VO2peak and Exercise Efficiency in Upper-body Poling

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This study compares peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and exercise efficiency in upper-body poling versus arm crank ergometry in trained able-bodied and paraplegic participants.

Detailed Description
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Peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak) and exercise efficiency are key factors for endurance performance. In persons who are primarily able to use their upper-body during exercise, such as many Paralympic athletes, the mode most commonly used in assessing VO2peak and efficiency is arm crank ergometry (ACE). However, sport-specificity of the test mode has been suggested to be of importance for achieving VO2peak and exercise efficiency that are reflective of the aerobic capacity in the respective sport. For ice sledge hockey players, cross-country sit skiers and sitting biathletes, upper-body poling (UP) is the most sport-specific test mode. However, it has not yet been investigated whether VO2peak and efficiency differ between ACE and UP. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare VO2peak and exercise efficiency in upper-body poling versus arm crank ergometry in trained able-bodied and paraplegic participants. Participants performed four 5-min submaximal stages at increasing effort and an incremental peak test to exhaustion in both ACE and UP.

Official Title
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Comparison of Peak Oxygen Uptake and Exercise Efficiency Between Upper-body Poling and Arm Crank Ergometry in Trained Paraplegic and Able-bodied Participants

Conditions
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Spinal Cord Injuries

Intervention / Treatment
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* Diagnostic Test: upper-body double-poling
* Diagnostic Test: arm crank ergometry


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: participants between the age of 18 and 50 well upper-body-trained participants with or without paraplegia Exclusion Criteria: people with injuries or sicknesses that might have impacted the testing

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Other: paraplegic<br>Well-trained participants with a spinal cord injury (<Th1) were included in this group. | Diagnostic Test: upper-body double-poling<br>* An incremental peak test to exhaustion and four 5-min submaximal stages were performed in the upper-body double-poling mode.<br>Diagnostic Test: arm crank ergometry<br>* An incremental peak test to exhaustion and four 5-min submaximal stages were performed in the arm crank ergometry mode.<br>|
| Other: able bodied<br>Upper-body trained, able-bodied participants were included in this group. | Diagnostic Test: upper-body double-poling<br>* An incremental peak test to exhaustion and four 5-min submaximal stages were performed in the upper-body double-poling mode.<br>Diagnostic Test: arm crank ergometry<br>* An incremental peak test to exhaustion and four 5-min submaximal stages were performed in the arm crank ergometry mode.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Peak oxygen uptake | Peak oxygen uptake was measured during an incremental test to exhaustion. | 3 weeks | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Oxygen consumption, Physical endurance