Summary
The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of work rate increment on peak oxygen uptake (\(\dot VO_2\)peak) during wheelchair ergometry (WCE) in men with quadriplegia due to cervical spinal cord injuries (CSCI). Twenty-two non-ambulatory subjects (aged 20–38 years) with CSCI were divided into two groups based on wheelchair sports classification (n = 12 for IA group and n = 10 for IB/IC group). Subjects underwent three different, continuous graded exercise tests (spaced at least 1 week apart) on an electronically braked wheelchair ergometer. Following a 3-min warm-up, the work rate was increased 2, 4, or 6 W · min−1 for the IA group and 4, 6, or 8 W · min−1 for the IB/IC group. Ventilation and gas exchange were measured breath-by-breath with a computerized system. Repeated-measures ANOVA showed no significant difference among the three protocols for \(\dot VO_2\)peak in the IA group (P>0.05). The mean (SD) \(\dot VO_2\)peak values (ml · kg−1 · min−1) were 9.3 (2.4), 9.4 (3.2), and 8.4 (2.6) for the 2, 4, and 6 W · min−1 protocols, respectively. In contrast, the IB/IC group showed a significant difference among the protocols for \(\dot VO_2\)peak (P<0.05). The mean (SD) \(\dot VO_2\)peak values (ml · kg−1 · min−1) were 15.1 (4.0), 14.1 (4.4), and 12.7 (4.0) for the 4, 6, and 8 W · min−1 protocols, respectively. Post hoc analysis revealed a difference between the 4 and 8 W · min−1 protocols. Our results suggest that graded exercise testing of men with quadriplegia due to CSCI, using WCE, should employ work rate increments between 2 and 6 W · min−1 and that work rate increments of 8 W · min−1 or greater will result in an underestimate of \(\dot VO_2\)peak.
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Lasko-McCarthey, P., Davis, J.A. Effect of work rate increment on peak oxygen uptake during wheelchair ergometry in men with quadriplegia. Eur J Appl Physiol 63, 349–353 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00364461
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00364461