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- Title
The verification phase and reliability of physiological parameters in peak testing of elite wheelchair athletes.
- Authors
Leicht, Christof; Tolfrey, Keith; Lenton, John; Bishop, Nicolette; Goosey-Tolfrey, Victoria
- Abstract
The purpose of this study was (1) to examine the value of a verification phase (VER) in a peak testing protocol and (2) to assess the reliability of peak physiological variables in wheelchair athletes. On two separate days, eight tetraplegic (TETRA), eight paraplegic (PARA) and eight non-spinal cord-injured (NON-SCI) athletes performed treadmill ergometry, consisting of a graded exercise test to exhaustion (GXT) followed by a VER. Peak oxygen uptake $$ \left( {\dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{ 2 {\text{peak}}}} } \right) $$ was compared (1) between GXT and VER and (2) between test days. $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}} $$ did not differ between GXT and VER ( P = 0.27), and coefficients of variation between GXT and VER were in the range of 2.9 and 6.4 % for all subgroups. Coefficients of variation of $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}} $$ between test days were 9.3 % (TETRA), 4.5 % (PARA) and 3.3 % (NON-SCI). It is therefore concluded that whilst a VER can be used for a more robust determination of $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}} $$, a deviation of up to ~6 % between GXT and VER should be considered as acceptable. For between-day analyses, relatively large changes in $$ \dot{V}{\text{O}}_{{2{\text{peak}}}} $$ are required to confirm 'true' differences, especially in TETRA athletes. This may be due to their lower aerobic capacity, which results in a larger relative variation compared with the other subgroups.
- Subjects
ATHLETES with disabilities; OXYGEN; SPINAL cord injuries; WHEELCHAIRS; SPORTS
- Publication
European Journal of Applied Physiology, 2013, Vol 113, Issue 2, p337
- ISSN
1439-6319
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1007/s00421-012-2441-6