Effects of different training methods in tele-exercise on acute performance decrement in adults with disability and wheelchair users

Abstract

Purpose: Wheelchair users and people with disabilities have limited access to physical exercise due to various factors, including medical follow-up and training facilities. Although tele-exercise guided by experts has become a viable option, there is limited knowledge about the acute performance decrement (APD) resulting from remote training methods. The current cross-sectional study aimed to: (1) assess the APD of muscle resistance strength after three synchronous tele-exercise training methods in wheelchair users and (2) compare the training loads associated with each training method.

Materials and methods: Eighteen male and female wheelchair users who participated in tele-exercise strength practices were recruited. The participants performed a maximum resistance strength test by synchronous tele-assessment (push-up test, PUT) at baseline and immediately after three training methods: high-intensity interval training (HIIT), moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) and sprint interval training (SIT). The primary outcome was the APD, which was measured by the percentage decrease in the number of repetitions of the PUT immediately after the training methods.

Results: APD was observed for all three training methods, with no significant differences between them (-34.8%, -29.9% and -38.0% for MICT, SIT and HII, respectively), and presented a non-significant correlation with the training loads. HIIT had a significantly higher training load than MICT and SIT.

Conclusions: APD occurred in all training sessions, but did not correlate with training load, indicating that it is not an appropriate metric for comparison. Findings provide insight into APD response and highlight the need to consider multiple metrics when comparing training protocols.

Keywords: Exercise; muscle strength; rehabilitation; resistance training; task performance and analysis; telehealth.