USING ADDITIONAL MEASURES OF HANDGRIP STRENGTH TO PREDICT AEROBIC CAPACITY IN WHEELCHAIR USERS

<p>Manual wheelchair users have been shown to have low physical capacity and impaired ability to perform activities of daily living. Current tests and protocols for assessing physical capacity in wheelchair users have specific boundaries. Measuring handgrip strength (HGS) with electronic handgrip dynamometers has been shown to be a reliable measure of muscle function and a convenient assessment of overall muscle strength. This study aimed to determine the correlation of maximal HGS, HGS rate of force development, HGS fatigability, HGS isometric control, and HGS asymmetry to a six-minute wheelchair propulsion (6MPT) test in ambulatory young adults. Thirty-four recreationally active ambulatory individuals aged 23.76±3.57yrs participated in this study. HGS was assessed using electronic handgrip dynamometry. Aerobic capacity was assessed using the 6MPT. Handgrip fatigability showed significant near moderate negative correlation (r=-0.345, p0.05) were also shown between handgrip rate of force development, fatigue, isometric control and asymmetry respectively. Our findings that additional measures of HGS were correlated with aerobic capacity in ambulatory adults may suggest measures of HGS could be predictive of aerobic capacity in those who use manual wheelchairs. Additional research is necessary to further understand these relationships.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Health and Human Performance

Year dc:date.available

2024

Author dc:creator

• Naugle, Eric

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lukus Klawitter

• Manual Wheelchair Users
• Handgrip Strength
• Rate of Force Development
• Fatigue
• Isometric Control
• Asymmetry
• Kinesiology
• Physiology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://commons.nmu.edu/theses/838

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:commons.nmu.edu:theses-1824