SummaryThe wheelchair marathon is one of the most difficult sports for participants with much uncertainty regarding the security of the paraplegics. The physical fitness of paraplegics has been examined regularly since The Oita International Wheelchair Marathon (half marathon) was inaugurated (1981). A full marathon (42·195 km) was adopted at The 3rd Meeting (1983). The individual equations between heart rate (HR) and oxygen consumption V02 were drawn from the preliminary test on the subjects who were expected to be among the top finishers in these races. V02 during these races was indirectly estimated and showed a fairly low value (35'0 ± 3,8 ml/kg/min in the full race, 32-7 ± 6-3 ml/kg/min in the half race respectively) in comparison with able-bodied elite runners. However, the paraplegic participants had extremely high HR (171·6 ± 20·5 beats/min, 168·1 ± 9·8) con tinuously throughout the race. Though the ratio of active muscle mass of arms to legs in paraplegic athletes may approximate to near equal, paraplegic arms seem to exert physiologically and mechanically less efficient power. There were no significant differences in physical fitness between the full and the half marathon elite finishers. The cardiovascular function of paraplegic athletes may well be ranked among those of able-bodied athletes in their fitness. Full wheelchair marathon seems to be safe if it is held in an appropriate environment.

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We treated 10 patients of lumbar spinal canal stenosis with intravenous drip of Prostaglandin E1. Doses were 120pg/day or 60 ,ug/day during a week. Four cases were very good and 4 cases were good on satisfaction of patients. The test of spinal evoked potential was done on 7 cases. We recorded at rest and after load of gait, and compared the prolongation of latency and the decline of amplitude between pre and post-treatment. After treatment, the prolongation of latency by load of gait decreased in comparison with that of pre-treatment. The continuity of effect existed on 4 cases 1 month after treatment. Side effects were vasculitis in 5 cases and the worse of gastric ulcer in 1 case.

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