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Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology 10/2017

01-10-2017 | Original Article

Fatigability, oxygen uptake kinetics and muscle deoxygenation in incomplete spinal cord injury during treadmill walking

Authors: Jared M. Gollie, Jeffrey E. Herrick, Randall E. Keyser, Lisa M. K. Chin, John P. Collins, Richard K. Shields, Gino S. Panza, Andrew A. Guccione

Published in: European Journal of Applied Physiology | Issue 10/2017

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the present study was to characterize hypothesized relationships among fatigability and cardiorespiratory fitness in individuals with chronic motor-incomplete SCI (iSCI) during treadmill walking. The theoretical framework was that exacerbated fatigability would occur concomitantly with diminished cardiorespiratory fitness in people with iSCI.

Methods

Subjects with iSCI (n = 8) and an able-bodied reference group (REF) (n = 8) completed a 6-min walking bout followed by a walking bout of 30-min or until volitional exhaustion, both at a self-selected walking speed. Fatigability was assessed using both perceived fatigability and performance fatigability measures. Pulmonary oxygen uptake kinetics (VO2 on-kinetics) was measured breath-by-breath and changes in deoxygenated hemoglobin/myoglobin concentration (∆[HHb]) of the lateral gastrocnemius was measured by near-infrared spectroscopy. Adjustment of VO2 and ∆[HHb] on-kinetics were modeled using a mono-exponential equation.

Results

Perceived fatigability and performance fatigability were 52% and 44% greater in the iSCI group compared to the REF group (p = 0.003 and p = 0.004). Phase II time constant (τp) of VO2 on-kinetics and ∆[HHb] ½ time during resting arterial occlusion were 55.4% and 16.3% slower in iSCI vs REF (p < 0.01 and p = 0.047, respectively).

Conclusions

The results of the present study may suggest that compromised O2 delivery and/or utilization may have contributed to the severity of fatigability in these individuals with iSCI. The understanding of the extent to which fatigability and VO2 and Δ[HHb] on-kinetics impacts locomotion after iSCI will assist in the future development of targeted interventions to enhance function.
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Metadata
Title
Fatigability, oxygen uptake kinetics and muscle deoxygenation in incomplete spinal cord injury during treadmill walking
Authors
Jared M. Gollie
Jeffrey E. Herrick
Randall E. Keyser
Lisa M. K. Chin
John P. Collins
Richard K. Shields
Gino S. Panza
Andrew A. Guccione
Publication date
01-10-2017
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
European Journal of Applied Physiology / Issue 10/2017
Print ISSN: 1439-6319
Electronic ISSN: 1439-6327
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-017-3685-y

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