title: Longitudinal changes in physical capacity over 20 years in athletes with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the longitudinal changes in physical capacity over 20 years in athletes with spinal cord injury (SCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal study (20-y follow-up).
  
  
  METHODS
  Laboratory setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Persons with SCI (N=7).
  
  
  METHODS
  Not applicable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maximum oxygen consumption Vo(2)max) measured in 1986-1988 and in 2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Subjects with SCI maintained stable Vo(2)max in 2006. Six of the 7 continued various wheelchair sports activities, while 1 person quit sports activities 1 year after the baseline study. The latter person showed reduced Vo(2)max by 53%, while 2 persons who continued strenuous wheelchair sports activities showed increased Vo(2)max by 43% and 45% after 20 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results indicated that physical capacity reflected the level of sports activity in subjects with SCI who maintained sports activities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama City, Japan.
authors.forename: Sumiko
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiba
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okawa
authors.forename: Hiroyasu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Uenishi
authors.forename: Yumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Koike
authors.forename: Katuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamauchi
authors.forename: Ko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Asayama
authors.forename: Taro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Fumihiro
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tajima
mesh_terms: D056352:Athletes; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014910:Wheelchairs