Cardiorespiratory responses during passive walking-like exercise in quadriplegics.
METHODS
Cross-sectional and comparative investigation using quadriplegics (QP) and nondisabled subjects (ND).


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate cardiorespiratory responses during passive walking-like exercise (PWE) in QP.


METHODS
National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities in Japan.


METHODS
The subjects were seven male QP with complete lesion (age: 27.0 +/- 5.4, injured level: C6-C7) and six male ND (age: 26.3 +/- 4.5). Cardiorespiratory responses were measured until voluntary fatigue during PWE, the rhythmical activity of paralyzed lower limbs synchronized with arm movements.


RESULTS
There were no significant differences in oxygen consumption (VO(2)), pulmonary ventilation (VE), heart rate (HR) and oxygen pulse (O(2) pulse) between QP and ND during PWE. ND showed increased ventilatory equivalent for oxygen (VE/VO(2) ratio) during exercise, while QP showed a significantly greater respiratory rate (RR) during exercise than ND (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
PWE elicited an increase in VO(2) with workload increment in QP similar to ND. However, higher RR suggested the intrinsic dysfunction of RR control during submaximal exercise in QP. From these results, it was thought that respiratory response would be the restriction factor of efficient oxygen transportation during PWE in QP.
Higuchi
Y
Y
Department of Physical Training for Remedial Gymnastics, Hospital, National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, Tokorozawa, Saitama, Japan.
Kitamura
S
S
Kawashima
N
N
Nakazawa
K
K
Iwaya
T
T
Yamasaki
M
M
D000328:Adult; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015915:Motion Therapy, Continuous Passive / Q000379:methods*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation; D011782:Quadriplegia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016138:Walking