title: Effect of abdominal binding on respiratory mechanics during exercise in athletes with cervical spinal cord injury.
abstract: We asked whether elastic binding of the abdomen influences respiratory mechanics during wheelchair propulsion in athletes with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). Eight Paralympic wheelchair rugby players with motor-complete SCI (C5-C7) performed submaximal and maximal incremental exercise tests on a treadmill, both with and without abdominal binding. Measurements included pulmonary function, pressure-derived indices of respiratory mechanics, operating lung volumes, tidal flow-volume data, gas exchange, blood lactate, and symptoms. Residual volume and functional residual capacity were reduced with binding (77 ± 18 and 81 ± 11% of unbound, P < 0.05), vital capacity was increased (114 ± 9%, P < 0.05), whereas total lung capacity was relatively well preserved (99 ± 5%). During exercise, binding introduced a passive increase in transdiaphragmatic pressure, due primarily to an increase in gastric pressure. Active pressures during inspiration were similar across conditions. A sudden, sustained rise in operating lung volumes was evident in the unbound condition, and these volumes were shifted downward with binding. Expiratory flow limitation did not occur in any subject and there was substantial reserve to increase flow and volume in both conditions. V̇o2 was elevated with binding during the final stages of exercise (8-12%, P < 0.05), whereas blood lactate concentration was reduced (16-19%, P < 0.05). V̇o2/heart rate slopes were less steep with binding (62 ± 35 vs. 47 ± 24 ml/beat, P < 0.05). Ventilation, symptoms, and work rates were similar across conditions. The results suggest that abdominal binding shifts tidal breathing to lower lung volumes without influencing flow limitation, symptoms, or exercise tolerance. Changes in respiratory mechanics with binding may benefit O2 transport capacity by an improvement in central circulatory function.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sports Medicine and Human Performance, Brunel University, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: Christopher R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: West
authors.affiliation: School of Sport, Exercise & Health Sciences, The Peter Harrison Centre for Disability Sport, Loughborough University, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Victoria L
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Goosey-Tolfrey
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sports Medicine and Human Performance, Brunel University, United Kingdom; and.
authors.forename: Ian G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Sports Medicine and Human Performance, Brunel University, United Kingdom; and lee.romer@brunel.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Lee M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Romer
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000502:physiology*; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes; D066193:Cervical Cord / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000379:methods; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology; D005652:Functional Residual Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008168:Lung / Q000502:physiology; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D012119:Respiration; D015656:Respiratory Mechanics / Q000502:physiology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013990:Tidal Volume / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: diaphragm; respiratory muscles; tetraplegia; upper-body exercise; wheelchair exercise