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To perform a cross-cultural adaptation of the OMNI verbal descriptors to Brazilian-Portuguese and examine the validity of the Brazilian version for arm-crank activity. Cross-cultural adaptation stages were: permission, translation, synthesis, back translation, expert committee review, pretesting, and submission and appraisal. For the concurrent validity, a Brazilian OMNI-Wheel scale was used to obtain rating of perceived exertion for the overall body (RPEOverall) and arms (RPEArms) in participants (n = 9, 10–17 years) with spina bifida. Cardiopulmonary exercise test was used to measure heart rate (HR) and oxygen uptake (VO2). Repeated Measures Correlation (rrm) was used to examine the scale validity. The cross-cultural adaptation produced equivalence between English and Brazilian-Portuguese verbal descriptors based on successful translation and pretesting. The Brazilian OMNI-wheel was validated based on strong associations of RPEOverall with VO2 (rrm (35) = 0.86, 95% CI [0.93, 0.73], p < 0.001) and HR (rrm (35) = 0.89, 95% CI [0.94, 0.79], p < 0.001) and RPEArms with VO2 (rrm (33) = 0.82, 95% CI [0.91, 0.66], p < 0.001) and HR (rrm (33) = 0.82, 95% CI [0.91, 0.66], p < 0.001). The OMNI scale was cross-culturally adapted to Brazilian-Portuguese. The Brazilian OMNI-Wheel was validated based on strong associations of RPE with HR and VO2. The original English OMNI was cross-culturally adapted to Brazilian-Portuguese. A Brazilian wheelchair OMNI was concurrently validated for Arm-Crank Activity in adolescents with spina bifida. This OMNI scale version may aid health providers in monitoring perceived exertion in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Propulsive wheelchair capacity may be influenced by arm muscle performance. Objectives: To determine whether children and adolescent wheelchair-users with spina bifida show reduced arm muscle strength compared to their typically developing peers and to compare muscle strength data obtained by isokinetic and handheld dynamometry (HHD). Participants (mean age 12.5 ± 2.5 years) were assigned to spina bifida (SB; n = 11) or control (n = 22) groups. Isokinetic dynamometry was used to measure peak torque (PT) during dynamic (60°s−1 and 120°s−1) and isometric strength testing (MVIC) for shoulder and elbow flexors and extensors. HHD was used to measure MVIC of the same muscle groups. SB showed reduced isokinetic PT for shoulder extensors at 60°s−1 and 120°s−1, shoulder flexor MVIC, and elbow flexors at 60°s−1 and MVIC; higher PT for shoulder flexors and elbow flexors at 120°s−1; and decreased MVIC for elbow flexors but not extensors compared to controls when assessed by HHD. The SB and control groups showed strong positive correlations between MVIC data obtained by the two devices for all muscle groups (r ≥ 0.81; p <.01), except for shoulder flexor MVIC in controls (r = 0.68; p <.01). SB presented reduced levels of dynamic slow-speed and isometric shoulder and elbow muscle strength and greater dynamic high-speed shoulder and elbow flexor strength than controls possibly due to the exposure to self-sustained wheelchair ambulation. Exercise-based intervention protocols to increase slow-speed arm muscle strength should be considered in youth with SB. Strong positive correlations observed between muscle strength assessed by isokinetic dynamometry and HHD support the use of HHD in this clinical population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We analyzed the evolution and pattern of heart rate (HR) during the 12-minute wheelchair propulsion field test (WPFT) and compared the peak HR (HRpeak) from the WPFT to the HRpeak obtained in the progressive cardiopulmonary exercise test on arm cranking ergometer (ACT). We aimed to determine if the field test detects the HRpeak consistently and could be used in clinical practice. Methods: Eleven wheelchair-using children and adolescents with myelomeningocele (aged 8-15 y) performed a maximal ACT and a 12-minute WPFT. HR was recorded continuously at rest, during each minute of the tests, and at recovery. Mixed analysis of variance was used to compare the variables at rest and peak. Bland--Altman plot and Lin's concordance correlation coefficient were used to show agreement between the tests. Results: During minute 2 of the WPFT, participants reached 73%-96% of the HRpeak values recorded in the ACT. From minutes 4 to 12, participants reached HRpeak values ranging 86%-109% of the values recorded in the ACT. There is agreement between the ACT and the WPFT tests. Conclusion: WPFT with minimal duration of 4 minutes may be an alternative tool to obtain HRpeak in children and adolescents with myelomeningocele. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]