AEROBIC CAPACITY AND ANAEROBIC THRESHOLD OF WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL PLAYERS

This study evaluated the aerobic capacity and anaerobic threshold of n ational level Israeli wheelchair basketball players. Subjects were tes ted working on a wheelchair rolling on a motor driven treadmill and on an arm cycle ergometer. Metabolic and cardiopulmunary parameters were measured during graded maximal 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 evalul ated while working on the wheelchair rolling on a motor driven treadmi ll. While working on the wheelchair the following peak exercise values were obtained: VO2 = 24.7 ml. kg/min, VE = 92.09 l/min HR = 181.5 b/m in 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 ob tained between peak exercise VO2 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.