Gains of cardiorespiratory fitness with arm-crank training in spinally disabled men.
Cardiorespiratory responses to four patterns of arm-crank training (thrice weekly sessions at 50 or 70% of peak oxygen intake, 20 or 40 min per session) were examined over 8, 16, and 24 weeks in 24 initially inactive subjects with paraplegia. Training was associated with a significant increment of the peak oxygen intake during arm-crank tests except in control subjects and those combining a low intensity (50% of peak) with short-duration training (20-min sessions). There were associated increases in cardiac stroke volume, as assessed by a carbon dioxide rebreathing technique during submaximal exercise. It is suggested that the performance of inactive wheelchair users is limited by a pooling of blood in paralysed regions, with a reduction of cardiac preloading; nevertheless, substantial gains of performance are possible through prolonged arm-crank exercise of moderate intensity.
Davis
G
G
School of Physical and Health Education, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto.
Plyley
M J
MJ
Shephard
R J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000534:rehabilitation; D013124:Spinal Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation*