Effects of a 12-Week Strength Training Programme on Independent Living Skills and Wheelchair Control in Persons With Paraplegia
Abstract
Background. The effects of strength training on independent living skills in persons with paraplegia are unclear.
Aim. To examine the effects of 12-week strength training for increasing upper body strength, independent living skills, and physical condition parameters in persons with spinal cord injury.
Methods. Preliminary and post intervention (after 12 weeks) testing were performed. The measurements consisted of the following assessments: the assessment of Functional Independence Measure, the assessment of wheelchair control skills, the assessment of physical parameters (strength, endurance, quickness) using field tests. Fourteen persons with paraplegia after complete thoracic or lumbar spinal cord injury participated in the study. Subjects with paraplegia were divided into intervention (7 participants) and control (7 participants) groups. The participants of the intervention group had one hour per training session in the gym (three times per week). The subjects of the control group had no training during the entire period of research.
Results. The 12-week strength exercise programme applied to persons with spinal cord injury improved almost all daily living skills in the intervention group, e.g. transferring (control group post intervention 4.3 ± 0.06, intervention group post intervention 6.5 ± 0.08*), moving skills (control group 3.3 ± 0.24, intervention group 6.2 ± 0.49, p = 0.03). Strength exercises had positive effect on independence in respect of wheelchair moving skills, for example: keeping balance, control group post intervention 1.5 ± 0.28, intervention group post intervention 1.6 ± 0.18, p = 0.04); overcoming bigger obstacles, control group 0.42 ± 0.14, intervention group 1.4 ± 0.30, p = 0.02). The 12-week programme improved maximum hand strength (control group post intervention 66.9 ± 3.09, intervention group post intervention 84.8 ± 3.15, p = 0.02), endurance (control group 1.3 ± 0.15, intervention group 2.3 ± 0.19, p = 0.02), quickness (control group 11.2 ± 0.22, intervention group 16.6 ± 0.51, p = 0.03) of persons with paraplegia.
Conclusions. The independent living, wheelchair control skills, and physical condition parameters of the intervention group improved after the 12-week strength training programme.
Keywords: Paraplegia; independent living skills; strength training
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