Article

OBJECTIVE: To determine and compare haemodynamic responses at maximal arm-crank
(ACE) and wheelchair exercise (WCE) in individuals with cervical spinal cord
injury and pair-matched able-bodied individuals. METHODS: Nine male,
motor-complete cervical spinal cord injured and 9 able-bodied individuals
performed graded, maximal ACE and WCE. Cardiac output, heart rate, and stroke
volume were determined at rest and at maximal exercise in cervical spinal cord
injured individuals. In able-bodied individuals, measurements were performed at
rest and at the maximal workload of the matched cervical spinal cord injured
individuals. RESULTS: In cervical spinal cord injured, maximal cardiac output
(ACE 7.4 (standard deviation (SD) 1.6); WCE 7.3 (SD 2.1) l/min) and heart rate
(ACE 101 (SD 22); WCE 103 (SD 27) bpm) increased significantly compared with rest
(4.6 (SD 1.0) l/min; 65 (SD 12) bpm), while stroke volume (ACE 77 (SD 22); WCE 73
(SD 21) ml) did not differ from rest (73 (SD 20) ml). In able-bodied individuals,
cardiac output (rest 4.8 (SD 1.4); ACE 10.7 (SD 1.8); WCE 10.3 (SD 2.2) l/min),
heart rate (rest 68 (SD 10); ACE 103 (SD 27); WCE 109 (SD 27) bpm), and stroke
volume (rest 70 (SD 10); ACE 105 (SD 20); WCE 96 (SD 17) ml) increased
significantly compared with rest. Cardiac output and stroke volume were
significantly lower in cervical spinal cord injured compared with able-bodied
individuals at the same workloads. CONCLUSION: Haemodynamic responses to maximal
exercise were similar for both exercise modes in individuals with cervical spinal
cord injury. The lower cardiac output in individuals with cervical spinal cord
injury compared with able-bodied individuals at equivalent workloads reflects the
inability of the circulatory system to increase stroke volume.

Langue : ANGLAIS