Fitness Testing

Wheelchair Aerobic Test

purpose: to test the aerobic fitness of wheelchair users
equipment required: 400m running track, marking cones, recording sheets, stop watch.

description / procedure: Place markers at set intervals around the track (e.g. every 50m) to aid in measuring the completed distance. Participants wheel around the track for 12 minutes, and the distance covered is recorded. The participants must be encouraged to push themselves as hard as they can.

scoring: Record the completed distance to the nearest 100 meters. The table below also gives general guidelines for interpreting the results of this test for adults.

target population: It is a test of aerobic fitness for people in wheel chairs.
reliability: the reliability of this test would depend on practice, pacing strategies and motivation level. There should be good reliability if these issues are addressed.
advantages: several wheelchair users can be tested at once. This test is a very cheap and simple test to perform.
disadvantages: practice and pacing is required to maximize the subject score in this test, and performance can also be affected greatly by motivation.
reference: Franklin BA, Swantek KI, Grais SL, Johnstone KS, Gordon S, Timmis GC. Field test estimation of maximal oxygen consumption in wheelchair users. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1990;71:574-578.