Oxygen uptake during peak graded exercise and single-stage fatigue tests of wheelchair propulsion in manual wheelchair users and the able-bodied.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if a single-stage, submaximal fatigue test on a wheelchair ergometer would result in higher than expected energy expenditure.


METHODS
An experimental survey design contrasting physiologic responses during peak graded exercise tests and fatigue tests.


METHODS
A rehabilitation science laboratory that included a prototypical wheelchair ergometer, open-circuit spirometry system, and heart rate monitor.


METHODS
Nine able-bodied non-wheelchair users (the NWC group: 6 men and 3 women, mean +/- SD age 30 +/- 7yrs) and 15 manual wheelchair users (the WC group: 12 men and 3 women, age 40 +/- 9yrs, time in wheelchair 16 +/- 9yrs). No subject had any disease, medication regimen, or upper body neurologic, orthopedic, or other condition that would limit wheelchair exercise.


METHODS
Peak oxygen uptake (VO2) for graded exercise testing and during fatigue testing, using a power output corresponding to 75% peak aerobic capacity on graded exercise test.


RESULTS
In the WC group, VO2 at 6 minutes of fatigue testing was not significantly different from peak VO2. In the NWC group, VO2 was similar to the expected level throughout fatigue testing.


CONCLUSIONS
Energy expenditure was higher than expected in the WC group but not in the NWC group. Fatigue testing may provide a useful evaluation of cardiorespiratory status in manual wheelchair users.
Keyser
R E
RE
Department of Physical Therapy, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore 21201-1082, USA.
Rodgers
M M
MM
Gardner
E R
ER
Russell
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004867:Equipment Design; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005221:Fatigue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000009:adverse effects*