Relation between muscular strength and cardiorespiratory fitness in people with thoracic-level paraplegia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relation between muscular strength, aerobic power (V O2 peak), submaximal blood lactate accumulation, and endurance performance in people with thoracic-level paraplegia.


METHODS
Participants performed tests of isokinetic strength, a graded exercise test, and 2 endurance performance tests. A Latin square counterbalanced design was used to determine the order of testing.


METHODS
Research laboratory in a university setting.


METHODS
Ten adult male volunteers with thoracic-level paraplegia.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
The relations between strength, V O2 peak, submaximal blood lactate accumulation, and endurance were determined by correlation analysis.


RESULTS
Shoulder flexion strength correlated with V O2 peak and power output at V O2 peak. Shoulder strength accounted for 68.4% of the variation in performance time. Greater isokinetic elbow flexion and extension strength was associated with higher V O2 and power output at a blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol/L (flexion) and with a greater power output at V O2 peak (extension).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that in this population, greater muscular strength is associated with greater aerobic power and endurance. Greater muscular strength could exert a positive influence on exercise performance by enabling higher levels of cardiorespiratory stress as the result of reduced or delayed local muscle fatigue.
Zoeller
Robert F
RF
Department of Exercise Science and Health Promotion, Florida Atlantic University, Davie, FL 33314, USA. rzoeller@fau.edu
Riechman
Steven E
SE
Dabayebeh
Ibrahim M
IM
Goss
Fredric L
FL
Robertson
Robert J
RJ
Jacobs
Patrick L
PL
D000328:Adult; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D016552:Ergometry; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000502:physiology*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption / Q000502:physiology; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D010809:Physical Fitness / Q000502:physiology*; D012143:Respiratory Physiological Phenomena; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000502:physiology
D019344:Lactic Acid