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  I.  INTRODUCTION AND PURPOSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

    

          Cardiopulmonary Stresses for Wheelchair Activity . 1

  

          Power Efficiency for Wheelchair Activity . . . . . 3

 

          Purpose  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4



            Rationale  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

               

 II.  METHODS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    6



          Subjects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6



          Decreasing Stresses Elicited by Wheelchair



            Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  . . . 6



            Methods of wheelchair operation  . . . . . . . . 6



            Alterations in wheelchair design . . . . . . . . 7



          Wheelchair Ergometer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8



            Calibration of ergometer . . . . . . . . . . . . 8



            Calculation of power output for wheelchair



              ergometry    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15



          Simulation of Small and Large Handrims . . . . . .17



            Exercise test procedure  . . . . . . . . . . . .18



            Sequence of test . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21



            Physiological variables  . . . . . . . . . . . .22



            Methods of data collection . . . . . . . . . . .22



            Heart rate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23



            Energy cost of exercise and power efficiency . .23



III.  RESULTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  .29