title: Aerobic performance capacity in paraplegic subjects.
abstract: To determine adaptation to prolonged exercise in paraplegics, maximal O2 uptake (VO2max) and lactate threshold (LT) were evaluated during an arm cranking exercise in nine patients (P) and nine able-bodied (AB) subjects. Mean VO2max averaged 25.1 and 31.6 ml X min-1 X kg-1 in P and AB groups respectively. VO2max in P was found to be directly related to the level of spinal injury: the higher the lesion the lower the uptake. Lactate threshold expressed as a percentage of VO2max was higher in P (59%) than in AB (43%), and close to that observed in arm-trained athletes. Since training has less effect on VO2max in paraplegics than in able-bodied subjects, attributable to a deficiency in the circulatory adaptation of paraplegics to exercise, the observed differences between AB and P in lactate threshold and submaximal exercise indicate that the possible effect of training in paraplegics is located at the level of intracellular chemistry, with a diminution in glycogenolysis (higher LT) and a higher rate of lipid utilization (lower RQ).
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000332:Aerobiosis; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood*; D019344:Lactic Acid; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012119:Respiration
chemical_list: D007773:Lactates; D019344:Lactic Acid