Study design: This was a retrospective observational study. Objective: The objective was to determine the normative values for 20 min exercise of wheelchair propulsion in spinal cord injury (SCI) subjects. Setting: Sarah Rehabilitation Hospitals Network, Brazil. Methods: A total of 413 medical records for SCI patients at different levels and classifications at the Sarah Rehabilitation Hospitals Network, Brazil, who performed 20 min exercise in a rehabilitation programme between the years 2004 and 2009 were consulted. Information regarding patient and performance characteristics was obtained, including distance travelled, mean velocity, rest and exercising heart rate and perceived exertion. The data were analysed by gender and by injury level group: tetraplegia (TT) or paraplegia (PP). Results: The participants' ages ranged from 18 to 64 years, and the median time since injury was 1.2 years. The men and women had different performances regardless of their level of injury. The distance ranged between 495 and 2106 m for men and between 300 and 1901 m for women. The mean velocity of propulsion ranged from 25 to 105 m min À1 for men and from 15 to 95 m min À1 for women.Conclusions: This study provides normative data for the 20 min exercise that could be used to estimate the resistance capacity by manual wheelchair users with SCI and evaluate the effects of training and other therapeutic interventions.