title: Resting cardiopulmonary function in Paralympic athletes with cervical spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purposes of this study were to describe resting cardiopulmonary function in highly trained athletes with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) and to compare the data with able-bodied (AB) control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve Paralympic wheelchair rugby players with cervical SCI (injury level = C5-C7) and 12 AB controls matched for age, stature, and body mass were assessed for pulmonary function using spirometry, body plethysmography, and maximal inspiratory and expiratory mouth pressures; diaphragm function using magnetic stimulation of the phrenic nerves; and cardiac function using transthoracic echocardiography.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total lung capacity, vital capacity, inspiratory reserve volume, and expiratory reserve volume were lower in SCI compared with AB (P < 0.01), whereas residual volume was elevated in SCI (P = 0.022). Airway resistance and maximal inspiratory mouth pressure were not different between groups (P > 0.41), whereas maximal expiratory mouth pressure, maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure, and twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure were lower in SCI (P < 0.01). Percent predicted total lung capacity was significantly correlated with maximal transdiaphragmatic pressure in SCI (r = 0.74), suggesting that the pulmonary restriction was a result of diaphragm weakness. Left ventricular mass, ejection fraction, stroke volume, and cardiac output were lower in SCI (P < 0.04), but early and late filling velocities during diastole were not different between groups (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Highly trained athletes with cervical SCI exhibit a restrictive pulmonary defect, weakness of the expiratory and diaphragm muscles, atrophy of the heart, and reduced systolic cardiac function.
authors: Centre for Sports Medicine and Human Performance, Brunel University, Middlesex, United Kingdom.
authors: Christopher R
authors: CR
authors: West
authors: Ian G
authors: IG
authors: Campbell
authors: Robert E
authors: RE
authors: Shave
authors: Lee M
authors: LM
authors: Romer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001827:Body Height / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D003964:Diaphragm / Q000503:physiopathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005538:Football / Q000502:physiology; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D055070:Resistance Training; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012146:Rest / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult