An investigation of the exercise capacity of the Wheelchair Sports USA team

This investigation collected descriptive data on selected metabolic and car diorespiratory parameters for Wheelchair Sports-USA (WS-USA) Elite and Deve lopmental Team members to determine if differences in these parameters occu rred between arm-crank ergometry (ACE) and wheelchair ergometry (WCE). Fift een men with paraplegia, seven women with paraplegia, four men with tetrapl egia, and three women with tetraplegia were tested. Multiple t-tests were u sed to determine if there were significant differences between responses to the two modes of exercise and also to compare athletes by disability etiol ogy (tetraplegia versus paraplegia), gender, and training base (aerobic ver sus anaerobic). Both modes of exercise (ACE, WCE) elicited similar peak met abolic responses. Although some individuals responded differently to the tw o tests, none of the groupings showed significant differences (p > 0.05). M etabolic values show some dependence on gender and disability etiology. The results indicate that WS-USA team members in general are quite aerobically fit. Some athletes in anaerobic sports could benefit from aerobic exercise .