Is there a way to calculate calories burnt by wheeling a wheelchair?

Thank you all for your suggestions. Saphin, I really appreciate the heads up on the research. The only proplem is that, the blurb only supplied an idea on the calories while propelling on a flat surface and I can't see how the calories burnt could be that low. For example, Saturday was my 50th birthday. My parents drove 6 hrs to visit and it was wonderful. We spent Friday running around, beingnin a nursing home, with no family closer than 4 hrs await, I don't get out often, but I digress. We went to Walmart in the course of our day. I needed a haircut and a few odds and ends. I don't know how it is where you live but here inmourmtown, you can not bring one of thenelectric carts into the hair salon. So, my eighty year old parents, found a gentleman to get the wheelchair out of the car and off we go. Had I known that we would spend 2 1/2hrs in there I may have reconsidered the outing, LOL. The reach stated in the blurb says that the calories burnt in 1/2 hrs, wheeling on a flat surface, going 2 miles per hr, would expend 120 calories. I can tell you the are nuts, or the user a 100 lb runner to get this number. I currently weigh 338. I was exhausted! My shirt was soaked. My shoulders and bicepts were on fire and I could barely make it to the door to get in the car. I had to have the help of two men who collect the carts to help me transfer from one to another and when my parents suggested the eat out, aI said hell no.
I have contacted,the University, to question their data; to find out the conditions; and the condition of their test subject.
I hope they respond, because being completely non-ambulatory, and I am probably not the only one, need an answer. And I can promise, if they do respond, I will pass the information on (without the rant lol).

Lorrph, I bevieve you are right an it could very well fit there. But as I see it, you as an ambulatory individual can easily factor many things into you basic lifestyle calorie burn, because you have the tools to determine exactly (more or less) the total energy used in your lifestyle i.e. Fitbit etc.. Whereas those of us in a wheel chair can't factor a huge part of the calories burnt in the course of our day. I am researching this and hopefully, something will finally come out that the people barely hanging on can afford. As I said, I contacted the University of Tennessee Knoxville to get some further information on the study they did. They are trying an calculate the calories burnt wheeling about

saphin, i wanted to ask what is "polar flow"? I believe that is what is says when you post on my diary. I wad just wondering.

Oh ok. I think I understand. Thanks

MeanderingMammal, middlehaitch, gothchiq,MegazWatty, lorrpb.chieflrg, metitage4, Mavrick_RN, and saphin:

I think I got everyone. And I want to thank you all for your input. My physical therapist and I have been beating our heads against the proverbial wall about my problem, and all we have been able to get is a headache. We have looked into each and everyone, from searching other discussions right here in MFP; to external devises, such as, Apples new watchO3, at a whopping $400.00 plus per watch (just a little pricey for nursing home living); and last but not least a heart rate monitor, which the nurses state would basically let me know to scream for help before I keel over. Through research and some frustration with the inability to modify existing devises to make them work for a wheelchair (i.e. thre bike computer because, not all wheelchairs have metal spokes onto which you would install the magnet, as well as nowhere to put the sensor & believe me we tried.)

We all know the premiss You have the distance of 500 ft., to complete a lap around the building and approximately 11 laps make a mile. Now as so far, since I started this evdeavor thru till today, I have not been able to a full mile at one time. I was able to do 3 halls, approximatelt 400 feet. Three of the halls are tile, 2 flat terrain at andistance of 100 ft per hall, and 1 also tiled that slopes downhill for 150 ft. at a slope of about 2.5°. That leaves the fourth hall, 150 feet, covered in industrial grade carpet, on a steady incline of approximately 2.5°, until you hit the last 50 feet where it levels off, and finally, the wheelchair and I have a combined weight of 388.6. I cover that 500 feet at an average of about (because this is a close as we can get) 5 mins. .

Now, some of you suggested that I cut my calories back. Well in May of last year, I started, per doctors' order, a diet(God I strongly dislike that word) of 1800 calories a day. I had no problem doing that. But, about 2 weeks later, the Social Worker and the Director of Nursing came to my room wanting me to sign a non-compliance or AMA form for my diet. Well I looked at them like they were crazy. I told them I had been counting calorie (with WW numbers system) since the day they came to me. They then tell me, that I'm drinking more than the alowed calories for the day, in 2% milk alone each day. Sure shocked me. Heck I figure it was good for mel so no big deal, yeah right,

Well some of you wanted to know the numbers we wete working with, so they could try to figure it out. All I can say is, more power to you. I graduated college with honors and this me shaking my head in disgust, because I keep thinking, "I have it!", only to realize the number of calories we come up with is impossible. I mean, I'm a big girl, but there is no way making the loop at the rate, distance, grade, speed, and weight being pullef, sure doesn't equate to 2436, 1315, 922 and the lists of calores burnt comtinues.

Well, you all have the numbers, in black and white, as they say, but can anyone come up with a mathmatical equation, to derive an approximation of the calories used? Tell all your friends, maybe there is one of them with a kid in college or AP mathmatics, that can figure it out. Don't forget, the only prize for their effort is my never-ending appreciation and a letter of glowing praize, for doing the seemingly impossible,9 to whomever they wish . Thanks for all you efforts.

Gretchen