Prediction of VO(2peak) in wheelchair-dependent athletes from the adapted Léger and Boucher test.
OBJECTIVE
:The purpose of this study was to provide a predictive peak oxygen uptake ([V]O(2) peak) equation in wheelchair-dependent athletes using the Adapted Léger and Boucher test. SUBJECTS AND PROTOCOL: :Fifty-six wheelchair-dependent athletes, 47 males and nine females (30.3+/-4 years), underwent a clinical examination to assess their anthropometric characteristics: height, mass, body mass index (BMI), lean body mass, arm length, and muscular arm volume. They performed a deceleration field test to assess the subject-wheelchair resistance defined as a mechanical variable, and they then performed the Adapted Léger and Boucher test to assess physiological data at maximal exercise ([V]O(2) peak, heart rate max) concomitantly with biomechanical (number of pushes) and performance variables (maximal aerobic velocity Va(max) and maximal distance). The [V]O(2) peak was measured directly using a portable telemetric oxygen analyzer. Subjects were then randomly assigned to an experimental group (n=49) to determine the predictive equation, and a validation group (n=7) to check the external validity of the equation.


RESULTS
A stepwise multiple regression with [V]O(2) peak (l min(-1)) as the dependent variable led to the following equation: [V]O(2) peak=0.22 Va(max) - 0.63 log(age)+0.05 BMI 0.25 level+0.52, with r(2)=0.81 and SEE=0.01. Paraplegic subjects with high and low lesion level spinal injuries were attributed the coefficient of 1 and 0, respectively. The external validity of the equation was positive since the predicted [V]O(2) peak values did not significantly differ from directly measured [V]O(2) peak (P>0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that [V]O(2) peak in wheelchair-dependent athletes was predictable using the equation of the present study and the described incremental test.
Vinet
A
A
Laboratoire 'Sport, Performance, Santé', EA2991, UFR STAPS, 700 avenue du Pic Saint Loup, F-34100 Montpellier, France.
Le Gallais
D
D
Bouges
S
S
Bernard
P-L
PL
Poulain
M
M
Varray
A
A
Micallef
J-P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016011:Normal Distribution; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology*; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013177:Sports; D014142:Track and Field; D014910:Wheelchairs