Muscular, respiratory and cardiovascular responses of quadriplegic persons to an F. E. S. bicycle ergometer...

Seven quadriplegic subjects participated in F. E. S. bicycle ergometry, three times per week, over an eight week period. Left thigh girth measured at 20 cm above the knee increased from 44.4 cm pre-training to 46.5 cm post-training (p less than 0.05), and right thigh girth increased from 44.3 cm to 46.2 cm (p less than 0.05). Forced vital capacity increased from 3.23 liters (pre-training) to 3.42 liters (post-training) and was significant at the p less than 0.05 level. Forced inspiratory capacity increased for 3.30 liters, pre-training, to 3.42 liters, post-training (p less than 0.05). FEV1 (liters) increased from 2.77, pre-training to 3.07 post-training (p less than 0.05). All three respiratory parameters were 55%-60% of that predicted for normals. Significant changes were also found in resting cardiovascular data. Mean resting heart rate, pre-training, was 51.4 beats per minute compared to 54.5 beats per minute, post-training, (p less than 0.05). Resting cardiac output, pre-training was 4.14 L/min. compared to 4.47 L/min., post-training (p less than 0.05). Further analysis of the cardiovascular data showed that the increased heart rate post-training was associated with a decrease in the P-R interval from 0.186 sec., pre-training to 0.170 sec., post-training (p less than 0.05). Also, the increase in cardiac output, post-training was matched by an increase in the cardiac index from 2.21 L/min./M, pre-training, to 2.36 L/min./M, post-training (p less than 0.05). A statistically significant difference in the heart rate response to the cold pressor test was demonstrated (p less than 0.05) and a similar difference in the amount of heart rate response was seen during the tilt table test (p = 0.05).