title: Effects of seated double-poling ergometer training on aerobic and mechanical power in individuals with spinal cord injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine whether regular interval training on a seated double-poling ergometer can increase physical capacity and safely improve performance towards maximal level in individuals with spinal cord injury.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 13 subjects with spinal cord injury (injury levels T5-L1) performed 30 sessions of seated double-poling ergometer training over a period of 10 weeks. Sub-maximal and maximal double-poling ergometer tests were performed before (test-retest) and after this training period. Oxygen uptake was measured using the Douglas Bag system. Three-dimensional kinematics were recorded using an optoelectronic system and piezoelectric force sensors were used to register force in both poles.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean intra-class correlation coefficient for test-retest values was 0.83 (standard deviation 0.11). After training significant improvements were observed in people with spinal cord injury in oxygen uptake (22.7%), ventilation (20.7%) and blood lactate level (22.0%) during maximal exertion exercises. Mean power per stroke and peak pole force increased by 15.4% and 23.7%, respectively. At sub-maximal level, significantly lower values were observed in ventilation (-12.8%) and blood lactate level (-25.0%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regular interval training on the seated double-poling ergometer was effective for individuals with spinal cord injury below T5 level in terms of improving aerobic capacity and upper-body power output. The training was safe and did not cause any overload symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroscience, The Swedish School of Sport and Health Sciences, and Karolinska Institute, SE-114 86 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lindberg
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arndt
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Norrbrink
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wahman
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bjerkefors
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016552:Ergometry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053580:Muscle Strength / Q000502:physiology; D010101:Oxygen Consumption; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D016896:Treatment Outcome