Comparison of the Six-Minute Propulsion and Arm Crank Ergometer Tests to Assess Aerobic Fitness in Manual Wheelchair Users with a Spinal Cord Injury.

OBJECTIVE The 6-Minute Manual Wheelchair Propulsion Test (MWPT6min) is proposed to easily and rapidly assess aerobic fitness among long-term (≥ 3 months) manual wheelchair users with spinal cord injury (MWU). However, aerobic responses to this test have not been established. This study aimed to: 1) characterize aerobic responses during the MWPT6min; 2) establish parallel reliability between the MWPT6min and Maximal Arm Crank Ergometer Test (ACETmax); and 3) quantify the strength of association between the total distance traveled (TDT) during the MWPT6min and peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak). DESIGN Twenty MWU completed both tests. Aerobic parameters were measured before, during, and after the tests. Main outcome measures were VO2peak and TDT. RESULTS Progressive cardiorespiratory responses, consistent with guidelines for exercise testing, were observed during both tests. Similar VO2peak values were obtained during both tests (MWPT6min: 20.2 ± 4.9 ml/kg·min; ACETmax: 20.4 ± 5.0 ml/kg·min), were highly correlated (r = 0.92; p < 0.001), and had a good agreement (mean absolute difference = 0.21; 95%CI = -0.70 - 1.11; p = 0.639). The VO2peak and TDT (mean = 636.6 ± 56.9 m) during the MWPT6min were highly correlated (r = 0.74; p < 0.001). CONCLUSION The MWPT6min induces progressive aerobic responses consistent with guidelines for exercise testing, and can be used to efficiently estimate aerobic fitness in MWU.