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Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 2011, 28, 310-325 © 2011 Human Kinetics, Inc.

A Compendium of Energy Costs of Physical Activities for Individuals Who use Manual Wheelchairs
Scott A. Conger and David R. Bassett, Jr.
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
The purpose of this study was to develop a compendium of wheelchair-related physical activities. To accomplish this, we conducted a systematic review of the published energy costs of activities performed by individuals who use wheelchairs. A total of 266 studies were identified by a literature search using relevant keywords. Inclusion criteria were studies utilizing individuals who routinely use a manual wheelchair, indirect calorimetry as the criterion measurement, energy expenditure expressed as METs or VO2, and physical activities typical of wheelchair users. Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. A total of 63 different wheelchair activities were identified with energy expenditure values ranging from 0.8 to 12.5 kcal·kg1·hr-1. The energy requirements for some activities differed between individuals who use wheelchairs and those who do not. The compendium of wheelchairrelated activities can be used to enhance scoring of physical activity surveys and to promote the benefits of activity in this population. Keywords: compendium, disability, energy expenditure, exercise, electric, manual

Individuals with traumatic injury, congenital defects, mobility issues related to aging, and chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease often use wheelchairs to enhance their mobility and offset their physical limitations (Fitzgerald et al., 2007). Wheelchair use has increased worldwide over the past two decades (LaPlante, Hendershot, & Moss, 1992; Le & Price, 1982; McGuire, Strine, Okoro, Ahluwalia, & Ford, 2007). Since 1980, wheelchair use in the United States has increased at a rate of about 5% per year (Fitzgerald et al., 2007; LaPlante et al., 1992; LaPlante & Kaye, 2010). Current estimates are