Effect of a pulsating anti-gravity suit on peak exercise performance in individual with spinal cord injuries.
The aim of this study was to examine effects of a pulsating pressure anti-gravity suit on the peak values of oxygen uptake (VO2) and power during maximal arm exercise in spinal-cord-injured (SCI) individuals. Five well-trained SCI men (with lesions at levels between T6 and L1) and seven well-trained able-bodied men (ABC) performed two incremental (10 W x min(-1)) arm-cranking tests. During one test the pressure in the anti-G suit pulsated between 4.7 kPa (35 mmHg) and 9.3 kPa (70 mmHg) every 2 s (PPG+), during the other test (PPG-) all the subjects wore the anti-G suit in a deflated state. Tests were performed in a counter-balanced order. Peak VO2 in SCI was 1 ml x kg(-1) x min(-1) lower during PPG+ compared to PPG- (P = 0.05). Peak power and peak heart rate were not significantly different during PPG+ compared to PPG-. These results would suggest that no increase in work capacity can be obtained with a pulsating pressure anti-gravity suit in either SCI or ABC.
Houtman
S
S
Department of Physiology 237, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Thielen
J J
JJ
Binkhorst
R A
RA
Hopman
M T
MT
D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D005676:Gravity Suits; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*