Aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold of wheelchair basketball players

Abstract

This study evaluated the aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold of national level Israeli wheelchair basketball players. Subjects were tested working on a wheelchair rolling on a motor driven treadmill and on an arm cycle ergometer. Metabolic and cardiopulmunary parameters were measured during graded max imal exercise tests. Blood lactic acid (LA) concentration was measured in the intervals between loads during the test on the wheelchair. Heart rate (HR) and % heart rate reserve (%HRR) corresponding to the anaerobic threshold (4 mM blood LA) were evalulated while working on the wheelchair rolling on a motor driven treadmill. While working on the wheelchair the following peak exercise values were obtained: V02 = 24.7 ml. kg/min, VE = 92.09 l/min HR = 181.5 b/ min and R = 1.22. Values corresponding to the anaerobic threshold were found to be, HR = 139 b/min and % HRR = 57.02. Low correlations were obtained between peak exercise V02 and VE measured while working on the wheelchair and those measured with arm cycle ergometer (r = 0.57 p = 0.137 and r = 0.4 p = 0.233 respectively). As athletes, subjects in the present study may be classified as having a low aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold. It is also concluded that the ergometer type may have an important influence on test results.

The effects of arm crank strategy on physiological responses and mechanical efficiency during submaximal exercise

“…Another reason for the greater efficiency is that using an asynchronous strategy allows a continuous application of force to the flywheel, which would appear to outweigh any differences in stabilization between strategies. In cases where the ergometer is not fixed, such as propelling a handcycle on a treadmill using an asynchronous strategy, the antagonists and agonists are required to cocontract to maintain the direction of the hand-cycle, which results in extra muscle activity and an increased metabolic demand (Rotstein et al, 1994;van der Woude et al, 2000). When a synchronous technique was found to be more efficient (Abel et al, 2003;Dallmeijer et al, 2004;van der Woude et al, 2000), testing was performed on a motor-driven treadmill using a hand-cycle unit.…”

Time Motion Analysis and Physiological Profile of Canadian World Cup Wheelchair Basketball Players

“…As a result, there is a need for a greater understanding of the physiological demand of individual sports to ensure optimal preparation and safety of the athlete. Recently, an increased number of investigations have documented both the physiological characteristics of ordinary individuals with a disability (Burkett et al, 1990;Dallmeijer et al, 1994;Davis, 1193;Glasser et al, 1980;Janssen et al, 1993) and athletes with a disability (Coutts, 1992;Hutzler, 1993;Rotstein et al, 1994;Veeger et al, 1992). In addition, the relationships between physiological fitness and wheelchair racing performance have been reported (Bhambhani et al, 1995a;1995b;Cooper, 1992).…”

Aerobic capacity and peak power output of elite quadriplegic games players

“…[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] The limited amount of knowledge on elite quadriplegic wheelchair athletes in comparison with paraplegic athletes may primarily be due to population availability. However, with the recent influx of competitors with quadriplegia, it is paramount that this information becomes available so that scientifically based guidelines for sports training can develop.…”