VENTILATORY THRESHOLDS DURING WHEELCHAIR EXERCISE IN INDIVIDUALS WITHSPINAL-CORD INJURIES

The ventilatory thresholds of 30 male wheelchair athletes were determi ned from their respiratory and metabolic responses to a continuously p rogressive exercise protocol to peak oxygen uptake on a wheelchair erg ometer. The peak oxygen uptake (peak VO2), ventilatory threshold in l min(-1) (VTL), and ventilatory threshold expressed as a percentage of peak VO2 (VT%) were measured for all subjects. Statistical analyses of selected subsamples were used to note sport and functional ability le vel differences in these variables. Analysis of peak VO2 by functional classification (old International Stoke Mandeville Games Federation s ystem; classes 1A-5, plus an amputee class) indicated that paraplegic (classes 2-5) and the amputee class athletes (2.48 l min(-1)) were hig her than tetraplegic (classes 1A-1C) athletes (0.95 l min(-1)). The pa raplegic and amputee classes were combined for a comparison of peak VO 2 by sport which showed that track athletes (2.80 l min(-1)) were high er than basketball players (2.41 l min(-1)) who were higher than athle tes from other sports (1.88 l min(-1)). The VTL analyses demonstrated differences similar to the peak VO2 analyses. The VT% analyses, howeve r, showed no sport differences, but the tetraplegic athletes had highe r VT% values (87%) than the paraplegic plus amputee group (69%).