Multistage Field Test (MFT) for wheelchair users

This test is a wheelchair version of the beep test, by Vanderthommen et al. (2002).

purpose: to evaluate physical fitness and predict peak oxygen consumption of wheelchair users.
equipment required: cones, flat hard surface, audio recording (create your own using the team beeptest software)
procedure: An octagonal course is marked out using cones. The course is basically a 15 m x 15 m square, with each corner modified to create a 2.83 m long turning zone. The four main sides of the octagon are 11 m long. The corner zones avoid the necessity to make a sharp 90 degree turn. The initial wheeling velocity is 6 km/hr, which increased by 0.37 km/hr in one minute stages. A beep signified when the subject had to be within the turning zone. The test was stopped if the subject was unable to reach the turning zone on three consecutive occasions.

scoring: The score is the number of exercise level achieved before they were unable to keep up with the recording.
target population: It is a test of aerobic fitness for people in wheel chairs.
advantages: this test is more cost-effective and easier to administer than the alternative laboratory fitness tests that are usually required to test the fitness of wheelchair users.
disadvantages: As with the running beep test, practice and motivation levels can influence the score attained, and the scoring can be subjective. Wheelchair skill and technique may also affect the level achieved.
comments:
- The subjects are allowed to use their own personal wheelchair and are free to choose the direction of rotation for the test (clockwise or counterclockwise).
- It is also possible to simultaneously test four subjects if they choose the same direction of rotation for the test.
- the beep test recording for this test uses different timings than the standard beep test
test reference: Marc Vanderthommen, Marc Francaux, Cédrik Colinet, Cédric Lehance, Claude Lhermerout, Jean-Michel Crielaard, Daniel Theisen, A multistage field test of wheelchair users for evaluation of fitness and prediction of peak oxygen consumption, Journal of Rehabilitation Research and Development, Dec 2002, Volume:39 Issue:6 Page:685-692.
other wheelchair fitness testing references:

Hartung GH, LaHy DA, Blaneq RJ. Comparison of treadmill exercise testing protocols for wheelchair users. Eur J Appi Physiol Occup Physiol 1993;66(4):362-65.
Davis OM. Exercise capacity of individuals with paraplegia. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1993;25(4):423-32.
Franklin BA, Swantek KI, Grais SL, Johnstone KS, Gordon S, Timmis GC. Field test estimation of maximal oxygen consumption in wheelchair users. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 1990;71(8):574-78.
Vanlandewijck YC, Daly DJ, Theisen DM, Field test evaluation of aerobic anaerobic, and wheelchair basketball skill performances. Int J Sports Med 1990;20(8):548-54.
Vinet A, Bernard PL, Poulain M, Varray A, Le Gallais D, Micallef JP, Validation of an incremental field test for the direct assessment of peak oxygen uptake in wheelchair dependent athletes. Spinal Cord 1996;34(5):288- 93.
Rhodes EC, McKenzie DC, Coutts KD, Rodgers AR. A field test for the prediction of aerobic capacity in the male paraplegics and quadraplegics. Can J Appl Sport Sci 1981;6(4):182-86.

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