The responses of an able bodied person to wheelchair training: a case study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the responses of a previously untrained, able bodied male to a 10 month training programme in a wheelchair.


METHODS
Physiological indices and performance times were measured over the 10 month period during periods of general conditioning, specific conditioning, and competition.


RESULTS
Although both peak oxygen uptake and maximum heart rate increased it was found that the main contribution to improvements in performance was from increased pushing economy. The value of peak oxygen uptake for the subject was within the normal range for paraplegics; however, maximum ventilation exceeded the levels normally achieved by paraplegics. At the conclusion of the study the subject successfully completed a wheelchair marathon in a time of 2 h 9 min at an average speed of 5.17 m s1.


CONCLUSIONS
It was possible for an able bodied person with no previous experience in a wheelchair to successfully compete in a wheelchair marathon with only 10 months training. The main contribution to the improvement in performance was from increased pushing economy.
Department of PE and Sports Science, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, United Kingdom.
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Lakomy
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Williams
D000328:Adult; D004526:Efficiency; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005080:Exercise Test; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008451:Maximal Voluntary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology; D014142:Track and Field / Q000193:education / Q000502:physiology*; D014910:Wheelchairs