Field test estimation of maximal oxygen consumption in wheelchair users

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Rehabilitation Science
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) is a key indicator of cardiorespiratory fitness.
• Accurate VO2max assessment is crucial for training and health monitoring in wheelchair users.
• Current laboratory-based VO2max testing can be inaccessible or impractical for many wheelchair athletes and individuals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a practical field test for estimating VO2max in wheelchair users.
• To establish a correlation between a 12-minute wheelchair propulsion test and directly measured VO2max.
• To provide a regression equation for predicting VO2max from field test performance.

Main Methods:

• Thirty male wheelchair users (mean age 34.3 years) participated in the study.
• Participants underwent laboratory-based progressive arm-crank ergometer testing for direct VO2max measurement.
• A modified 12-minute wheelchair propulsion test was conducted on a standardized wheelchair over a 0.1-mile indoor track.

Main Results:

• The mean VO2max was 22.0 ml.kg-1.min-1, with an average peak power output of 540 kg.m.min-1.
• Wheelchair users propelled an average distance of 1.11 miles in 12 minutes.
• A highly significant correlation (r = 0.84, p < .001) was found between the 12-minute test distance and VO2max.

Conclusions:

• The 12-minute wheelchair propulsion test is a valid and reliable field method for estimating VO2max in wheelchair users.
• The derived regression equation allows for practical prediction of VO2max from field test results.
• This accessible field test can aid in assessing and monitoring the cardiorespiratory fitness of wheelchair users.