TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                             Page
  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

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