30 min per session. Participants completed feasibility and acceptability questionnaire (1-5 Likert scale), and the Wheelchair Users Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI) before and after six weeks of exercise. Average power output (POAVG), distance rowed, percent peak heart rate (%HRpeak), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (6-20 scale) were monitored throughout the 18 exercise sessions and analyzed to evaluate preliminary efficacy of the exercise modality.RESULTS: All eight participants completed the study (97% adherence). Participants rated the exercise high on the feasibility and acceptability scale; median (interquartile range) = 5.0 (4.0-5.0), where higher numbers indicated greater feasibility. Shoulder pain was reduced by 21% yet not significantly different from baseline (p = 0.899). Physiological measures (%HRpeak = 80-83%; RPE = 15.0-16.0) indicated a high cardiovascular training load. From week 1 to week 6, POAVG and distance rowed increased by 37 and 36%, respectively (both p ≤ 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Data from six weeks of exercise on the REMW suggests that upper-body rowing is a feasible and acceptable exercise modality for wheelchair users with SCI. Session data on %HRpeak, RPE, and shoulder pain indicate that REMW evoked moderate to vigorous intensity exercise without exacerbation of shoulder pain. Future research is required to quantify potential training-induced changes in cardiorespiratory fitness.

AB - STUDY DESIGN: Exploratory clinical investigation.OBJECTIVES: To assess the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of upper-body rowing exercise adapted to wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (SCI).SETTING: University exercise laboratory.METHODS: Eight individuals with SCI exercised on a rowing ergometer modified for wheelchair users (REMW), three times weekly, for up to 30 min per session. Participants completed feasibility and acceptability questionnaire (1-5 Likert scale), and the Wheelchair Users Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI) before and after six weeks of exercise. Average power output (POAVG), distance rowed, percent peak heart rate (%HRpeak), and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) (6-20 scale) were monitored throughout the 18 exercise sessions and analyzed to evaluate preliminary efficacy of the exercise modality.RESULTS: All eight participants completed the study (97% adherence). Participants rated the exercise high on the feasibility and acceptability scale; median (interquartile range) = 5.0 (4.0-5.0), where higher numbers indicated greater feasibility. Shoulder pain was reduced by 21% yet not significantly different from baseline (p = 0.899). Physiological measures (%HRpeak = 80-83%; RPE = 15.0-16.0) indicated a high cardiovascular training load. From week 1 to week 6, POAVG and distance rowed increased by 37 and 36%, respectively (both p ≤ 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Data from six weeks of exercise on the REMW suggests that upper-body rowing is a feasible and acceptable exercise modality for wheelchair users with SCI. Session data on %HRpeak, RPE, and shoulder pain indicate that REMW evoked moderate to vigorous intensity exercise without exacerbation of shoulder pain. Future research is required to quantify potential training-induced changes in cardiorespiratory fitness.

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Wheelchair-modified ergometer rowing exercise in individuals with spinal cord injury: a feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy study

Abstract

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Correction to: Wheelchair-modified ergometer rowing exercise in individuals with spinal cord injury: a feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy study (Spinal Cord Series and Cases, (2022), 8, 1, (48), 10.1038/s41394-022-00518-6)

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