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Physiological responses in handcycling. Preliminary study
C Meyer1, T Weissland, E Watelain
1Faculté de kinésiologie et des sciences de réhabilitation, université catholique de Louvain, 101Tervuursevest, 3001 Heverlee, Belgique. christophe.meyer@faber.kuleuven.be
Introduction:
In the field of sports for the disabled, this last decade has been marked by the development of handcycling. Although assessment of maximal capacity during arm exercises in cases of spinal cord injury (SCI) has been widely investigated, investigations of maximal capacity in handcyclists remain less frequent.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the physiological parameters of an incomplete quadriplegic athlete (cervical lesion C5-C6; ASIA-D) during an adapted incremental handcycling test and to judge the appropriateness of the test. Using such a test, it will then be possible to determine the individualized training program intensity needed to improve the athlete's aerobic capacity.
Methods:
The athlete completed an incremental hand cycling test (i.e., an adapted Léger-Boucher test), with the handbike mounted on an ergotrainer. The athlete's physiological parameters were recorded during the test, and the pedalling rate and the perceived exertion rate were estimated. Given the athlete's pathology, ergonomic adaptations were necessary in order to improve comfort and propulsion quality.
Results:
The maximum values recorded (VO2peak = 1.16l/min; [La]=7.7 mmol/l; heart rate peak=133 beats/min; maximum respiratory frequency=85 cycles/min and averaged pedaling rate=95 tours/min) indicate that the incremental test, adapted for handcycling, is maximal, and consequently, it should be possible to individualize the training intensity.
Conclusion:
This test is innovative and potentially applicable in a booming discipline garnering more and more interest. However, first it is necessary to extend this test to a larger population and to test the extended application in field.
