A comparison of 2 circuit exercise training techniques for eliciting matched metabolic responses in persons with paraplegia.
OBJECTIVE
To test whether acute metabolic (VO(2)), chronotropic (heart rate), and perceptual (rating of perceived exertion; RPE) responses to exercise by persons with paraplegia differ when the exercise is on a multistation isoinertial exercise system (MultiGym) or on a customized system of Thera-Band resistance bands (ElasticGym).


METHODS
Within-subjects comparison of 2 treatments.


METHODS
Academic medical center.


METHODS
Sixteen men and 1 woman with complete paraplegia (T4-L1), as defined by the American Spinal Injury Association.


METHODS
A circuit resistance training (CRT) program for persons with paraplegia was adapted to both a MultiGym and a customized ElasticGym. Exercises used for training and testing used 6 resistance maneuvers at 50% of the 1-repetition maximum (1-RM), with interposed rapid arm spinning. Subjects were habituated to both conditions for 2 weeks before testing on randomized nonconsecutive days.


METHODS
VO(2) (L/min) was measured by portable spirometry, heart rate (beats/min) by a chest strap monitor, and RPE by the Borg Scale of Perceived Exertion (6-20).


RESULTS
No significant effects of test condition on average VO(2) or heart rate were observed, with differences between conditions reflecting only .08L/min and 6.4 beats/min, respectively. Average RPE was significantly higher in testing under the ElasticGym condition (P < .05).


CONCLUSIONS
CRT on a customized ElasticGym system elicited acute metabolic and chronotropic responses that did not differ from responses to exercise on a MultiGym, though RPE was greater with the ElasticGym.
Nash
Mark S
MS
Department of Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation, Miami Project to Cure Paralysis, University of Miami School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA. msnash@miami.edu
Jacobs
Patrick L
PL
Woods
Jeffrey M
JM
Clark
James E
JE
Pray
Tanya A
TA
Pumarejo
Alex E
AE
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D019876:Sports Equipment