Aerobic and anaerobic arm-cranking power outputs of males with lower limb impairments: Relationship with sport participation intensity, age, impairment and functional classification

Abstract

Fifty individuals with lower limb impairments including spinal cord injury, polio and amputations underwent aerobic and anaerobic arm-cranking tests in a standardized laboratory setting. Based on linear regression models applied with age as dependent variable aerobic performance variable including HRmax (R=0.395, P=0.004), and POaer (R=0.31, P=0.021) were subjected to ANCOVA adjusting for age in order to determine the signi®cance of participation intensity (competitive vs leisure) and type of physical impairment. Anaerobic performance variables were not in¯uenced by age and thereby subjected to 1-Way ANOVA with the same independent variables. Participation intensity and type of impairment signi®cantly discriminated (P50.001) between athletes in all power variables. Linear regression models have shown moderate but signi®cant (P50.001) relationship with functional ability (bases on International Wheelchair Basketball Federation classi®cation system). In anaerobic mean power (MP) classi®cation accounted for 42% of the variance, while in anaerobic peak power (PP) and aerobic Power (POaer) for 38% and 30% respectively. By means of a post hoc Tukey analysis signi®cant dierences were observed between athletes with a high level paraplegia (class 1) and those with one leg aected by polio or amputations (classes 4, 4.5). Athletes with low level paraplegia and two legs aected by polio (classes 2 ± 3.5) had values in-between. Based on the descriptive evaluation, a three group scheme was conceptualized and resubjected to ANOVA. Signi®cant intergroup dierences were thus obtained only for PP. Descriptive PP data for each group were transformed into a ®ve category table in order to provide reference values for ®tness estimation in males with lower limb impairments of various etiologies.

Relationships between anaerobic performance, field tests, and functional level of elite female wheelchair basketball athletes

“…Many authors have also assessed the relationship between the performance level of wheelchair basketball players and their classification level [9,10,12,15,16]. De Lira et al [9] investigated aerobic and anaerobic performance in a homogenous sample of players and showed correlations between their functional classification level and aerobic capacity (peak oxygen -VO 2 peak) and anaerobic performance (peak power output, relative peak power output, and mean power output).…”

Multivariate analysis of factors influencing physical work capacity in wheelchair-dependent paraplegics with spinal cord injury

“…On the other hand, it has been reported that PWC in individuals with SCI is in¯uenced by these factors (Hutzler et al 1998;Noreau and Shephard 1992;Yamasaki et al 1998) as well as factors unique to individuals with SCI, such as the level of SCI (Burkett et al 1990;Drory et al 1990;Irizawa et al 1994) and the period since SCI (Janssen et al 1996;Yarkony et al 1988). Thus, PWC in individuals with SCI is in¯uenced by more factors compared with that in able-bodied persons.…”

Heart Rate and Perceived Exertion Responses to Protocol Incremental Speed Dynamometry for Wheelchairs

“…However, most equipment disregards the movement ergonomics 2 , have oversized 3,4 and complex calibrations 5 , and are restricted to therapeutic analysis laboratories. Recently, Oliveira et al 6 developed and validated a compact roller dynamometer to evaluate wheelchair propulsion using a simple, small device.…”