title: An exploratory study of respiratory muscle endurance training in high lesion level paraplegic handbike athletes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the impact of respiratory muscle endurance training (RMET) on lung function and exercise performance in athletes with high lesion level paraplegia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a case-control intervention study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sport and exercise science laboratories and bike path.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve competitive handbike athletes with high lesion level paraplegia matched by lesion and fitness level in training (T) group (7) and control (C) group (5).
  
  
  METHODS
  The T group performed 20 RMET training sessions over a 4-week period using a SpiroTiger. Each session lasted for 30 minutes. The C group did not perform any RMET.
  
  
  METHODS
  Resting lung function, respiratory muscle endurance, and exercise performance (arm cranking maximal incremental test and simulated handbike time trial).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Resting lung function was not different between groups and did not change with the intervention. After RMET, the respiratory muscle endurance was significantly increased by 27% in the T group but did not alter in the C group. Final minute ventilation was increased from 89 ± 20 L/min to 112 ± 20 L/min after RMET in the T group and the sensation of dyspnea decreased (P < 0.05). Peak oxygen consumption, peak mechanical power output, and handbike time trial performance were not different between groups and did not change with the RMET intervention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A short-term RMET intervention in handbike athletes with high lesion level paraplegia improved respiratory muscle endurance but had little impact on overall exercise performance.
authors: *Department of Neurological, Neuropsychological, Morphological and Movement Sciences, University of Verona, Verona, Italy; and †Faculty of Science, School of Sport and Exercise Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
authors: Gabriela
authors: G
authors: Fischer
authors: Cantor
authors: C
authors: Tarperi
authors: Keith
authors: K
authors: George
authors: Luca P
authors: LP
authors: Ardigò
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D001642:Bicycling / Q000502:physiology; D001945:Breathing Exercises; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000502:physiology*