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Because of the recent discussion about wheelchairs, I thought this 'might' be of interest to some ... Wednesday February 18 6:17 PM EST Exercise Can Help Wheelchair Users Avoid Injury NEW YORK (Reuters) -- A combination of aerobic and strength training can help reduce wheelchair users' risk of overuse injury, according to researchers from the University of Maryland. Dr. Mary Rodgers presented her group's findings at the American Physical Therapy Association's Combined Sections Meeting in Boston last weekend. Rodgers and colleagues put 11 wheelchair bound subjects -- 8 paraplegics, two with lower limb amputations, and one with spina bifida, a spinal deformity present at birth -- through 6 weeks of specific muscle training, performed 3 times a week. The individuals performed exercises to stretch shoulder and trunk muscles and strengthen them with free weights, as well as performed aerobic exercise with specially adapted rowing machines Rodgers told Reuters Health that testing before and after the exercise program was done "in a specially instrumented wheelchair that measures the strength of the pressure being placed on the wheels." The results show increased efficiency in the muscles of the forearm, the shoulder and the upper arm and increased resting strength in the forearm. "We were able to help the people in our study increase the force directed at turning the wheel of the chair," said Rodgers. "We also calculated the forces on their shoulder joints and designed exercise to reduce the force. That decreases stress on the joint and may reduce their risk of overusing and injuring their shoulders and wrists." She and her colleagues are in the process of developing a functional evaluation tool specific to wheelchair users to better test their muscle strength. They are conducting a 3-year study involving wheelchair users with existing upper extremity problems. Copyright © 1998 Reuters Limited. Judith Richards [log in to unmask]