Ventilation efficiency and pulmonary function after a wheelchair interval-training program in subjects with recent spinal cord injury.
OBJECTIVE
To study the effect of a wheelchair interval-training program on the ventilatory function of subjects with recent spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Evaluation trial before and after a training program.


METHODS
Center of reeducation and university hospital.


METHODS
Six subjects (5 men, 1 woman) hospitalized after a recent SCI.


METHODS
On a wheelchair ergometer, subjects with SCI performed 30 minutes of interval training 3 times a week for 6 weeks. The training program was part of their reeducation program.


METHODS
Spirometric values at rest and dynamic ventilatory responses were studied before and after this training program with a spirometric test, a maximal exercise test that increased by 5W every 2 minutes, and a submaximal test.


RESULTS
Spirometric values at rest did not change after training. At maximal exercise, peak ventilation (Vepeak, 7.5%), peak breathing frequency (f peak) (-13.4%), peak tidal volume (Vtpeak +28.9%), and the ventilatory reserve (12.9%) improved after training. The oxygen cost of Ve decreased significantly (-20%) after training. We observed for the wheelchair tests that, at the same workload after training, Ve and f decreased and Vt increased.


CONCLUSIONS
After 6 weeks of our interval-training program in subjects with recent SCI, the increase of Vt and the decrease of oxygen cost of Ve indicated better ventilatory efficiency.
Le Foll-de Moro
Déborah
D
Service de Physiologie Clinique et des Explorations Fonctionnelles, Hôpitaux Universitaires de Strasbourg, Strasbourg, France. deborah.demoro@wanadoo.fr
Tordi
Nicolas
N
Lonsdorfer
Evelyne
E
Lonsdorfer
Jean
J
D016552:Ergometry / Q000379:methods; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D010806:Physical Education and Training; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014910:Wheelchairs