Fat oxidation at different intensities in wheelchair racing.
METHODS
Determination of fat oxidation at three different intensities in trained wheelchair athletes on the treadmill.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study was to assess the level and highest rate of fat oxidation in endurance-trained wheelchair athletes for recommendation on endurance training.


METHODS
Institute of Sports Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland.


METHODS
Nine (seven men and two women) endurance-trained wheelchair athletes (VO(2peak) 40.2+/-6.7 ml/kg/min) were studied over 20 min at 55, 65 and 75% VO(2peak) on a treadmill in their own racing wheelchairs in order to find the exercise intensity with the highest absolute fat oxidation.


RESULTS
As presumed, total energy expenditure for wheelchair racing was highest at 75% VO(2peak), while absolute fat oxidation was statistically not significantly different at the three tested intensities. Percentage of energy expenditure from fat oxidation decreased with increasing intensity from 31.4% at 55% VO(2peak) to 20.9% at 75% VO(2peak), while percentage from carbohydrate oxidation increased from 68.6% at 55% VO(2peak) to 79.1% at 75% VO(2peak).


CONCLUSIONS
For wheelchair athletes, we recommend training of fat metabolism for endurance exercise at an intensity of 55% VO(2peak), because absolute fat metabolism is not higher at higher intensities but less carbohydrates are used at lower intensity levels. At lower intensities, exercise can be performed over a longer time before the emptied glycogen stores will limit exercise duration. This may apply especially to paraplegic subjects whose active muscle mass is limited in contrast to able-bodied athletes.
Knechtle
B
B
Institute of Sports Medicine, Swiss Paraplegic Centre, Nottwil, Switzerland.
Müller
G
G
Willmann
F
F
Eser
P
P
Knecht
H
H
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005223:Fats / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology*; D014910:Wheelchairs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D005223:Fats