Cardiorespiratory and Perceptual Responses to Arm Crank and Wheelchair Exercise Using Various Handrims in Male Paraplegics |
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| Authors: | G William Gayle PhD Roberta L Pohlman Roger M Glaser Glen M Davis |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation , Wright State University;2. Department of Physiology and Biophysics , USA;3. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine and Restorative Care School of Medicine , Wright State University;4. Department of Biological Science, Rehabilitation Research Centre , Cumberland College of Health Sciences , Lidcombe , New South Wales , Australia |
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| Abstract: | Abstract The purpose of the present study was to determine the effects of 10-in 025–m] versus 16-in 0.41-m] wheelchair handrims on cardiorespiratory and psychophysiological exercise responses during wheelchair propulsion at selected velocities. Fifteen male paraplegics (27.0 ± 5.5 yrs) performed three discontinuous exercise tests (ACE = arm crank ergometer; WERG = wheelchair roller ergometer) and two 1600-m performance-based track trials (TRACK) under simulated race conditions. There were no significant differences in HR, VO2, VE, HLa, or category-ratio ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) using different handrims during wheelchair propulsion at 4 km-h1. In contrast, at 8 km-h?1 subjects demonstrated a 13% lower steady state VO2 (p < .05) using the 10-in handrims, coincident with a 23% lower VE Steady state HR during WERG at 8 km-h?1 using the 10-in (124.4 ± 39 b.min?1) or 16-in (130.6 ± 4.6 b.min?1) handrims were not significantly different. There were also no significant differences between ACE or WERG conditions during maximal effort for VO2 or VE. However, HRpeak during ACE was 7% higher than HRpeak during WERG16 (183 ± 15 b.min?1 vs. 171 ± 12 b.min?1, p < .05), and whole blood HLa during ACE was also significantly higher (by 2.3-2.5 mmol; p < .05) compared to WERG. There were no significant differences for HR, performance time, or RPE between trials using different handrim diameters during the 1600-m event. In contrast, HLa was significantly lower using smaller handrims (9.9 mmol) compared with larger handrims (11.3 mmol), paralleling a similar difference in the laboratory. Although these data demonstrated few significant differences of physiologic responses between trials using different handrims, there was a tendency for a lower metabolic stress using the smaller handrims. |
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| Keywords: | wheelchair exercise cardiorespiratory response paraplegic handrims |
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