Biophysical Aspects of Submaximal Hand Cycling

Abstract

Hand cycling is a popular form of wheeled mobility. This study evaluates biophysical differences between synchronous/asynchronous hand cycling. During submaximal hand cycling on a motor driven treadmill, 9 able-bodied subjects performed 2 series of 4 steady state exercise bouts at 1.11 to 2.78 m/s. Metabolic parameters, mean force on the handle bar, muscle activity and local perceived exertion in the upper body were determined. Mean power output was 35.4 ± 7 W (v = 2.78 m/s). At this speed oxygen uptake was 1.11 ± 0.25 and 1.26 ± 0.26 l/min for the synchronous and asynchronous modes, respectively. Mechanical efficiency was significantly higher (v = 2.78 m/s: + 11.5 %) in synchronous cycling. Higher activity of m. obliquus externus and extensor carpi ulnaris was seen. Mean 2D total force and fraction effective force on the handle bar were lower in asynchronous hand cycling. Local perceived discomfort was higher in the asynchronous mode for different arm regions. Synchronous hand cycling is more efficient and at a lower metabolic cost. Mean muscle activation and the local perceived discomfort may explain some results. Future study should focus on combined time-based force and muscle activity characteristics. Synchronous hand cycling should be preferred during submaximal exercise in early rehabilitation.

mechanical efficiency - force production - muscle activity - local perceived discomfort - metabolic cost

References

• 1 Abel T, Kroner M, Rojas Vega S, Peters C, Klose C, Platen P. Energy expenditure in wheelchair racing and handbiking – a basis for prevention of cardiovascular diseases in those with disabilities.  Eur J Cardiovasc Prev Rehabil. 2003;  10 371-376
• 2 Borg G, Hassmen P, Lagerstrom M. Perceived exertion related to heart rate and blood lactate during arm and leg exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1987;  56 679-685
• 3 Boussenna M, Corlett E N, Pheasant S T. The relation between discomfort and postural loading at the joints.  Ergonomics. 1982;  25 315-322
• 4 Bressel E, Bressel M, Marquez M, Heise G D. The effect of handgrip position on upper extremity neuromuscular responses to arm cranking exercise.  J Electromyogr Kinesiol. 2001;  11 291-298
• 5 Chung M K, Lee I, Kee D. Quantitative postural load assessment for whole body manual tasks based on perceived discomfort.  Ergonomics. 2005;  48 492-505
• 6 Corlett E N, Bishop R P. A technique for assessing postural discomfort.  Ergonomics. 1976;  19 175-182
• 7 Corlett E N, Manenica I, Goillau P J. The relationship between EMG activity of the sacrospinalis and reported back discomfort.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1983;  50 213-222
• 8 Dallmeijer A J, Ottjes L, de Waardt E, van der Woude L H. A physiological comparison of synchronous and asynchronous hand cycling.  Int J Sports Med. 2004;  25 622-626
• 9 de Groot S, Veeger H E, Hollander A P, van der Woude L H. Consequence of feedback-based learning of an effective hand rim wheelchair force production on mechanical efficiency.  Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2002;  17 219-226
• 10 DeCoster A, van Laere M, Blonde W. Electromyographic activity of the shoulder girdle during handbiking. van der Woude L, Hopman M, van Kemenade C Biomedical Aspects of Manual Wheelchair Propulsion: State of the Art II. Amsterdam; IOS press 1999: 138-140
• 11 Faupin A, Gorce P, Campillo P, Thevenon A, Remy-Neris O. Kinematic analysis of handbike propulsion in various gear ratios: implications for joint pain.  Clin Biomech (Bristol, Avon). 2006;  21 560-566
• 12 Garby L, Astrup A. The relationship between the respiratory quotient and the energy equivalent of oxygen during simultaneous glucose and lipid oxidation and lipogenesis.  Acta Physiol Scand. 1987;  129 443-444
• 13 Goosey-Tolfrey V L, Sindall P. The effects of arm crank strategy on physiological responses and mechanical efficiency during submaximal exercise.  J Sports Sci. 2007;  25 453-460
• 14 Hermens H, Freriks B, Merletti R, Stegeman D, Block J, Rau G, Disselhorst-Klug C, Hagg G. SENIAM: European Recommendations for Surface Electromyography. Enschede, Holland; Roessingh Research and Development 1999
• 15 Hintzy F, Tordi N, Perrey S. Muscular efficiency during arm cranking and wheelchair exercise: a comparison.  Int J Sports Med. 2002;  23 408-414
• 16 Hopman M T, van Teeffelen W M, Brouwer J, Houtman S, Binkhorst R A. Physiological responses to asynchronous and synchronous arm-cranking exercise.  Eur J Appl Physiol Occup Physiol. 1995;  72 111-114
• 17 Janssen T W, Dallmeijer A J, van der Woude L H. Physical capacity and race performance of handcycle users.  J Rehabil Res Dev. 2001;  38 33-40
• 18 Jones A, Poole D. Oxygen Uptake Kinetics in Sport, Exercise and Medicine. London; Routhledge 2005
• 19 Knechtle B, Muller G, Willmann F, Eser P, Knecht H. Comparison of fat oxidation in arm cranking in spinal cord-injured people versus ergometry in cyclists.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2003;  90 614-619
• 20 Kornecki S, Kebel A, Siemienski A. Muscular co-operation during joint stabilisation, as reflected by EMG.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 2001;  84 453-461
• 21 Kotajarvi B R, Basford J R, An K N, Morrow D A, Kaufman K R. The effect of visual biofeedback on the propulsion effectiveness of experienced wheelchair users.  Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2006;  87 510-515
• 22 Martel G, Noreau L, Jobin J. Physiological responses to maximal exercise on arm cranking and wheelchair ergometer with paraplegics.  Paraplegia. 1991;  29 447-456
• 23 Mossberg K, Willman C, Topor M, Crook H, Patak S. Comparison of asynchronous versus synchronous arm crank ergometry.  Spinal cord. 1999;  37 569-574
• 24 Mukherjee G, Bhowmik P, Samanta A. Physical fitness training for wheelchair ambulation by the arm crank propulsion technique.  Clin Rehabil. 2001;  15 125-132
• 25 Mukherjee G, Samanta A. Evaluation of ambulatory performance of the arm propelled three-wheeled chair using heart rate as a control index.  Disabil Rehabil. 2000;  22 464-470
• 26 Oertel J, Brundig B, Henze W, Engel P. Spiroergometric field-study of wheelchair propulsion with different hand-drive systems. van der Woude, LHV, Hopman MTE, van Kemenade CH Biomedical Aspects of Manual Wheelchair Propulsion: State of the Art II. Amsterdam; IOS press 1999: 187-190
• 27 Rasch P, Burke R. Kinesiology and Applied Anatomy. 5th edn. Philadelphia; Lea & Febiger 1974: 604
• 28 Salvendy G, Pilitsis J. Psychophysiological aspects of paced and unpaced performance as influenced by age.  Ergonomics. 1971;  14 703-711
• 29 van der Grinten M P, Smitt P. Development of a practical method for measuring body part discomfort. Kumar A Advances in Industrial Ergonomics and Safety. IV. London; Taylor & Francis 1992: 311-318
• 30 van der Woude L H, Bosmans I, Bervoets B, Veeger H E. Handcycling: different modes and gear ratios.  J Med Eng Technol. 2000;  24 242-249
• 31 van der Woude L H, de Groot G, Hollander A P, van Ingen Schenau G J, Rozendal R H. Wheelchair ergonomics and physiological testing of prototypes.  Ergonomics. 1986;  29 1561-1573
• 32 van der Woude L H, Formanoy M, de Groot S. Hand rim configuration: effects on physical strain and technique in unimpaired subjects?.  Med Eng Phys. 2003;  25 765-774
• 33 van der Woude L H, Horstman A, Faas P, Mechielsen S, Abassi Bafghi H, de Koning J J. Power output and metabolic cost of synchronous and asynchronous submaximal and peak level hand cycling on a motor driven treadmill in able bodied subjects.  Med Eng Phys. 2007;  DOI: 10.1016/j.medengphy.2006.06.006
• 34 Veeger H EJ, van der Woude L HV, Rozendal H R. Effect of handrim velocity on mechanical efficiency in wheelchair propulsion.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 1992;  24 100-107
• 35 Verellen J, Theisen D, Vanlandewijck Y. Influence of crank rate in hand cycling.  Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2004;  36 1826-1831
• 36 Wang M J, Lin C L, Shih Y C, Chung H C, Strasser H. Torque levels, subjective discomfort, and muscle activity associated with four commercially available screwdrivers under static and dynamic work conditions.  Percept Mot Skills. 2006;  102 291-301
• 37 Wiker S F, Chaffin D B, Langolf G D. Shoulder posture and localized muscle fatigue and discomfort.  Ergonomics. 1989;  32 211-237
• 38 Zipp P. Recommendations for the standardization of lead positions in surface electromyography.  Eur J Appl Physiol. 1982;  50 41-54